Pineapple Coffee Cake with Sugared Pecan Topping

I love eating breakfast out on my deck on weekend mornings.   I normally make savory breakfasts but I was in the mood for a coffee cake today.  I adore coffee cakes and it all stems from when I was younger and went to stay the night at my Grandma and Grandpa Haddock's house.  They would ALWAYS have a Sara Lee pecan coffee cake in the freezer for my breakfast.  I used to love picking the pecans off the top and savoring their roasted goodness. Ever since those days, coffee cakes and Lawrence Welk make me tear up wishing I could re-live just one of those precious weekends with them.   I miss them so much!  

Nothing against Sara Lee, I'm still quite fond of there version but pineapple is probably my very favorite fruit and I love subtle flavor it gives this cake.  Add the sugared pecans on top and you get a crispy crunchy outside with a soft moist center.  Oh, and a word to the wise.... serve it with bacon!!  Then you get the whole salty/sweet thing going and that will make you really happy.

Pineapple Coffee Cake with Sugared Pecan Topping

(printable copy)

2 cups flour

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 large egg

1 1/4 cups non fat yogurt

1/4 cup canola oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups pineapple chunks, blotted dry and coarsely chopped

1/2 cup pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and coat a small square baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. 

Whisk flour, 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.

Whisk egg, yogurt, oil, and vanilla in a large bowl until smooth.

Mix flour into wet ingredients and stir until blended.  Do not overmix.

Fold in pineapple, and scrape batter into the prepared pan.  Batter will be thick.

Combine pecans with the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar and sprinkle over the top.

Bake for 50 - 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Let cool for 10 minutes and serve warm.  

I'm thinking of adding some coconut next time for a pina colada type coffee cake!  I'll let you know how it goes! 

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