Easy Cherry Streusel Pastry Cake + Book & Tote Giveaway from author Cleo Coyle

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Truth? I have never been a big fan of Valentine's Day. When I was a singleton, I felt left out. As part of a couple (though I do dearly love my husband), I find the whole holiday somewhat forced. Not that it's a bad idea to enrich hardworking chocolatiers, restaurateurs, and greeting card companies. The economy can use as much activity as earnest sweethearts can give it!

On the other hand, I can't help thinking of the many people who are not in the hearts and flowers mood this week. If you are among them, I'm here to help (if only a little) by suggesting...


(#1) We include our beloved pets in the
"Valentine Sweetheart" category and...



(#2) We indulge in little baking therapy. 

💘

To continue reading my Valentine
recipe post 
click here (or scroll down).



Behold...

   My Valentine Baking Therapy!  

💘

This beautiful Cherry Streusel Pastry Cake is insanely easy to make yet impressive to serve. So bake up this blushing Valentine's week breakfast, brunch, or coffee-break treat, and consider celebrating Valentine's Day not as a couple's holiday, but as one that celebrates all who have love in their hearts, including love for children, grandchildren, siblings, best friends, and even those furry little souls (our pets) who bring so much joy and love into our lives.




☕ A Recipe Note from Cleo

This recipe came to me years ago from an enthusiastic reader of our 
Coffeehouse Mysteries. I've adapted it slightly, writing my own directions, tips, and notes.

Thank you to Shirley Jackson for the original inspiration. I know she would join me in wishing you boundless joy in baking, eating, and living!

Note from Shirley: "I made this cake for the first time in Houston for a group of Red Hat friends. This cake tastes just like a yeast bread that has taken you a long time to make. Sure does make your kitchen smell cozy."

Note from Cleo: Shirley is absolutely right about the yeast and the coziness of this cherry streusel cake, which is why I call it a pastry cake. Over the years, I've seen many cake recipes with a cake mix as starter. I've seen many "pie-filling-over-cake-mix" recipes, too. But I've never seen yeast used as an ingredient. The use of yeast in this recipe gives the streusel cake a sweet bread-like flavor and texture, but without kneading or rising time. It's great with coffee so it works as a breakfast treat, afternoon snack, and an after-dinner dessert. 

May you bake it with love and eat with joy! 

~ Cleo 

To download this recipe in a
free PDF that you can print
save, or share, click here.




🍒 Cherry Streusel Pastry Cake

from Cleo Coyle via Coffeehouse Mystery 
reader Shirley Jackson!

Ingredients:

For the dough base:
1 package yellow cake mix
1 cup all-purpose flour, unsifted
1 packet (1/4 ounce) dry yeast
2/3 cup very warm tap water
2 large eggs, whisked with fork

For the topping:

5 Tablespoons butter (salted is fine) 

1 can (1 pound 5 ounce) cherry pie filling
2 Tablespoons granulated sugar


Step 1 - Make dough base: First preheat your oven to 375° Fahrenheit and coat a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan with cooking spray (or grease and flour it to prevent sticking). Then, into a large mixing bowl, measure out 1-1/2 cups of the dry cake mix. (You are setting aside the remaining mix, which you will use for the topping.) 


Add the flour and dry yeast to the bowl. Now add the 2/3rds cup of very warm tap water. Allow the yeast to come alive and bubble for a minute. Finally, add the 2 eggs. Beat everything for 2 minutes at medium speed, scraping bowl often. Dough will be thick. Using a rubber spatula or back of a spoon, spread it across the bottom of your coated baking pan.



Step 2 - Make streusel topping: Melt butter in a saucepan and pour it over the remaining dry cake mix, which you set aside in Step 1. Mix the butter in well with the dry mix. It should be lumpy and crumbly. (See photo below.)




Step 3 - Assemble pastry cake: Spoon the cherry pie filling evenly across the top of the dough in the baking pan. Sprinkle sugar on top of the filling. Finally, using your fingers, crumble the streusel topping over it all. NOTE: Because there was so much topping, I held back some of mine so the bright redness of the cherries would show through, making a prettier presentation.

