Quick Coffee Cake

When I was younger I was always confused about coffee cake, thinking it was coffee flavoured, when in fact it's really just cake that goes really well with coffee. I had a group meeting for school Sunday morning, and decided since we were all having to get up early and meet, we should at least enjoy a little treat to kick off the day. I had never made this recipe, and it is pretty simple, and calls for ingredients most people have on hand. As a bonus, it is quick enough to make spur of the moment if you ever have last minute coffee or tea guests.

Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 egg
- 1 1/4 cup flour
 - 2 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon

In a medium bowl, beat together first 1/2 cup sugar, oil, vanilla, and egg, just until well mixed. In another bowl, stir together the flour and baking powder. Add the flour mixture and the milk alternately, by spoonfuls, to the egg mixture. Stir well.

Mix together remaining 1/2 cup sugar with the cinnamon.

Pour the batter into a well-greased 8-inch square baking pan and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Using a knife, gently swirl the cinnamon sugar through the batter, folding it over in places, but leave it unevenly mixed. There will be some spots where the sugar is on the surface, and marbled into the batter in others.

Baking in 350F oven for 25-30 minutes, until edges are browned and a toothpick inserted into centre comes out clean.

Serve warm or cold - with a cup of coffee of course!