By The Maitre D

Our regular readers will know that we are always looking for simple recipes that are at the same time delicious yet easy to prepare, whether you are a seasoned veteran of the kitchen or just starting out. I have a particular fondness for deserts and especially ones that are good for ending a meal or just having with your tea or coffee or whenever the urge hits you. Today's recipe fits the bill perfectly.

The first requirement of course is that it must be easy to make. Well, the directions are really straightforward and easy to follow. There are no special ingredients and any reasonably well stocked kitchen should have everything you need, except maybe for the sour cream, condensed milk and maple syrup, but these are easily found at your nearest grocery store.

Perhaps the only gotcha for the new cooks is that you need a bundt pan.

Step 1 - Preheat oven to 350F/175C

Step 2 - Mix together the dry ingredients in large bowl

• 3 cups flour
• 1 &frac; tsp. baking powder
• 1 &frac; tsp baking soda
• pinch salt

Step 3 - Mix together the wet ingredients in another bowl

• 3 eggs
• &frac; cups butter or margarine
• 1 &frac; cups white sugar
• 1 &frac; tsp vanilla extract
• 500gr/16oz. container of sour cream (do not use light)

Step 4 - Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly

Step 5 - Mix the topping ingredients in a separate bowl

• &frac; cup firmly packed brown sugar
• &frac; cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• 1 &frac; tsp cinnamon

Step 6 - Put it all together Lightly grease or spray the bundt pan and then layer the batter and the topping, starting with batter and ending with topping. Make three complete layers. Don't worry if the layers aren't even as the crazier they are the better the end result. Also, make sure your first batter layer is thicker than your last batter layer.

Pop into the oven, on the middle rack and bake for 1 hour at 350F/175C.

Step 7 - Prepare the Caramel sauce

• 60ml/2oz. maple syrup (optional)
• 500ml/2 cups brown sugar
• 500ml/16oz. corn syrup
• 250ml/8oz. butter or margarine
• 300m/10oz. condensed milk

Mix brown sugar, corn syrup, butter and maple syrup in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. After 3 minutes remove from heat, add the condensed milk and mix well. Transfer to a large plastic container and allow to cool.

Step 8 - When serving the cake drizzle with the caramel sauce

This simple to make coffee cake is delicious and makes a great ending to any meal but I really like it served by itself as a treat with a cup of coffee or in the evening while watching your favorite TV show.

By the way, we call it Gail's Coffee Cake because it comes from one of our dearest friends Gail. So thank you Gail!!

About The Author: The Maitre D is the author of the Culinary Blast and the inspiration behind Thousands and Thousands of Recipes and the Internet Maitre D. If you like food and cooking this is the place to be. Join Thousands and Thousands of Recipes and download your free Internet Maitre D, your guide to food and cooking on the Net. (His site appears to no longer be online anymore)

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