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–+ servings
A perfect slice of cowboy cake on a white plate, showing the fluffy inside and the crunchy cinnamon crumb topping.
Callie Brooks

Cowboy Cake

This old-fashioned cowboy cake is a comforting, cinnamon-scented dessert with a sweet crumb topping. Originally born out of frontier practicality, it uses basic pantry ingredients to create a moist, buttery, and nostalgic treat perfect for breakfast or dessert.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 9 squares
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 0.5 tsp salt

Equipment

  • large mixing bowl
  • pastry cutter or hands
  • whisk
  • 9×9-inch baking pan
  • wire rack

Method
 

  1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Add the cold, cubed butter.
  2. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Reserve 1 cup of this mixture for the topping.
  3. To the remaining mixture, add baking soda and salt. Whisk to combine.
  4. Add buttermilk and eggs to the dry ingredients. Stir just until combined. Do not overmix.
  5. Grease and flour a 9x9 inch baking pan. Pour in the batter and smooth the top.
  6. Sprinkle reserved crumb topping evenly over the batter. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 40–45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  7. Let the cake cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 420kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 5gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 95mgSodium: 260mgPotassium: 115mgFiber: 1gSugar: 30gVitamin A: 600IUCalcium: 80mgIron: 1.9mg

Notes

For a nuttier twist, stir in chopped pecans or walnuts. Love chocolate? Add chocolate chips or cinnamon chips for extra richness. Don’t skip the cooling time — it helps the cake set perfectly for clean slices. Freezes well too!

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