Preheat the oven to 375° F. Line an 8 or 9-inch square or round baking pan with parchment paper or grease and flour. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, ½ cup granulated sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons baking powder, ¼ teaspoon baking soda, and 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon. This mixture will create the perfect foundation for your cake.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients: 2 large eggs, ¾ cup buttermilk, ½ cup vegetable oil, and 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract. Make sure everything is well combined and the eggs are fully beaten.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; a few lumps are perfectly fine!
Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly to ensure even baking. This is where the magic begins—watch your cake come to life!
In a heat-proof bowl, melt ½ cup unsalted butter in the microwave. Start with 20-second increments to prevent overheating. Once melted, let it cool slightly.
In a separate bowl, combine the crumb topping ingredients: 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour, ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar, ⅓ cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon salt. Mix this well.
Once the butter is cool, pour it into the crumb mixture and stir with a fork until it resembles coarse crumbs. This topping adds a delightful crunch to your Easy Crumb Cake.
Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the cake batter, ensuring every bite has that sweet, crumbly texture.
Bake in the preheated oven for 32 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. The cake should be golden brown and fragrant.
Once baked, allow the cake to cool completely in the pan before slicing it into squares. This step ensures that the cake holds its shape and is easy to serve.
