Cherry Streusel Coffee Cake.

Summer is my favorite season, if you couldn't tell.  So last week when cherries started popping up in stores and markets, we nabbed some up as quickly as possible!  I would say half of them were sweet as can be while the other half needed some improvement, which is where this coffee cake came in handy.  This is a great, simple and easy recipe for any fruit you need to use this summer that might not be completely ideal for eating out-of-hand - peaches, plums, nectarines, blueberries, I could even see strawberries working here.  It's an absolutely delicious cake to enjoy with iced coffee or tea on summer mornings :)

Cherry Streusel Coffee Cake
Adapted from Cooking Light
Streusel topping:
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup oats (quick-cooking or regular)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter, cut into small pieces, cold

Combine the flour, sugar, oats and cinnamon in a small bowl and cut in the butter until you have a cohesive, crumbly mixture.  Keep this in the fridge while you assemble the cake batter.

Cake:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup plain low-fat yogurt or sour cream
1 1/2 cups pitted cherries, quartered

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. and grease an 8x8" baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Sift or whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in a small bowl.  In a larger bowl, cream the sugar and butter together until well-combined, then add the egg and vanilla extract and stir until the mixture is smooth.  Add the flour and yogurt to the butter mixture alternately, beginning and ending with the flour.  Spread half of the cake batter into the bottom of the prepared pan, followed by half of the streusel topping.  Place the fruit on top of the streusel evenly, then spread the rest of the cake batter over the fruit, and finally sprinkle the rest of the streusel over. 

Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 45 minutes.  It should be golden brown on top and a toothpick or knife inserted into the center will come out clean when done.