Yesterday my 12-year-old daughter decided she wanted to make a cinnamon coffee cake recipe she received at school from one of her friends. She loves to bake and is a big fan of the Cake Boss television series. I’m not a baker so it’s great having her in the kitchen to watch and learn from.

She prepared this recipe all by herself except for a little help from her mother getting all the ingredients together. Because she needed to use the oven, my wife supervised the preparing of the cake but other than that, Nell was responsible for the delicious result.

Kids Can Cook

If you’ve been following my blog or spending any time on my web site, you know I am a big fan of Cooking With Your Kids. I think it is a great way for them to learn how to think independently, understand measurement, practice safety as well as a great way to spend some quality time together.

Please be sure to read my blog post Teaching Your Kids To Cook – Developing Intellect -  as well as my Squidoo lens, Teaching Your Kids To Cook

Cinnamon Coffee Cake With Chocolate Chips

Ingredients

For the Topping

• ¼ cup of sugar
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon

Dry Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• pinch of salt

Wet Ingredients

• ½ cup of unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 cup of sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• 1 cup of non-fat vanilla yogurt
• 1 cup of chocolate chips

How to Make at Home

Preheat the oven to 350° F

Butter a 9-inch square cake pan. In a medium bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and creamy. Beat means to mix the butter and sugar vigorously with a spoon, fork, or electric mixer.

Add the eggs, one at a time while being sure to blend the mixture well after each addition. Add the vanilla and mix all together.

Mix the dry ingredients into the butter mixture and then the yogurt. Be sure to mix everything until just combined. Finally, add the chocolate chips.

Spread the batter in the buttered pan and sprinkle the topping mixture of sugar and cinnamon on top. Press down lightly with your hand so the topping does not move when the cake rises.

Bake in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes until done. My daughter used a toothpick to determine if the cake was done or needed more time. She stuck the toothpick into the cake and if it came out clean it was done, if cake stuck to the toothpick, it needed more time.

Baking has never been my strong suit but I’m loving how much my daughter is getting into it and becoming comfortable in the kitchen.