Pay it Forward

Recently, GiGi announced that she was going to be a part of 'Pay it Forward'. Here, a blogger sends a homemade gift to 3 bloggers who want to join in. I knew that being a part of GiGi's homemade gift exchange would be a fun idea. Look what I was lucky enough to find on my door step. A homemade coffee cake~ GiGi style! Cardamon Spiced Crumb Cake. She had it packed tighter than a drum, and it made it all the way from California. I am just glad the Fed Ex man didn't know what he was delivering...

Or he may have eaten it along the way.

Cardomon-Spiced Crumb Cake

Crumb Topping

2 cups pecans

2 sticks unsalted butter, melted

3/4 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 tsp cardamon

1/2 tsp salt

2 & 2/3 cups flour

Cake

3 cups flour

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 cup whole milk

1 1/2 sticks butter

2 tsp vanilla extract

Pre-heat oven to 350°

To make the crumb topping, spread the pecans on a baking sheet and toast for 8 minutes until browned. Cool, then chop the nuts. In a medium bowl, combine butter with sugars, cardamon, and salt. Add the flour and stir until clumpy, stir in pecans.

To make the cake, whisk the flour with sugar, baking powder and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs with the milk, butter and vanilla. Add the egg mixture to the dry ingredients an stir until just combined. Scrape the batter into the prepared baking pan, smoothing the surface. scatter the crumbs in large clumps over the cake. The crumb layer will be quite deep.

Bake for about 55 minutes, until the crumbs are golden and firm and a tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. If the crumbs brown before the cake is done, cover loosely with foil.

To eat sprinkle with a dusting of powdered sugar.

I am saving it for breakfast with the friends this weekend~ it will be perfect with a cup of coffee. Thank you GiGi!

Now it is my turn to 'Pay it Forward'.
“I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this Paying It Forward exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, which is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.”

Anyone who wants to be a part and pass on some Holiday cheer~ let's 'Pay it Forward'. After all isn't giving what this season is all about?

Merry Christmas y'all,

Sandi