Baking Banquet: BLACKBERRY CREAM CHEESE STREUSEL CAKE

CAKE INGREDIENTS:

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

¾ cup white sugar

¾ cup butter, cut into 1-inch pieces

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

¾ cup sour cream

1 teaspoon almond extract

1 egg

1 tablespoon powdered buttermilk

CHEESE FILLING INGREDIENTS:

8 – 10 oz. cream cheese, softened

½ cup white sugar

1 egg

BLACKBERRY INGREDIENTS:

10 oz. blackberry preserves or 1 (10 oz. container)

½ to 1 cup sliced almonds (for the streusel topping)

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9-inch spring-form pan.

Combine flour, ¾ cup sugar, and butter in a food processor, pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Remove 1 cup* of mixture from food processor and set aside. To remaining mixture in processor ADD baking soda, baking powder, salt, sour cream, almond extract, powdered buttermilk and 1 egg; process until batter is just combined and smooth. Spread batter evenly into bottom and 2 inches up sides of prepared pan.

Beat cream cheese, ½ cup sugar and 1 egg together in a bowl until smooth; pour into batter-lined pan and spread evenly. Spread blackberry preserves carefully over cheese filling.

Stir reserved crumb mixture and slices almonds together in a small bowl; sprinkle over the layer of blackberry preserves. Bake in a preheated oven until filling is set and crust is deep golden brown. 45 – 55 minutes. Cool 15 minutes before removing side of pan. Chill completely before serving, about 1 hour.

*EXTRA STREUSEL = ½ cup butter cut into cubes, ½ cup sugar, 1 cup flour and ½ teaspoon almond extract. Mix together in the food processor until it resembles coarse crumbs. (use up to 1 cup of this and combine with the reserved 1 cup from the recipe – to make 2 cups streusel for the cake)..For the remainder, bake in a 350 degree F oven for 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. Use the extra for muffins, pancakes and other pastries.

FYI - Using a food processor makes a huge difference in the ease of making this cake.