New Jersey Style Blueberry Crumb Cake
You’re going to swoon over this extra crumbly crumb cake inspired by east coast bakeries. Blueberries add a burst of brightness to perfectly complement the cake’s warm, cinnamon spiced crumb.
Jump to RecipeFlavor Notes: cinnamon | vanilla | blueberry
Pairing Suggestions: letmecallmymompod | beach house | reality tv
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What is New Jersey Style Crumb Cake?
The secret to the New Jersey style crumb cake – the thing that makes it so outstandingly delicious – is the inverted ratio of cake to crumb. Let’s be honest, the crumb is the best part of any crumb cake.
This recipe is 100% gluten free and vegan, but don’t let that fool you. This cake is still far from being “healthy,” but that’s totally okay. Some desserts should be just that: desserts. Treats. Indulgences. Everything in moderation, right?
Why I Love this Recipe
I was totally inspired to create this recipe after listening to an episode of one of my favorite podcasts on youtube, letmecallmymompod. Every week, Tori and her mom share a chatty, advice-oriented show with recipes to boot – it might just be the cutest thing I’ve ever stumbled across. Super comforting. Definitely give it a listen!
Ingredients to Make New Jersey Style Crumb Cake
Gluten free all purpose baking flour – I love bob’s 1:1 baking blend, purchase here!
Dark brown sugar – light brown will work in a pinch. We’re using this to sweeten the crumb topping.
Coconut sugar – we’re using this to sweeten the cake. Plain white sugar works, too.
Salt – a necessity to balance the sweetness
Cinnamon – plenty of cinnamon adds a familiar warm, cozy flavor to the crumb
Butter – I absolutely love miyokos block style plant based butter for baking.
Baking powder – we need to lift the cake somehow
Apple cider vinegar – this increases the cake’s acidity to react with the baking powder
Applesauce – this is acting as both an oil and and egg substitute. A vegan baking staple!
Kite hill plain greek yogurt – to replicate the sour cream used in the classic cake base.
Vanilla – it’s not a cake without this one in my opinion
Powdered sugar – the final product looks 10x better with a light dusting of powdered sugar.
How to Make New Jersey Style Crumb Cake
Watch me make this recipe on Instagram!
Step 1: Prep the crumb topping
Step 2: Mix the cake ingredients together
Step 3: Assemble and bake
Step 4: Dust with powdered sugar
Step 5: Slice and enjoy!
Recipe Card
New Jersey Style Blueberry Crumb Cake
Equipment
- 1 8×8 baking dish
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
Crumb Topping
- 3 cups Bob's Red Mill 1:1 Gluten Free baking flour
- 1 cup Dark brown sugar, packed
- 1 tbsp Cinnamon
- 2 tsp Salt
- 1 ¼ cups Miyokos european style plant based butter
Cake
- 1 cup Bob's Red Mill 1:1 Gluten Free baking flour
- ¾ cup Coconut sugar (or white)
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp Salt
- ⅔ cup Applesauce, unsweetened
- ½ cup Kite Hill plain plant based yogurt
- 1 tsp Vanilla
- 1 tsp Apple cider vinegar
Other
- 1 ½ cups Blueberries
- ½ cup Powdered sugar, for topping
Instructions
Crumble Topping
- Preheat the oven to 350℉ and line an 8×8 square baking dish with parchment paper.
- Add the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt) to a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine
- Cut the cold butter into 1" cubes
- "Cut in" the butter using two knives or use your hands to incorporate. You want the mixture to have some larger chunks left, so don't overmix.
- Chill the crumb topping while you prepare the cake batter.
Cake
- Add the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, salt, baking soda) to a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine.
- Create a well in the center of the bowl.
- Into the well, pour the applesauce, yogurt, apple cider vinegar, and vanilla.
- Mix with a spoon or spatula until just incorporated. Do not overmix.
Assembly
- Pour cake batter into your prepared baking pan
- Scatter the blueberries on top
- Add the crumble topping, dropping the mixture in chunks, leave some larger and some smaller.
- Bake at 350℉ for 35 minutes or longer if a darker colored topping is desired.
- Cool for 2 hours, then dust with powdered sugar
- Enjoy!
Did you try this recipe? Let us know how it went in the comments!
