Strawberry Rhubarb Coffeecake

Ever Ready is back working in the kitchen. Strawberry Rhubarb Coffee Cake is a slice of spring. I am lucky to know someone whose rhubarb patch is prolific this time of the year, and she doesn't mind sharing.  Serve the cake warm with your favorite cup of tea or coffee. The recipe has been adapted from taste of home.

Ingredients:

Filling 

• 3 cups sliced fresh or frozen rhubarb (1-inch pieces)
• 1 quart fresh strawberries, mashed
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch

Topping:

• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon 
• 1-1/3 chopped walnuts

Cake: 

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon 
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, cut into pieces
• 1-1/2 cups buttermilk
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Directions:

Filling:

In a large saucepan, combine rhubarb, strawberries, and lemon juice. Cover and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes. Combine sugar and cornstarch; stir into saucepan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat and set aside.

Topping:

For the topping, melt butter in a saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat; stir in flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nuts until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Can use a food processor for this step on low and pulse once. Refrigerate the topping for 30 minutes. 

Cake:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Beat in buttermilk, eggs, and extracts, stir into the flour mixture, and mix just to incorporate. 
Spread half the batter evenly into a greased 13 x 9-in. baking dish. Carefully spread the filling on top. Drop the remaining batter by tablespoonfuls over the filling.
Recrumble the refrigerated topping and sprinkle over batter. 

Place coffee cake on the middle rack; bake 40 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

Spring has sprung in our area.