 


Step 4 - Bake and glaze: Bake the cake for 30 minutes in your preheated oven (375° F). Cool the cake on a rack, allowing air to circulate under the hot pan bottom. When the top is cool, drizzle with glaze. See my Quick Glaze recipe below. After cake is served, refrigerate leftovers to keep fresh. This cake is also delicious chilled!





Cleo's Favorite Quick Glaze


Cleo's glaze note: Shirley's cake glaze used corn syrup, water, and powdered sugar. With her indulgence, I am giving you my favorite butter glaze instead, which is what I use when I make this cake. Here is the simple recipe...

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons butter (salted is fine)
2 Tablespoons whole milk (cream or half-and-half)
1 cup confectioner's (powdered or icing) sugar, sifted

Directions: Over medium heat, warm butter and milk in a saucepan. Do not let this mixture brown, burn, or boil or you will have a scalded taste in your glaze. As soon as butter has melted, whisk in the sifted confectioner's sugar, a little at a time, until it is completely melted. You must work with the glaze quickly, while it is still warm. Drizzle the warm glaze over the cake using a rubber spatula, the tines of a fork, or a spoon. If the glaze hardens up on you, place the saucepan over the heat again and whisk well until liquefied and smooth once more.






Happy Valentine's Week to all those with love in their hearts, including all of you pet moms and dads out there. So many of us dearly love our furry friends. (Two of our many New York strays are featured in my photos today.) Without a doubt, they're our Valentine's, too.



from Mr. Fellows & Cleocatra, may you...





Cleo's HONEY ROASTED

Prize Package Giveaway

Winner Chosen!


We asked a question of our readers and randomly 
drew the winner from the comments below...


Congrats to our winner:

Tamara G. of 

Fresno, California!



"Be the Bear!"

--Matt's advice to Clare
 in Honey Roasted 
by Cleo Coyle


What does it mean?
Find out by reading the book!










Eat (and read) with joy!


New York Times bestselling author
of The Coffeehouse Mysteries and
Haunted Bookshop Mysteries



Cleo (Alice) with her husband Marc

Visit Cleo's online coffeehouse here.
And follow her at these links...






Our 20th 

Coffeehouse Mystery!

Bulletproof Barista

To Buy:

Amazon

Bookshop.org

Barnes & Noble

+ Many More Buy Links




Bulletproof Barista
includes a killer menu
 of delicious recipes!





KIRKUS REVIEWS

"Scads of red herrings, peeks behind the show-biz curtain, and bountiful appended recipes will leave fans smiling contentedly."


BOOKLIST

"This twentieth Coffeehouse mystery (after Honey Roasted) brings together the history of the shop, ripped-from-the-headlines plot elements, [and] the drama of on-site filming."







New 
Paperback Edition!



Includes a mini guide
to honey varieties
and a wonderful menu
of delicious recipes...



Click here or on the image above
for Cleo Coyle's Free Illustrated
Recipe Guide to Honey Roasted




The Coffeehouse Mysteries are bestselling works
of amateur sleuth fiction set in a landmark 
Greenwich Village coffeehouse, and each of the 
20 titles includes the added bonus of recipes.  


Get a free Title Checklist of
Cleo Coyle's Books in Order
Click here 
or on the image below.






Don't Miss Our New
Haunted Bookshop
Mystery...

  

Jack & Pen 
Together Again!


"AMAZING AND UNIQUE" 

~ Fresh Fiction



"DELIGHTFUL" ~ Kirkus Reviews


To Buy:

Amazon

Bookshop.org

Barnes & Noble

+ Many More Buy Links









👇


Cleo is now working on her 
next book and 
Newsletter!


Don't miss her book news, 
bonus recipes, and fun 

prize package giveaways!

TO SIGN UP...






104 comments :

  1. Welcome to our online party! Thank you for joining us in celebrating the release of our brand-new Coffeehouse Mystery, HONEY ROASTED #19 in our long-running Coffeehouse Mystery series.

    BIG THANKS to so many of you who have given Clare, Madame, Matt, Mike Quinn and our merry band of baristas such a warm welcome back to sleuthing again!

