Recipe for Romance: Blackberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

Recipe for Romance Two champagne glasses against a purple sparkly background with bells and ribbons at their base

Welcome to Recipe for Romance!

Let’s get started. I’m sharing a snippet of RUNNING FROM THE TEXAS MILLIONAIRE, book 5 in the Concrete Angels MC series, coming on May 13 2024. Viper has taken a sabbatical from the club and she’s going for her morning run in New Mexico while figuring things out. She just didn’t expect to come across a baby and its executed parents. Definitely going to need some comfort food.

Coming May 13 2024: Running From the Texas Millionaire

“Hey Neo, it’s Viper. I’m sending you some pics, and I need you to do something for me.”

“You’re sending me pictures? Of what? New Mexico wildflowers?” He sounded amused.

“Glory, I wish. No, not wildflowers.” I opened up the text feature and added the pics I’d taken. “Take a look for yourself.”

It didn’t take long for him to receive them. “Holy shit, Viper. What the fuck did you do?”

“I didn’t. I don’t even have a handgun on me. I found them like this.” I shook my head and spied my footprints in the muddy ground. Great, now I’d have to explain those to the cops.

“Fuck, they’ve been executed.”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” I bit my lip. “It gets worse.”

“Oh? How can this be worse?”

“They left a baby in their trailer. The killer either didn’t know it was there or figured it would die of exposure and didn’t bother to use a bullet.” I rubbed my thigh to warm up my suddenly cold fingers. “I can’t leave it.”

“Viper…”

“No, you don’t get it, Neo. I can’t leave the baby. I can’t leave it to the system. It’s not the kid’s fault their parents got into trouble.”

Neo sighed on the phone. “What are you going to do with a baby, Viper?”

“Rear it to be a great human being.” I didn’t even hesitate though I had no experience. “Just do me a favor, Neo. Look up who these people are. Make sure there’s no extended family who might come looking for a child. I want to make sure I’m not taking someone’s family. Please?”

“Viper, a baby’s not the same as a puppy or kitten. This will become a full person someday.”

“Don’t patronize me, Neo. I’m very well aware what happens to human babies.”

Gluten-Free Fruit Pizza

Originally, this recipe was Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake, but we didn’t have raspberries or cream cheese. Don’t worry – it turned out awesome and delicious, and high in anti-oxidants. Plus, it’s delicious. However, it does take 4 bowls, so don’t be surprised that you’ll be washing things.

INGREDIENTS FOR FILLING
1/4 cup sugar
8 oz cream cheese or goat cheese
1 egg white
1 cup blackberries (saved for later)

To make the filling: Mix together cream cheese or goat cheese and sugar on medium-low speed until creamy. Add egg white and mix on low until combined. Set aside. (bowl #1)

INGREDIENTS FOR THE CAKE
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour (we used Bob’s Redmill GF 1:1 baking flour)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
5.5 Tbsp butter – softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg + 1 egg yolk, room temperature
3/4 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla extract

To make the cake: Preheat oven to 350 F (177 C) and grease a 9 inch spring form pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper and set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt, and set aside (bowl #2)

With your electric mixer, cream together butter and sugar on medium-low speed in a large bowl (bowl #3). Add egg and yolk, and vanilla. Slowly mix in the flour mixture, alternating with the sour cream. Transfer the batter into the prepared pan and smooth gently with a spatula.

Spread cream cheese mixture on top of the cake batter. Place berries into the filling all over the cake top.

INGREDIENTS FOR THE TOPPING
1/3 cup white sugar or packed brown sugar
1/2 cup GF flour
3 Tbsp butter – chilled and cubed

To make the topping: Combine sugar, flour, and cubed butter in a bowl (bowl #4). Work with a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture is crumbly and well combined.

Sprinkle the streusel topping over the blackberries until completely covered.

Bake for 40 – 45 minutes until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool entirely on a rack. When cool, run a knife around the edge of the cake to loosen it from the sides of the pan and release the ring of the spring form pan.

Can be stored in the fridge for up to 7 days (if it lasts that long).

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