blueberry crumb cake

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Dave and I decided to walk 1000 miles this year. It works out to about 20 miles per week, just under 3 miles per day. It’s an ambitious goal, but not unattainable. The problem is, we’re way behind. By the end of February, we were already half a month’s worth of miles behind where we should have been. And since our work schedules prohibit us from catching up during the week, our only option is to do a whole lot of walking on the weekends. Which works out great, because I feel a lot better about having a big piece of blueberry cake for breakfast when I walk 7½ miles right afterward.

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This crumb cake follows the same process as many layer cakes – the butter and sugar are creamed together, the eggs and vanilla are slowly added, then the dry ingredients and liquid ingredients are added alternately. It’s topped with a buttery sugary nut mixture before being baked.

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I thought it was very good. I’m always a big fan of blueberries (and cake), and I liked the walnuts quite a bit. The crumb topping was an enjoyable crisp contrast to the tender cake. It was maybe just the tiniest bit too sweet for me, so I think next time, I’ll actually reduce the crumb topping by half. And since I have a lot of miles to make up still, next time could be very very soon. Sihan has posted the recipe.

One year ago: Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

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Comments

  1. Oh my, sounds like a fun endeavor! And those mini-cakes are beautiful.

  2. Great mileage!!

    Mmm, love blueberries in baked goods.

  3. This looks fantastic. How did you know that walnuts are my favorite type of nut? 😛 I also like these small-disk shapes a lot. Best of luck with your walking goal – I know you can do it! 😀

  4. I’m glad the cake was worth the calories! Mini cakes are so cute, I really need to get some myself.

  5. 1000 miles? Wow – you definitely can have your cake and eat it too!

  6. Man, I wonder how much I walk yearly in the city. Your cake looks great!

  7. Beautiful – I love how packed it is with blueberries! We love to go up to Maine and get fresh blueberries! I can’t wait until they’re in season.

  8. Those are just adorable! Keep walking!

  9. Great photos, your cake looks amazing! This was a good recipe.

    Good luck with your walking goal. I think it’s really cool you guys are doing it together!

  10. Jillian says:

    Well, it looks delicious! Great idea about setting a yearly walking goal. I’m way behind you, so don’t feel too bad. 🙂

  11. Sounds like a great goal. I’m glad that I like to run, considering all the baking I do! Your cake looks great!

  12. Your mini cakes are so cute! Im gonna have to do that next time i make this recipe! This was my first TWD post. I’m excited to be apart of the group! (Although im still not sure whether i made it in or not)! I enjoy looking at your blog =)

  13. Your mini cakes are so adorable! The only time I feel good eating a dessert is right before I work out because then I cheat and eat a bit more because I’m about to burn it all off!

  14. I love your teenie versions! and 1000miles a year. That’s a really sweet goal to have and hold. Hope that you guys achieve that!

  15. that is an impressive goal! My little girl loves to go for walks so we end up taking at least one a day (sometimes up to three!) but I haven’t calculated how many miles I log with the stroller- not a bad idea!! Your cakes look adorable. I have to admit that I loved the ridiculous amount of crumb topping the recipe called for- but I guess that’s because I have a ridiculous sweet tooth!

  16. adorable little cakes – they’d be really great wrapped up as gifts!

  17. Love the idea of making mini crumb cakes that in the end have almost just as much crumb as they have cake! LOL YUM!

    Go, go, go… we’ll be keeping up with you for those 1000 miles! …and be jealous with all the calories you burn! LOL

  18. Hi I’m new to TWD, I thought this recipe was delish!! Love your blog–have followed for ages. Thanks for the photography tips, I’m working at it!

  19. Oh..your mini’s look so cute.

  20. I agree.. the crumbs were definitely a good contrast to the cake. My crumbs had this sweet and salty taste.. it was just great!

  21. I think you can do it. Update us on how you are doing. Love your cake.

  22. Lovely cake! It looks perfect. I have a pedometer through the health plan at work and it is so damn motivating (I can upload the data and win prizes!) I hope you and your husband plan a good prize for yourself!!! 🙂

  23. that’s a lot of walking– i should get a comfy new pair of sneaks and join you! love those cute little cakes!

  24. Love the little cakes! Too cute!

  25. That is very ambitious indeed! If the grocery is 1.5 miles away, you could just make it a point to go there and take a look around each day, heh heh 🙂 But given the work thing, I don’t think you should be too hard on yourself.

  26. It’s the whole actually getting out and doing it thing to clock those miles. What a great goal for the year! Cute pictures!

  27. You are such an inspiration to me! I want to walk 1000 miles a year, but I have a bum foot (plantar fasciitis) that likes to flare up when I do crazy fun stuff like that. It tolerates baking pretty well but my hips, not so much.

    Love your cake! I would definitely feel less piggish if I walked 7 1/2 miles after eating this cake.

  28. The cake is worth the walk 🙂 We have been doing a bit of that ( the walking) on weekends and enjoying tasty rewards in the kitchen.

  29. Wow, that’s a lot of walking! Kudos, and let us know how it goes! I agree about the cake though – a little too sweet, especially for breakfast. Yours looks gorgeous though!