Another trip around the sun

This morning began with our family's traditional coffee cake and candles with the birthday song, because why not enjoy the super-fun part of one's birthday as soon as one wakes up?



Here's to another year of good times, lovely friends, loving family and an appreciated, blessed life!

Start Your Birthday Right Cinnamon Coffee Cake

Batter
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt
4 Tbsp (1/2 stick or 60g) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 cup milk

Topping
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
8 Tbsp (1 stick or 120g) unsalted butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350F/160C.
Butter 9" round (or 8" square) cake pan and line bottom with buttered parchment paper.

Make batter:
Sift flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt together in a bowl.
In a separate bowl, beat the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl for at least 1 minute (can be done by hand or with a mixer).  Beat in eggs one at a time.  Stir in half of the flour mixture.  Stir in milk.  Stir in rest of the flour mixture.  Beat for about a minute.  Pour into pan.

Make topping:
Mix flour, sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.  Stir in melted butter until combined.  Rub the mixture between your hands to create crumbs of topping.  Scatter crumbs all over batter.

Bake for 40 minutes or until well-risen, slightly golden, and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool on rack for 15 minutes, then remove from pan.  Cool completely.  Replace any crumbs that fall off...or just eat them.