Worth the trouble…
They say that puppies and babies are made cute so that you don’t want to kill them when they drive you insane (though I have seen some ugly babies in my time so I am not sure how true that is 
). I must say that as a dog owner, it was a lot easier to forgive my dog for throwing up grass on my $1500 chair (that I saved for over a year for) which stained it permanently, when she looked up at me with those sad little cocker spaniel eyes. Those woeful eyes have saved my puppy many a time from having to take a long walk off a short plank.
In the cooking world there are recipes that drive us insane but in the end they were worth it. This recipe is a case in point. The first time I made it many, many swear words were spewed from my mouth. You see, this is a very easy recipe….until you have to assemble it in the pan. First you lay down the caramel and pecans…and then spread thick batter over that. Umm, that doesn’t work all that well. Then you top that with streusel (that was easy). But then you have to spread batter on top of the streusel. And, that ladies and gentleman is somewhat of a nightmare. After making versions of this cake several times now I can tell you that using both a spatula and your fingers is the way to go. As is dropping pieces of the batter around the cake so that spreading is kept to a minimum.
The whole time I was spreading the impossible I just kept mumbling to myself that this darn well better be worth it! Good news is, it is. This is one of those recipe that the first time I made it I didn’t get to photograph it because I made it at night and the smell was just too over powering and I ate like half the cake. Oops.
The original recipe does not use pumpkin. If you would like to not use pumpkin then omit the pumpkin and use ½ cup buttermilk and ¼ cup sour cream. I decided to add pumpkin this last time to make it a little more festive. I like both versions equally so it is hard to say which way I recommend you make this.
Pumpkin “Cinnamon Roll” Coffee Cake
For the Caramel:
¾ cup brown sugar
¼ cup heavy cream
pinch of salt
1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
For the Streusel:
½ cup brown sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
4 TBSP unsalted butter, sliced
1 ½ TBSP ground cinnamon
¼ tsp table salt
For the Cake:
¼ cup buttermilk
2 TBSP sour cream
½ cup pumpkin puree
2 eggs
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp table salt
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup sugar
Preheat oven to 350F. Coat a 9-inch pan with nonstick spray.
Stir together the brown sugar, cream and salt for the caramel. Pour into a prepared pan and spread to coat the bottom. Sprinkle pecans over the caramel.
In a food processor, process brown sugar, flour, butter, cinnamon and the salt for the streusel. Pulse until small clumps form; set aside.
Whisk buttermilk, sour cream, pumpkin puree and eggs together and place into a large measuring cup with a pour spout.
Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a small bowl.
Cream the butter and sugar with a mixer just until combined.
Alternately add dry ans wet ingredients, starting and ending with the dry. Blend each additions just until incorporated.
Spread half the batter over the caramel, then sprinkle with half the streusel. Carefully spread remaining batter over that and top with remaining streusel. Bake 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Cool cake for 5 minutes, then run a pairing knife around the sides to loosen. Invert onto a serving platter while hot, then let cool slightly before slicing. Due to the sticky top, and electric knife is best for cutting, but a sharp, thin bladed knife is fine too.
Adapted from Cuisine at Home Magazine December 2005
67 Responses
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November 9th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
I felt the same way about my dog (may she rest in peace) – I’d be mad, but quickly forgot/forgave as soon as she looked up at me with those puppy-dog eyes
Ah yes, I know those types of recipes well – glad you stuck with THIS recipe, since the end result is a masterpiece!!
November 9th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Wow! This looks so good!
November 9th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
I enjoy that this comes with a warning of sorts. LOL It sounds (and looks!) delicious.
November 9th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
It looks good, though! My coworkers never want to hear about how much of a pain that something was to make, they just like that I make something. I’m also much more critical than they are! I’ve learned just to do the best I can, and something just don’t turn out as I’d expected.
November 9th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
That looks so good!
November 9th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
This looks so good- the ultimate coffee cake!
November 9th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
How tempting… There are just far too many pumpkin sweets for me to try this season!
November 9th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
in spite of the difficulty, the cake turned out beautifully! I could go for a piece right now.
November 9th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
After I read recipes like this, and your caveats beforehand, I want to volunteer to be a taster, and not a baker! Too difficult for this bake-o-phobe!
