Breakfast Made From Nostalgia
If your bakes are a little too salty because, emotions! Pull up a chair ✨
My previous post talked about how a pair of fictional grannies completely tore my heart out of my chest and filled my trash bin with snotty, tear stained tissues. In thinking about the paths those fictional grannies forged for their families, I found myself returning to thoughts of my own granny, Marie, and the path she forged for me.
Marie was a novelty of her time, her own kind of woman. She was a working woman in the 1950s and continued to climb the ladder until her retirement decades later. She was the one who encouraged me endlessly to do what I love and to follow that path with intention. And while I can’t call her anymore, I’ve found other ways to feel close to her.
Lately, especially, I’ve been looking for that closeness. Often when I am struggling, and let’s face it, between ICE raids, the assassination of a Minnesota lawmaker, the genocide in Gaza, and Israel pushing a WW, I don’t think many of us find ourselves well like our work emails insinuate. But in these moments of heaviness, I find myself reaching for the breakfast she had every morning as a way to reach for her and hear her comforting guidance. I’ll be crying as I eat it, of course, but afterward I seem to always have a little peace.
Now, what is this breakfast capable of conjuring such mental and emotional stability you ask?! Well, it certainly is a breakfast of champions. A bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios topped with sliced bananas and a cup of instant coffee. High-brow? No. Filled with magic? Absolutely. 🔮
Recently I was re-watching episodes of The Great British Bake Off and in one of the episodes a majority of the contestants were paying homage to their grannies via their bakes. That got me thinking about how Marie’s Breakfast of Champions could be transformed into something warm and soft, like the memories I have of her. So, I started baking!
In my opinion, coffee cake is one of the yummiest things to have with a cup of coffee in the morning. It is a special treat and a daily comfort. So I leaned into that and created a version inspired by her daily routine: a coffee cake topped with a layer of banana slices, a Honey Nut Cheerios streusel, and a dark coffee drizzle. And of course, mixed in are a few tears for extra flavor.
Now, this bake isn't just to comfort me - it’s for sharing. I called my Mom the first time I was testing it out and she got so excited that she recommended we have a baking day together. We’ve never done something like that, but it would be such a special core memory to create with her. It felt like Granny was showing up again, stepping back into her role as matriarch and keeping the family connected.
Welp, well…we’ve clearly established that I am an emotional wreck when it comes to fictional grannies and real ones too. (Or maybe I’m just an emotional wreck?! 🫣) I’m grateful for both and for what they have taught me about strength, showing up, and legacy.
Is there a meal, smell, or habit that brings someone back to you? Have you ever re-imagined it and given it new life?
Marie’s Breakfast of Champions
🥣 Ingredients
For the Cake:
1 ⅓ cups (175g) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
¾ cup (160g) granulated sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
½ cup plant-based plain unsweetened yogurt
2 Tablespoons oat milk
For the Cinnamon Swirl Layers:
¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
For the Banana Layer:
2 ripe (but firm) bananas, thinly sliced
For the Streusel Topping:
1¼ cups (150g) all-purpose flour
½ cup (110g) packed light brown sugar
¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
¾ cup Honey Nut Cheerios
For Dusting (before Drizzle):
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
For the Dark Mocha Coffee Drizzle:
½ cup powdered sugar
½ tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon strong brewed coffee or espresso
🧁 Instructions
Make the Streusel Topping
In a microwave safe dish, melt the butter in the microwave via 30-second bursts. Stir after each burst. Once fully melted, set aside to cool.
In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugars, cinnamon, and salt.
Pour in the melted, cooled butter and stir with a fork until large clumps form and no dry flour remains.
Refrigerate the mixture, at least 1 hour, until ready to use.
Make the Cinnamon Swirl Mixture
In a small bowl, mix together the sugar and cinnamon and set aside.
Make the Cake Batter
In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 4-5 minutes.
Beat in eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla bean paste, plant-based yogurt, and oat milk.
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Add dry ingredients to wet and stir just until combined. Don’t overmix.
Preheat Oven & Prepare Pan
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8 x 8.5 x 2.4-inch baking pan or line with parchment paper.
Assemble the Cake
Spread half the cake batter evenly into the greased pan.
Sprinkle ⅔ of the cinnamon swirl mixture evenly over cake batter.
Dollop remaining batter on top of the cinnamon swirl layer and spread evenly.
Lay banana slices evenly over the top of the batter.
Sprinkle the remaining ⅓ of the cinnamon swirl mixture evenly over the layer of banana slices.
Take the streusel out of the fridge and fold in the Honey Nut Cheerios.
Spread the Honey Nut Cheerios streusel evenly over the top of the coffee cake.
Bake
Bake for approximately 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes before drizzling or dusting with powdered sugar.
Make the Mocha Drizzle
In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and coffee.
Add a bit more coffee if needed to make it pourable.
Dust the coffee cake with powdered sugar, then drizzle generously.
☕️ To Serve
Cut into squares and serve with coffee, just like Marie would. Store covered at room temperature for 2 days or refrigerate for enjoyment throughout the week.