    We’re also looking forward to the upcoming publication of our Haunted Bookshop Mystery, THE GHOST AND THE STOLEN TEARS. So be sure to keep in touch with us for more info on Jack & Pen's next sleuthing adventure.

    These past few years have thrown many challenges our way. And your way, too, no doubt! Marc and I hope the coming year will bring health and happiness to all of your homes. We look forward to hearing from you in the comments below and seeing your answers to our Valentine Party Giveaway question...

    WHAT CHARACTER (OR CHARACTERS) FROM OUR COFFEEHOUSE AND/OR HAUNTED BOOKSHOP WORLDS WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO TREAT YOU TO A SPECIAL VALENTINE DINNER?

    Good luck, everyone, have fun, and we sincerely hope our books, recipes, and newsletters will continue to give you joy!

    With much love...

    ~ Cleo
    Sign up for Cleo’s free Newsletter

    Coffeehouse Mystery.com
    “Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
    HauntedBookshopMystery.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would love to dine with Madam & Claire.

      Delete
    2. I would love to dine with Claire and Jake !!

      Delete
    3. mshbele. I would love to dine with Claire and Madame. Both of them would be a hoot to have a conversation with!

      Delete
    4. I would love to dine with Esther and Boris. Her level of snark is right up there with mine!

      Delete
    5. I would like to dine with Michael Ryan Francis Quinn. I think his job is fascinating and would love to hear the inside scoop. cabinkak

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    6. How about Clare's daughter; I bet her perspective on everything would be very interesting - Clare's 1st marriage to Matteo, her relationship with Madame helping her through this tough time and more! patdkfl

      Delete
    7. I would love to dine with Madame and Detective Quinn. crazych

      Delete
    8. I would want to have a Valentine dinner with Claire and Madame.

      Delete
    9. jschiro I would like to have dinner with Claire so we can discuss recipes and our kitties!

      Delete
    10. I would find it interesting to dine with Madame

      Delete
    11. For a Valentine's dinner I would definitely sit down with Madame or with Jack. Either one would have a fascinating sense of history.
      Bjhart6

      Delete
  2. I'd love to dine with Madame, Clare's ex-MIL. jokan99

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jack Shepard!

    jtcgc at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I would love to have Valentine's dinner with Jack Shepard <3 marilar

    ReplyDelete
  5. Definitely Jack! I would love to hear his stories! Thank you for this chance! areewek

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'd invite the detective that was in the first book I think his name is mike

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm not sure as this is a new series for me.
    Thanks for the chance.
    barbiefan(@)comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  8. Madame or Clare. They both seem to make the most mouth watering dishes when I read the Coffee Shop mysteries. They make things I probably won't get around to making myself. Yum!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I would definitely say Claire of course but Jack is a very close second!!!!
    Blessed

    ReplyDelete
  10. I would love to dine with Claire and share gossip and recipes.
    emmasmo

    ReplyDelete
  11. OMG Matteo, for sure! What a special Valentine's Day dinner THAT would be!! a007gyr

    ReplyDelete
  12. I need coffee with Madame! Claire is my second choice.

    ReplyDelete
  13. That recipe sure looks like it's delicious and yummy.
    I would like like to have dinner with Madame & Detective Mike Quin. OH the questions I have for both of them.
    Hope I Win this amazing contest

    ReplyDelete
  14. Congratulations on the release of "HONEY ROASTED"! On my TBR list and I can't wait for the opportunity to dive in reading it.

    For me, I think it would be Madame Dreyfus Allegro Dubois. You have to love a senior citizen may have lived a lot but feels there's way more ahead of her and is always ready for a new adventure. Kind of sounds like me. :)
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

    ReplyDelete
  15. dinner with Jack
    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Without question I would love to spend Valentine's Day with Jack Shepard! And have him tell me about the "good ol' days."
    colorad

    ReplyDelete
  17. I would love to have a Valentine dinner with Jack Shepard but in case I couldn't hear or see him, I would want Pen there too. I'd just like to hear some of his stories. I think he'd be fascinating. I know he wouldn't be eating so we'd have to have it in a private setting.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Madame would interesting and fun to have as a dinner companion. sbills23

    ReplyDelete
  19. Jack because I am a retro kid of gal.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i forgot my first seven letters are ktpotat

