Cinnamon Coffee Cake

[Miss R]

I like to keep simple homemade cakes and pastries during the winter months to have with a nice cup of coffee or tea and to share with friends and loved ones visiting.

This is the one I made today:

Cinnamon Coffee Cake

1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 package Golden Cake Mix (the kind made with butter)
1 stick butter
2/3 cup water
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease and flour bundt pan; shake out excess flour. Sprinkle the pecans in the bottom of the pan.

In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon; set aside.

In large mixing bowl, place the cake mix, butter, water, eggs, and vanilla. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for about a minute until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Turn mixer to medium speed and beat about 2 minutes, until batter is thick and smooth.
Put 1/3 of the batter on top of the pecans in the bundt pan, sprinkle with 1/2 of the cinnamon/brown sugar mixture, top with 1/3 of the batter, sprinkle with the remaining cinnamon/brown sugar mixture, and then top with the remaining 1/3 of the batter. Smooth each layer of the batter before you add the cinnamon/brown sugar, and then smooth the top layer.

Bake the cake until golden brown, and the top springs back when lightly pressed with your finger--about 40-45 minutes. Remove pan from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool for about 20 minutes. Run a sharp knife around the edge of the cake, and invert onto a cooling rack. Allow it to cool completely, about 30 minutes.

After cooled, place the cake on a cake plate and drizzle with the following glaze:

1 cup sifted confectioner's sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Combine thoroughly.

Slice and serve!

Keep wrapped tightly with foil, or covered and sealed with a cake lid.

This may be frozen for up to 6 months. I prefer not to glaze it before freezing it, and wrap it tightly in foil, and then wrap it again (double protection). Allow it to thaw overnight on the counter before serving.