November 9th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Um . . . Peabody I really don’t need this. Yes, you know that but let me tell you how much I really don’t need this. I’m doing my own blue air swearing thing right now with three times on a bread recipe and this just makes me crazy that I don’t have this sitting on my plate right NOW! Why don’t I have a piece of this on my plate on my table . . . my fork is ready and I’ll promise to go for a long walk
))
Gorgeous and I think the pumpkin sounds grand. You ate half of it, I’m sure I could have taken care of the other half
November 9th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Drool. Seriously.
And I snorted at the ugly baby comment! (But did you CRY when she threw up on the chair? I would have!)
November 9th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Hmm, I am still firmly in the camp that believes all babies are beautiful. Yes, all!
Wow, is that spreading trouble worth it. It looks so gooey and delicious!
November 9th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Well put–nice intro! This does look like a cake worth the trouble.
Oh, and I agree–there are indeed some ugly babies out there!!
November 9th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
This looks SO good! I’ve had annoying recipes like that…especially with spreading. Of course, nothing so impressive as this. Mine is just a brownie (from a mix!) with a symphony bar in the middle.
This is yet another good Sunday School breakfast treat. Bookmark for me!! 
November 9th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Okay you have officially combined my two loves – pumpkin and coffee cake. Well, really it’s more streusel than coffee cake.
November 9th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
If it’s that yummy-looking, I’ll go through a little trouble to make it! The pumpkin element sounds like a good thing!
November 9th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Oh my goodness! I love it! Looks lovely. My cat has completely destroyed my carpet, but she is worth it
November 9th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Oh, what a treat! That Coffee Cake looks incredibly good!
I know what you mean… I could sometimes “kill” my cats, but their cuteness goes straight to my heart and I can’t do anything else than forgive them ;-P!
Cheers,
Rosa
November 10th, 2008 at 12:05 am
dang! this looks sensational. pumpkin is on the top my my list right now – however i am making more savory dishes with it. this is simply fantastic!
November 10th, 2008 at 1:36 am
I love that top full of walnuts, yummy! Crunch, crunch, crunch!
November 10th, 2008 at 3:40 am
Two of my favorite things!!! I am making this one morning this week, thanks!
November 10th, 2008 at 5:18 am
This looks worth the extra trouble it may take to assemble. I could go for some of this right now….
November 10th, 2008 at 5:45 am
That just looks amazing, amazing!
November 10th, 2008 at 5:58 am
Wow, that looks INSANELY good. I know what I’m bringing to my TG brunch now!!! mmmm….
November 10th, 2008 at 6:49 am
Yummmm… Looks delish! Definitely looks like it is worth the trouble to make.
November 10th, 2008 at 7:05 am
Holy cow. That looks awesome. As well it should with all those ingredients! Sometimes it is just worth it though!
November 10th, 2008 at 7:31 am
I don’t care how much trouble this takes, the end result is mouth watering!!
November 10th, 2008 at 8:35 am
wow this looks great. It s worth all the swearing
the final result is amazing
November 10th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Yeah, there are definitely some ugly babies out there.
This coffee cake looks definitely worth the effort. I’m bookmarking it. I would make it today, but that would involve a trip to the grocery store for buttermilk and pumpkin and I’m trying to prove to my husband that I’m NOT addicted to grocery shopping.
November 10th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Oh it sooooo looks worth it! Yum!
November 10th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Pea, I cannot imagine all that suffering by looking at this gorgeous dessert – but if you say so, I believe it!
It looks delicious, darling!
November 10th, 2008 at 10:03 am
i know when our jack russel-chihuahua mix hides under the chair in our living room she has done something…signs of the guilty.
this cake, btw, looks like something i’d devour half of before photographing it too.
November 10th, 2008 at 11:07 am
I will definitely make this…with the pumpkin! Any time 2 desserts meet like this (cinnamon roll plus cake, especially) it’s worth baking, for sure…hopefully I’ll still have all my hair after making it, though
.
November 10th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
I would like to be the absolute first commenter to say this looks fantastic!
I absolutely know what you mean about those infuriating recipes that are just delicious enough to be worth the frustration. The first time I tried to put peanut butter inside a sticky milk chocolate ganache ball, I thought I was going to cry. Also, can I say strudel?
November 10th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
It certainly looks worth the trouble! And though I’m not usually a pumpkin flavor type of person, I’ve been craving pumpkin flavored stuff this season.
November 10th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Oh yea, the pumpkin version all the way! That looks so worth the calories X2.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Mmmm, pumpkin or not pumpkin? I think… both!