      Delete
  20. Madame would for sure be my first choice. Bobnton

    ReplyDelete
  21. I will say Clare Cosi, because maybe she would know the best coffee-flavored chocolates to give me! jsmith3

    ReplyDelete
  22. I would like to dine with Claire, she always makes such good food -- and then there's the coffee!!
    valleyr

    ReplyDelete
  23. Mike quinn but it would have to be apple as I am highly allergic to cherries and one bit would kill me.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I'd most like Madame to treat me to Valentine's dinner because she seems to be a most interesting person! marafra

    ReplyDelete
  25. Yum! I'd love to dine with Jack, he'd be an excellent dinner companion and have some great stories.
    kozo898

    ReplyDelete
  26. I would love to have dinner with Jack and Penny. It would be a spooktacukar dinner.
    Sand194

    ReplyDelete
  27. I want to have dinner with Dante Silva! But if he had an art exhibit, I'd like to have dinner with Esther and Tucker because we'd laugh the whole time. :) Thank you for the opportunity to enter. khpinel

    ReplyDelete
  28. If I could have two dinners, I like to dine with Jack, of course! But, I'd also like to dine with Aunt Sadie! I have some questions I like to ask both of them! obdo@ao

    ReplyDelete
  29. I would enjoy a girls night out, or morning, or afternoon with Clare. She would be great to talk and laugh with (and share yummy coffee too!) My email: laidbac

    ReplyDelete
  30. I'd love to be treated to dinner with Claire...everything would have coffee in it!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Mike Quinn would be awesome to go to din we with
    Jwisley(at) aol(dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  32. I would love to dine with Jack. He seems like a great guy ( ghost lol)
    nvictor

    ReplyDelete
  33. Dinner with Matt Allegro. Lou817b

    ReplyDelete
  34. Dinner with Jack which I would enjoy greatly. sauble

    ReplyDelete
  35. Anyone of them. As long as they know how to cook.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Claire and Matt would be the best to have dinner with !
    tammywe

    ReplyDelete
  37. I’d love to have dinner with the infamous detective.

    ReplyDelete
  38. I would like to have dinner with Matt Allegro - rhondawh

    ReplyDelete
  39. I would love a date with Jack for Valentine's Day! karenbe

    ReplyDelete
  40. I can't resist, Matteo allegro! First 7 of Email: camimye

    ReplyDelete
  41. Clare could treat me to a Valentine dinner which, of course, would include choclate. I always check the dessert menu first hunting for chocolate or other decadent desserts. Chocolate mousse speaks my name.

    ReplyDelete
  42. I forgot to include the first 7 letters of my email address. amwiden

    ReplyDelete
  43. Definitely Matt! Love his adventure, can't wait to hear about the places he traveled too, finding the perfect beans!
    TGordon first 7 of my email for the newsletter

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Congratulations, Tamara G. You are the winner!

      THANKS TO EVERYONE who entered our giveaway. We wish we could give a prize package to all of you. (Maybe someday!) Until then, we want to thank you for keeping us inspired. Be sure to check out our upcoming newsletters for new contests, and thanks again for joining in the fun!

      ~ Cleo
      Sign up for Cleo’s free Newsletter

      Coffeehouse Mystery.com
      “Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
      HauntedBookshopMystery.com

      Delete
  44. My first instinct is to say Mike, but I respect his and Clare's relationship too much. I'd love to have dinner with Nancy, though! I love her country charm and would love to be her friend.
    maydais

    ReplyDelete
  45. I would love to dine with Jack..... recipe looks yummy, thank you

    ReplyDelete
  46. Wow I would love to have dinner with Officer Greene and of course Jack then if cancels then Nancy would of course have to be in one of the chairs. Thank you for writing these wonderful books in print I enjoy them so much while I battling my RSD your newsletters are great Peggy Clayton

    ReplyDelete
  47. I would love to have dinner with Madame. Just think she is so fascinating and interesting.

    rac_885

    ReplyDelete
  48. My dinner companion choices are Jack and Penny. Thank you for the chance to win.
    madamha

    ReplyDelete
  49. I'd love to have dinner with Penelope! Especially in her bookstore in RI :)

