Grandma's Cinnamon Cocoa Coffee Cake

by Sue Zelickson, Tastemaker in Residence

Another of my Grandma Gross’s favorites to bake for Sunday brunch. It was so good…my mouth still waters when I think of it! Recipe from Gramma Zelickson’s Kitchen

photo from allrecipes.com

Ingredients

Coffee Cake:

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

4 eggs, separated

3 cups all-purpose flour

3 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup milk

1 TBSP lemon juice

Topping:

1/2 cup sugar

1 TBSP unsweetened cocoa

1 tsp cinnamon

Raisins and nuts, if desired

Instructions

Combine topping ingredients: set aside. Heat oven to 375°. Grease 10-inch tube pan. Cream shortening, butter, and sugar. Blend egg yolks, one at a time into creamed mixture: beat well. Combine dry ingredients: blend into egg yolk mixture alternately with milk. Beat egg whites until soft peaks form; fold with lemon juice into batter. Spoon half of batter into tube pan. Sprinkle with half of topping mixture. Spoon remaining batter over topping; sprinkle with remaining topping. Bake about 1 hour. Cool: remove from pan. Cut into slices. Can also be baked in 13x9x2-inch pan; cut into squares.