You know one of the many things I find interesting is what someone considers to be a treat for themselves. My son loves grabbing a milkshake or a smoothie while out. My daughter is a cantaloupe fanatic (that is putting it mildly), my husband loves fresh cherries, and me? I love a good crumb cake – although I am able to love many desserts at once because I just have such a big heart~winks~.
What is your treat when out and about? Do you like to swing through and grab a coffee, hit up the local smoothie shop, or are you more of a salad type person? I’d love to hear your answers in the comments.
My favorite crumb cakes are the bakery type with a THICK layer of crumbs. I mean, if you are going to have a piece of cake, why not make it an amazing piece of cake? This recipe hits all the right notes. A nice thick layer of crumb, bursts of flavorful cherries, and a buttery, not too sweet cake. I know you think it’s going to be overly sweet with that thick layer of crumbs but it really isn’t. In fact, it’s much lesser than a traditional cake with icing on top. But the beauty of this is that it is also dense and filling, perfect served alongside a cup of coffee or a glass of iced tea, like the one I have pictured.
That pretty glass was sent to me by my friends at Southern Breeze. I plan on doing some Facebook Live video chats coming up and giving some of their wonderful tea away so stay tuned and make sure you “like” my page for updates.
Now, on this gorgeous sunny Friday afternoon, we’d best get in the kitchen because this is Alabama and tomorrow we are expecting two steps short of a blizzard. Life is often like that, which is all the more reason why you should enjoy every moment while you can! What are your plans for this weekend?
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1 box 15 to 18 ounces yellow, butter golden, or white cake mix
- ¾ cup whole milk
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup 1 stick butter, melted and cooled slightly
- 10 ounce jar of maraschino cherries drained, rinsed, and chopped
For the crumb topping:
- 1 cup 2 sticks butter, at room temperature
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a 9 X 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- Place the cake mix, milk, eggs, vanilla, and melted butter in a large mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer at medium speed until blended and smooth, scraping down the side of the bowl if needed, about 2 minutes. Stir chopped cherries in by hand. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish.
- In a separate medium sized bowl, combine the butter, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon and cut together using a long-tined fork or pastry cutter until well mixed and crumbly. Sprinkle the crumb mixture over the top of the cake batter.
- Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Allow to cool slightly and then sprinkle the top with confectioners' sugar, if desired.
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“There are people who have money and then there are people who are rich.”
~Coco Chanel
Yum 
Oh my! Why can’t this be low carb?? Yummy!! Is it ok to refer someone to your site? She needs to read your bag to dishes post. She’s on a fb group. Have wonderful weekend!
I would consider it a great favor if you would refer someone to Southern Plate, thank you! And AGREED! I had two bites of this cake, two, exactly, lol. Have you tried the low carb Zucchini fries yet? I can’t stop eating them!
I can’t do it often, but I LOVE to swing by and get an ice cream cone on occasion. Soft serve is the best!!
Oh yes, Where is your favorite place to get it from? I love Chick Fil A’s ice cream.
Could this be done with other fruit (i.e., blueberries or strawberries)? Maybe tossed in a little flour to help control the moisture?
My treat is usually a cappuccino from caribou coffee it’s not very often so it stays special I may adapt this recipe using candied cherries do you think that would work? If you’re ever in Iowa during fair time I could show you around maybe even arrange for you to judge some of the contests I sponsor
I think candied cherries would be a brilliant substitution! You know, Iowa is actually one state I have never been to! I’ll holler if it pops up on my schedule but my goal right now is to not travel anymore, with a few exceptions. I will be in Missouri to do some shows at the end of August, though. I’m just a terrible homebody 🙂 HOWEVER the one bit “if” is that I don’t know what God has planned for me so I’m ready to give up my plans to pursue His at any moment!
I don’t travel either I like my own bed and my own belongings. I did win a trip to Disney from work once and took my friend the company put us up in the Grand Floridian and that was something I could never afford on my own so that was my one travel trip.