November 10th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Would putting the batter in a piping bag and piping it on work?
November 10th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Oh WOW – does that look decadent and amazing!!!
November 10th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Pumpkin, caramel, nuts…I see a theme going on here…don’t stop. This looks so moist and delish that it’s worth a few swear words, right?
November 10th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
That cake looks absolutely delectable – I’m glad you persevered.
November 10th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
I’d believe that about the kids – it must be what has kept my 5 yr old alive today – he has only jumped on the baby 5 or 6 times now.
Anyway, this coffee cake looks so good! I wonder if it would work to dump the batter into a ziploc and ‘pipe’ it on that way? Either way, it looks totally worth it to make! My husband isn’t really a pumpkin fan, but he loves anything if I put nuts on it.
November 10th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
This may be my new favorite cinnamon roll, but I’d stick with cream cheese frosting.
November 10th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
oh yes, my pups can get away with anything indeed. And what a wonderful combination! Pumpkin and cinnamon roll? Oh my god. Droooool
November 10th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
As I looked down the recipes I just kept thinking…you are going to get me fat. OMG! Love nuts, love caramel, love baking, yeah you get it. And even more, I love love love my dog. They can melt your heart like a toddler.
Thanks for the comment, it feels good when there are others who feel the same. There is far too much negativity out there. Be blessed.
November 11th, 2008 at 2:25 am
i just wanna say that i read food blogs all the time, and never make anything unless i already have all of the ingredients at home~~well, this looked soooo good that i actually went and bought the things i needed to make it~~it was absolutely DELICIOUS!~~my husband absolutely loved it too!~~for some reason mine was easy to spread~~maybe because i did what you said, and dolloped it around first~~the only difference i see is that on mine, the topping was more firm, and didn’t drip down the sides like yours, bummer!~~but it still tasted absolutely delicious!~~i’m thinking i waited too long to get it out of the pan, and the syrup kind of hardened up a little~~it doesn’t matter though, it was still just DELICIOUS!!!
November 11th, 2008 at 3:32 am
Nice & Good one
November 11th, 2008 at 6:18 am
I’m addicted to this cake and I haven’t even tried it yet. It looks incredible!
November 11th, 2008 at 6:22 am
this looks freakin’ amazing. streusel, caramel, AND cinnamon. be still my heart.
November 11th, 2008 at 6:53 am
Looks mighty decadent!!
I think I’d approach the batter layer above the streusel using a zip-lock bag & pipe it over and then just even out
November 11th, 2008 at 8:31 am
I’ve noticed it’s largely those pita recipes (pain in the @&!) that leave us feeling most triumphant. This coffee cake looks like it’s definitely worth any trouble assembling it might turn out to be.
November 11th, 2008 at 8:57 am
That does seem like a pain to make, but damn it looks delicious! I don’t know if it would be worth the effort since I may eat the whole thing in one sitting….
November 11th, 2008 at 10:49 am
I agree definitely worth the trouble yumyum!!!…I am gonna make me one of these
November 11th, 2008 at 11:17 am
i can’t even make a good scone right now… i’m sure that this would drive me over the edge but it would be well worth it, i think.
November 11th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Oooh, that caramel! I’m going to be dreaming of this tonight!
November 11th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Wow, that looks so amazing
November 11th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
This was delicious – thank you for the recipe!
I made the regular (non-pumpkin) version, and it was out of control yummy. It was a bit of a pain to assemble, but your warning had me expecting worse so I was pleasantly surprised. This is definitely a keeper.
November 12th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Wow and Yum!
November 12th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Yes, my dog gets away with way too much because he is so cute! And this looks great!!
November 13th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Looks so worth it to me. Just scrumptious. I want a piece now,
November 13th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
mmmm it sure looks like it was worth it! lovely idea to add the pumpkin flavor to this
oh and those puppy dog eyes are pretty hard to get upset at huh? our dog is the best at looking pitiful!
November 17th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
I made this today (pumpkin version) and it came out great. I wasn’t sure whether you meant a round or square pan. I used a round pan and baked for 58 minutes Thanks so much, I love your blog!
November 18th, 2008 at 2:40 am
Oh my God… It sounds perfect !
January 4th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
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January 14th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
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October 11th, 2011 at 4:19 pm
Made this tonight (omitted the nuts) and it was a huge hit! Absolutely delicious, Thank you!