    ReplyDelete
  50. I'd love to have dinner with Penelope! Especially in her bookstore in RI :) janesay

    ReplyDelete
  51. It would be an experience to dine with Tucker and Dante - I think they would complement each other. bobandc

    ReplyDelete
  52. I think dining with Clair & Madame would be fun.
    lcwiley@

    ReplyDelete
  53. I would love to have dinner with Madame Dreyfus Allegro Dubois or Ester Best! Both would be very interesting to meet and get to know better! bethiaw

    ReplyDelete
  54. Mateo would provide interesting stories (and provide eye candy!)
    grahamh

    ReplyDelete
  55. Definitely Clair and Mike. lndklbck @ gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  56. I'd love to dine with Jack Shepard in a black and white restaurant with Mateo as our sommelier and Madame as the menu curator. For dessert, we'd head back to the coffee shop and have a latte and amaretti cookies with Claire and her kitties.
    jstone2

    ReplyDelete
  57. My Valentine's Day dinner companion of choice would be Mateo Allegro as who doesn't crave some romance, flattery and flirtation on Valentine's Day!

    ReplyDelete
  58. I would love to dine with madam. She would have such fascinating stories! aut1063

    ReplyDelete
  59. I would enjoy a Sunday night supper with with Pen and her family and Jack has to be there,too.

    darlene

    ReplyDelete
  60. I would to have dinner with Jack Shephard.
    diannekc8

    ReplyDelete
  61. I think Tucker and Punch would be wonderful dinner companions. Tucker and I share a home state, and Punch seems like he's great fun!

    ReplyDelete
  62. I would like to share dinner with Clair and Mike Quinn. dalec29.

    ReplyDelete
  63. I would love to share dinner with Clair and Tucker.

    ReplyDelete
  64. I would love to dine with Clair!
    ritajoe4.....

    ReplyDelete
  65. I would love to dine with Clair and Madam.

    ReplyDelete
  66. It would definitely be great fun to have dinner with Mateo. bmalic61

    ReplyDelete
  67. Mat hands down! I would love to talk about Italy and his over seas journeys, plus the eye candy would be a great bonus. Branmel4

    ReplyDelete
  68. Definitely Madame - she has had and continues to have such an interesting life
    marinac

    ReplyDelete
  69. Clare and her daughter Joy (joyce.z)

    ReplyDelete
  70. I'd like to dine with Madame, Clair, Joy and Detective Quinn.
    nani_ge

    ReplyDelete
  71. I have the hots for Jack...not quite sure how that would work but...
    schneidt79

    ReplyDelete
  72. While all of the characters in the Coffeehouse series are great, for Valentine's Day I would love to have dinner with Detective Mike R. F. Quinn. I listen to the audio version of the books and love how he says "Sweetheart" to Clare. eg@garr

    ReplyDelete
  73. I would enjoy Valentine's Day dinner with Jack Shepard!! ❤❤ Thanks for the chance!

    jarjm1980(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  74. I love detectives, so I have to go with Mike Quinn.
    Thank you for the opportunity!!
    lindalou64(@)live(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  75. I would love a dinner with Mike and Jack! ♥ Stephanieagoodrich@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  76. Oh, I definitely think I would love to dine with Madame. Ithink her stores would be wonderful. Although I am just a tiny bit younger, and live somewhere completely different, still our memories of the times would be swimilar. diane@buttenews.net, or dianerae56@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  77. Definitely jack Shepard and Mike Quinn. bnharris6218@outlook.com

    ReplyDelete
  78. This giveaway is now over. By random number draw, the winner is Tamara G. of Fresno, California. Congratulations, Tamara!

    THANKS TO EVERYONE who entered our giveaway. We wish we could give a prize package to all of you. (Maybe someday!) Until then, we want to thank you for keeping us inspired. Be sure to check out our upcoming newsletters for new contests, and thanks again for joining in the fun!

    ~ Cleo
    Sign up for Cleo’s free Newsletter

    Coffeehouse Mystery.com
    “Where coffee and crime are always brewing…”
    HauntedBookshopMystery.com

    ReplyDelete
  79. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete