If I could I would make a streusel cake every day. The question is, the should. No one needs that much streusel in their life or is that too negative? My favorite streusel cakes are the ones where the streusel is both the bottom and top layer. Consequently, this saves the step of making a crust and then the streusel. This Cherry Lavender Streusel Cake falls into that category. Two-thirds of the streusel combination go to creating the crust. The remaining is sprinkled on top.
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The cherry lavender combination in this cake is pure heaven. However, a little bit of lavender goes a long way. Therefore, there are no more than two teaspoons of dried lavender in the streusel. If you like a stronger flavor, use more.
When making this recipe, create the streusel first and place it in the freezer while you pit the cherries. This makes the streusel mixture easier to handle. Specifically, it crumbles better.
The best part of this Cherry Lavender Streusel Cake recipe is the entire cake contains only a half cup of sugar. This is because it is a German recipe I found in a German Cooking Magazine. Here is the original recipe in German. German desserts contain way less refined sugar than those in the USA. Therefore, it behooves you to find the ripest, juiciest fresh cherries to use in this recipe.
One tip: You will need pie weights for this recipe to blind bake the streusel crust. Alternately, place a layer of baking paper on the crust and use a smaller springform pan to weight down the crust during the blind baking step. This cake is perfect for a socially distanced summer barbecue or party. However, It is also fancy enough to serve at a fancier event or dinner.
Cherry Lavender Streusel Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter cut into pieces
- 2 teaspoons dried lavender plus some for garnish
- 1.5 lbs cherries
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
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Place the flour, baking powder, salt, 1/2 cup sugar, egg, egg yolk, butter, and lavender in a mixing bowl. Use the dough hook of your mixer or your hands to knead the mixture into streusel.
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 10-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
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Separate 2/3 of the dough and press it into the prepared baking pan, forming an edge 1/2 inch up the side of the pan.
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Puncture the dough on the bottom of the pan several times with a fork.
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Cover with a layer of baking paper and distribute pie weights on top.*
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Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes.
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Rinse cherries, drain and remove the stems and pits.
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Remove the pie weights from the pan. Spread the cherries out on the pre-baked dough base.
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Sprinkle vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons of sugar over the cherries.
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Spread the remaining streusel evenly over the cherries.
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Bake in the oven for 30 minutes.
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Remove from the oven. Sprinkle additional dried lavender flowers over the top,
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Let sit 10 minutes, then remove from the pan.
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Transfer to wire rack. Let cool completely before transferring to a serving plate.
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Slice and serve.
Recipe Notes
*If you do not have pie weights, place an 8-inch springform pan inside the 10-inch springform pan on top of the streusel crust.
Like this Cherry Lavender Streusel Cake? Also, try some of these other cherry-centric delightful dessert?
Streusel Cake
