Cinnamon Vanilla Crunch Loaf

I've taken a loooonnnnggg break from blogging recipes. I adopted a new dog and well - my attention has been elsewhere. Also my baking has been all doggie treats.

I decided enough is enough and put some butter and sugar in a bowl. The following is the result. Truth told it is very much like a coffee cake.

Before I kick it off, I did do 2 optional things. You don't need to do either.

1. I used vanilla sugar (basically strip out the vanilla beans, add to a couple of cups of sugar, toss a vanilla pod in a jar with the sugar mixture to season over a few weeks. Give it a good shake every couple of days).
2. I added Chipits cinnamon chips

Things you Need (Otherwise known as Ingredients and Supplies)

1/4 cup Butter, softened
1 cup Granulated Sugar (I used vanilla sugar)

2 eggs
1 tsp Vanilla extract (I used 1/2 tsp because of vanilla sugar)

2 cups Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Kosher Salt

1 cup Sour Milk
 (add 1 Tbsp of lemon juice or white vinegar to a measuring cup, top with milk to 1 cup, stir and let sit for 5 mins).

2/3 cup Cinnamon Chips (Optional)

3 Tbsp Brown Sugar
1 Tbsp Cinnamon

Things you Do (Otherwise known as Directions)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Middle rack.

Cream butter and granulated sugar together.

You can see vanilla beans

Add eggs and vanilla. Beat well. Should be a lovely pale yellow.

In another bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Alternate adding the flour and milk to butter, sugar mixture by thirds.

Make sure it is combined in between additions. I don't beat on high, just low enough to ensure everything is incorporated.

Optional part: I add 2/3 cup of cinnamon chips to the mixture. First I take a tablespoon of flour to the chips and mix it around so they are coated. Coating the chips helps them not to sink to the bottom of the loaf (cake, etc).

I then sift the chips so no extra flour is added.

Add them to the dough.

Back to main recipe.

When dough is mixed spread 1/2 of the mixture into a prepared loaf pan.

Combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Incorporate together very well.

Add 1/2 of this mixture on top of the 1st layer of dough.

Swirl a knife through to distribute the cinnamon sugar.

Top this with rest of dough.

Add rest of the cinnamon sugar on top.

Swirl.

Bake for 45-55 minutes until tester comes back clean.

 Pop out of loaf pan and let cool on a cooling rack.

Slice and serve... With coffee or tea or milk.

Cheers!
Lori