Keeping up with Katy: Pecan Struesel Coffee Cake

We're taking a break from our regularly programmed "Trim Down" process this week...

....and we're talking about cake.

Oh man how I've missed baking. That's the worst part of trying to be healthy. And while you may think, "well why don't you bake the cake and then give it away?" - which is a good idea - I have yet to master the self control to NOT lick the spoon....electric mixer beaters....bowl....and any other kitchen gadget the cake batter touches.

SO, I've unfortunately had to limit my baking until I learn to control my tongue. Literally.

I indulged in this little beauty...

The Pecan Struesel Coffee Cake

I made this coffee cake twice in 48 hours. I made one for my team at work (and it quickly disappeared), so I subsequently made one for Jeff's team at work (because they were working until 4 a.m. so they obviously needed cake).

This is a yellow cinnamon cake with a struesel filling. I've never done a cake filling before so this was pretty exciting for me! #itsthelittlethings

Y'all - this thing is amazing. It is the mother of all coffee cakes. I encourage you to eat it warm right out of the oven, or microwave it for 8-10 seconds before eating. And coffee cake requires coffee. Duh.

What You'll Need

1 box yellow cake mix

2 boxes instant vanilla pudding mix

4 eggs

1/2 cup veggie oil

1 1/4 cup water

2 tbsp cinnamon, divided

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup chopped pecans

What You'll Do

Mix the cake mix, pudding, oil, water, and eggs in a bowl with an electric mixer.

Add in 1 tbsp of the cinnamon.

Pour half of the batter in a prepared (greased) bundt pan.

In a separate bowl, mix pecans, brown sugar, and other tbsp of cinnamon and pour into bundt pan on top of batter.

Pour remaining batter on top of struesel mix

Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes.

You can also sprinkle the top with powdered sugar once cooled. If you have crazy shaped bundt pants, I would use them on this cake. Cakes that require icing don't always look right in funky shapes - but this was was perfect for it!

I mean look at that struesel filling. Yes please.