We got to stay at the Grand Floridian once! It is such a stunningly beautiful hotel. We were there as part of a food blogger conference so Disney gave us a package deal with lots of discounts since they knew we’d be blogging about our stay. We decided to add on one night (the hotel and tickets were included with conference) and when Ricky called he found out one night at the hotel was more than our entire conference package! We ended up going to a value hotel for that extra night – but I’m so glad we had the experience 🙂 Once, lol.
hmmmm….favorite treat to get is a flavored iced coffee at Starbucks or Caribou. When I’m on vacation I need to have ice cream or a piece of pie. 🙂
I’ve heard of Caribou places but never seen one. I used to love me some Starbucks but as I tell my teenager, Mama doesn’t drink Starbucks so you can ;). When we visit family in Georgia, though, I take my niece to Starbucks several times while there because she loves it so much. I usually get a venti skinny caramel latte with an extra shot of expresso 😉
My treat, while out and about is a delicious Mocha Java Chiller from Sonic. I love it! I only get it occasionally, so that I won’t get “burned out” on it! 😀
My treat would always be ice cream-cone or sundae.
This cake looks amazing! I may need to make this for out little snow this weekend. Favorite treat would be that there is a local coffee shop in our little town and they make the absolute best Iced Chai Tea Latte. I don’t get there very often but am always happy when I can.
I’m having company and needed this recipe, thank you!
My favorite treat is a butterfinger blast from Sonic – that happens RARELY, though. I grew up in the sixties and just love Baby Ruth’s and Butterfinger’s!
Hi Christy!
I agree, crumb cakes with a thick layer of crumbs are the best, and I can’t wait to try this one!
Do you think I could use frozen blueberries instead of the cherries? I happen to have some blueberries in the freezer, but no cherries.
I like to treat myself to a Dairy Queen ice cream cone when I’m out. I love that soft serve!
Thank you for great recipes, advice, and wonderful inspiration!
Blueberries would be DIVINE in this!!! Thank YOU and I hope you get you a DQ cone soon! I like them dipped in butterscotch 😉
YOU HAVE A NICE WEBSITE AND VERY TASTY RECIPES. THOSE AD CHOICES ARE VERY
ANNOYING. DO WHAT YOU CAN TO GET RID OF THEM, THAN YOU WILL HAVE ONE OF
BEST FOOD SITES ON THE INTERNET.
I made the Cake Mix Cherry Crumb Cake, it is so good.
Thank you.
I think Christy said once that the ads help keep this site free for all of us (but I’m not sure). Love Southern Plate
You nailed it Gloria. I wish I could have an ad free site as well, but the fact of the matter is that this site costs over $2000 a month just to operate, not to mention buying the groceries and all of the work I put into it (I like to have a little paycheck for my work, too). So if I got rid of the ads, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have the best site on the net (that was very sweet of you to say though), because I wouldn’t be able to keep it online. I appreciate your consideration and thank you for coming despite me having to pay the piper to keep the lights on 🙂
For a treat, I like to make ice cream at home: only three ingredients and an electric mixer, plus chilling time in any freezer-safe container. It’s fast, easy and a little too rich to have more than a bit, which helps stop over-indulging. And, what do you know, that ice cream is *perfect* on top of dessert recipes right here at SP!
I love the tea mason jar in
Thank you, it was a gift from my friends at Southern Breeze!!
I love the tea mason jar with the silver straw. Would like to know where did you get the straw. Would love to make a few.of the mason jar with straws for tea. Love the cherry crumb cake can’t wait to make it. God Bless my friend
Hi Sharon, the jar along with the straw was a gift from my friends at Southern Breeze. I will ask them and see if they can tell me where you might can get one.
I have frozen cherries, I am going to try this with them. Not as sweet as maraschinos, but I think they will be good.
I think it will turn out fine, let me know after you get a chance to make it 🙂
This cake sounds great! I love recipes made with maraschino cherries. I love a good donut or brownie as a treat when out and about.
I hope you get the chance to try it soon Donna!!
My favorite treat is to go to the grocery store in town and have a Dr Enuf and a $1.99 deli container filled with mac n cheese with chili added..I sit in the cafe and watch my little Mountain City pass by thru the window before I do my weekly shopping.
Oh my goodness, I love that!!!
My fav indulgence is a skinny vanilla latte from Starbucks , then a dollar soft serve cone from McDonald’s…..yum!
🙂 Yum indeed!
Love your site very much.
You are the best.