Cowboy Coffee Cake

I found this recipe years ago in an old recipe book. I do not know which publication it came from but I've been told this is the best Coffee Cake ever, mostly by men. This is purely speculation on my part, but I think this is why it is not a 'Cowgirl' Coffee Cake.

Cowboy Coffee Cake
20 minutes prep / 35 min bake
350º Oven


2½ c. All-purpose flour
1½ c. Packed brown sugar
½ tsp. Salt
2/3 c. butter, margarine, or shortening
2 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
1½ tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
2 beaten eggs
1 & 1/3 c. buttermilk (or quick substitute)

variations:
add dash of ginger
add ½ cup tiny chocolate chips with topping mix
½ cup chopped nuts

*quick tip:
1 & 1/3 Tbsp of white vinegar and top off with milk making 1 & 1/3 cups total ‘buttermilk’. Set for 5 minutes. Use in entirety as buttermilk above.

Grease bottom and ½ inch up sides of a 13x9x2-inch baking pan; set aside.

Combine flour, brown sugar, and salt.

Cut in butter till mixture resembles coarse crumbs; set aside ½ cup.

Stir baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg into remaining crumb mixture.

Combine eggs and buttermilk.

Add egg mixture all at once to dry mixture, mix well.

Spoon batter into prepared pan.

Stir together reserved crumb mixture with (optional) nuts or miniature chocolate chips. Sprinkle atop batter.

Bake in a 350º oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean.

Serve warm. Makes 18 servings.