Ingredients

• 1 (1/4-ounces) package active dry yeast (2 1/2 teaspoons)
• 1 cup warm whole milk (105115°F)
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 3 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature for 30 minutes
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon pieces and softened slightly
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Special equipment: a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment

Browse by ingredient

Instructions

1. Stir together yeast, 1/4 cup warm milk, and 1 tablespoon sugar in bowl of mixer until yeast is dissolved, then let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. (If mixture doesn't foam, discard and start over with new yeast.)
2. Stir together lemon juice and remaining 3/4 cup milk and let stand until curdled, 1 to 2 minutes.
3. Add 3 3/4 cups flour to yeast mixture along with salt, eggs, vanilla, and remaining 1/2 cup sugar and mix at low speed until just combined. Add curdled milk and beat at medium speed until a dough forms. Add butter, 1 piece at a time, beating, then continue to beat until dough is silky and elastic, 5 to 8 minutes. (Dough will be very sticky.) Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons flour and cover bowl with a clean kitchen towel (not terry cloth). Let dough rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled in bulk, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
4. Make topping: Pulse together topping ingredients in a food processor until many large clumps form. Transfer to a bowl and chill, covered, until ready to use.
5. Pulse together topping ingredients in a food processor until many large clumps form. Transfer to a bowl and chill, covered, until ready to use.
6. Form and bake cake: Butter a 13- by 9-inch baking dish or pan. Stir dough several times with a rubber scraper to release air, then spread evenly in baking dish. Sprinkle dough with half of topping, then cover dish with kitchen towel and let dough rise again in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until almost doubled in bulk, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Put oven rack in middle of oven and preheat oven to 350°F. Sprinkle remaining topping over top of cake and bake until topping is golden, 55 to 60 minutes. Cool cake in pan on a rack until barely warm, then cut into squares.
7. Butter a 13- by 9-inch baking dish or pan.
8. Stir dough several times with a rubber scraper to release air, then spread evenly in baking dish.
9. Sprinkle dough with half of topping, then cover dish with kitchen towel and let dough rise again in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until almost doubled in bulk, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
10. Put oven rack in middle of oven and preheat oven to 350°F.
11. Sprinkle remaining topping over top of cake and bake until topping is golden, 55 to 60 minutes. Cool cake in pan on a rack until barely warm, then cut into squares.