Starbucks Copycat Cakes

I simply adore Starbucks coffee cake. It's moist, full of flavor and that topping is to die for. Crumbly and sweet and full of cinnamon, it's a splurge on the rare occasions I actually go to Starbucks. So I considered myself lucky when I stumbled upon the recipe for it a couple years ago and I've been making it ever since. It's what I bring for potluck breakfasts and brunches and something I like to have on hand for a snack. It is definitely a treat though, as it's full of sugar and butter and quite frankly, I don't even want to know the calorie count. Ignorance is bliss. Anyway, I've been thinking about making small loaves of this for my neighbors this year for Christmas but decided to do something a little different. I thought a chocolate spice cake would do the trick and let my fingers do the walking in search of a perfect recipe. As luck would have it, and thanks to my Pinterest obsession, I found another Starbucks copycat recipe! This one is a Chocolate Cinnamon Loaf that sounds amazing. I've never actually had it at Starbucks but I gave it a try and it was awesome!! Soft, chocolaty, with the slightest bit of kick thanks to ginger, cloves and cinnamon, it is perfect with a cup of coffee. Here are the recipes for both cakes...which is your favorite??

Chocolate Cinnamon Loaf
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup all purpose flour
2/3 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 tbsp water
1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cocoa powder
pinch ground cloves
pinch of ground ginger

Preheat the oven to 350F and thoroughly grease a 9×5″ loaf pan.
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time, waiting until the previous egg has been completely incorporated before adding the next. In a medium bowl, sift together all purpose flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon, salt, baking powder and baking soda. In a measuring cup, whisk together buttermilk, water and vanilla extract. Working in two or three additions, alternately add the flour mixture and the buttermilk mixture to the sugar mixture. Begin and end with an addition of the flour mix. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. In a small bowl, whisk together topping ingredients: sugar, cinnamon, cocoa powder and ground cloves. Sprinkle evenly on top of the loaf cake.
Bake at 350F for about 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Allow cake to cool in pan for 10-15 minutes, then run a knife around the edge and turn out onto a wire cooling rack.
Cool completely before slicing.
Adapted from http://www.staceysnacksonline.com/2009/02/chocolate-cinnamon-loaf-w-sugar-spice.html

Coffee Cake

1 Box Yellow Cake Mix (plus ingredients on back of box)

2 Sticks cold salted butter

2 1/4 Cups flour

1 1/2 Tablespoons cinnamon

1 3/4 Cups sugar

1 1/2 Tablespoons vanilla

Powdered sugar (for dusting)

Prepare cake mix in large bowl according to directions on box. Spray 2 9X13 loaf pans or one 9X13 pan with non-stick spray. Pour batter into pan. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until center is just barely set. While cake is baking, prepare crumb topping. In large bowl of electric mixer combine, butter, flour, cinnamon, sugar and vanilla until all crumbly. Immediately after cake is removed from oven, break crumb topping into marble size pieces with fingers, sprinkling over top. Put back in oven and bake an additional 10-15 minutes (topping will begin to look a little less wet/raw). Let cool fully then dust with powdered sugar, using a sieve.
Cut into squares and serve.
I like to serve this one chilled, like they do at Starbucks!!!


Adapted  from http://www.bakespace.com/recipes/detail/Copycat-Starbucks-Coffee-Cake/11265/