I am happy.
It feels so good to say that. I am happy and that makes me happy.
After a year of ups and downs, worrying, frets and stress it feels so good to be able to say that I really am happy.
Our summer, so far, has been one of intentional happiness. I purposely didn’t sign my kids up for camps, activities, VBS, etc. this year because I wanted everything we were doing to be exactly what we wanted to do. I didn’t want to be running around, car pooling, feeling regrets because we didn’t have time to do what we wanted to do. We wake up each morning and everything on our agenda is things we want to do, not have to do. I feel kind of selfish, having a carefree summer, but it has been so nice.
I need to start doing my Happiness Reports again, because there are so many things making me happy right now. So many little things I’m taking notice of that bring me joy.
A hot cup of coffee, made for me by my husband…a thoughtful gesture not unnoticed.
A string of white lights, hung in the trees.
Taking pictures, even if it’s of nothing “special”… just getting out my camera and capturing what my life is full of.
Summer breeze, time to read, lazy mornings.
All of these things, and so much more, bring a smile to my face. Just like a bowl of cherries.
Turning those cherries into a favorite coffee cake for my husband makes me happy too. He’s never been a quick bread or coffee cake kind of guy, until I made this recipe from Cheryl’s blog a few months back. He took it to work to share and came back raving about how delicious it was. For Father’s Day, I wanted to make it again, but this time using some of the fresh cherries of summer. You can certainly used canned pie filling, but when cherries are abundant it’s hard to justify not taking advantage of the summer harvest.
What’s making you happy these days? Whether it is a new haircut, a summer vacation, success at work… I hope you’ll share your recent moments of joy in the comments section.
Life is good… like a bowl full of cherries!
Cherry Cream Coffee Cake
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter softened
- 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2-1/4 tsp baking powder
- FILLING
- 4 cups pitted red cherries
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- ICING
- 1 Tablespoon butter melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 3-5 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, brown sugar and cinnamon.
- Using a fork or pastry blender, cut softened butter into the flour mixture (will be crumbly). Reserve one cup of this mixture to save for topping.
- Mix eggs and cream. Slowly add to the flour mixture and blend until well incorporated. Add salt and baking powder and mix until smooth.
- Pour batter into greased springform pan.
- Meanwhile, place cherries and lemon juice into a saucepan over medium heat. Cover and heat cherries until they release their juice and come to a simmer, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir often.
- In a small bowl, whisk granulated sugar with cornstarch; pour the mixture into the hot cherries and juice, and thoroughly combine. Return to low heat, bring to a simmer, and cook until the filling is thick and bubbly, about 2 minutes; remove from heat.
- Pour cherry pie filling over batter in the springform pan.
- Top pie filling with the 1 cup of reserved flour mixture, spreading evenly to cover.
- Bake for 55 minutes or until brown and toothpick in the center comes out clean.
- Allow to cool for 5 minutes then remove cake from the springform.
- *For the Icing:*Mix together melted butter and vanilla. Slowly stir in powdered sugar and cinnamon.
- Add 3 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream. Stir until creamy and smooth.
- Add more cream 1 tablespoon at a time until desired consistency.
- Drizzle over coffee cake and serve. Enjoy!
Oh I bet that was even MORE amazing with fresh cherries!!!
What a beautiful post K!!
It was pretty darn awesome. Thanks for introducing us to the recipe!
So gorgeous!!
Love that you’re doing well and enjoying your summer. It’s nice to have some “off” time, isn’t it?
It really is! We’ve had a great time. Hope you and that baby bump of yours are doing well!
Looks beautiful, Kristen! My true, true friends make me happy. And I recently got this really cool spray-in conditioner in my birch box that makes me happy. Oh to be home, so happy to be home from traveling for BHF & for work. The pups & the hubs – keep me grounded and remind me of what’s important!
Oh I can so relate to the “true true” friends comment.
And spray in conditioner? Do tell the brand!!
Glad you made it home safely!
Looks delicious! Loving the slight release of super-scheduled school days. Summer is still sort of slightly busy, but has a hint of laid-back and carefree, and I am loving that.
It’s going to make back to school really hard, but I’m not thinking about that right now! Have to be in the moment…not worry about what’s happening next 😉
OMGosh! I think I might want this as much as I want Adam! And THAT is saying something!!
Ha! That is saying something 🙂
I love that you’re happy!!
Your photos are always so beautiful.
Your facebook updates make me happy. Always something to laugh about or smile about on there!
And how long would it take you to get here with a sample? :o) Beautiful pictures!! So glad you are happy and enjoying the summer, my friend!!
d.
I’ll make it for the friendship tea. How about that?
How sweet!! You are defeating the purpose of the friendship tea! :o) That is a morning I can give to you of just coming and enjoying a relaxing time with a great group of ladies!! :o) But thanks for the offer.
But…you will have to be the only one to work…since you take such beautiful pictures!! :o)
I am envying your laid-back summer. We are on the other side of the spectrum, and I’m definitely feeling it these days. I know I need to enjoy the lazy days when I can get them. The cherries look gorgeous. I finally picked some up this weekend to enjoy, and coffee cake sounds like a glorious breakfast treat.
I wish you could have the same kind of summer…sorry things are so busy, Shaina.
Now I’m definitely in the mood for some cherries! Glad you’re enjoying the summer and approaching it the way you have. I think sometimes we get so caught up in “doing” that we forget to just “be”. And I love that you said you’re having an “intentional” summer …. I’m going to hold onto that gem 🙂
It has been really different for us, but I love love love it.
Just this morning I remarked to my husband how addictive the lazy days of summer can be. Rather than feeling guilty about planning days around nothing more than our whims and the weather, I’m going to embrace it, like you! Just maybe, that will be the balance I’ve been looking for all this time! Lovely post and photos, as always.
Best,
Casey
Love this post! Lazy stress free summers are the best! I love that you made it intentional, so happy! This cherry coffee cake sounds amazing. I love summer fresh cherries.
What am I loving right now? The hot sun, a cold pool, and the screaming giggles of my kids!!
I think that is the absolute best way to spend summer, especially with young children. Enjoy them 🙂
I am happy right now too and reading this makes me even more happy. You are an inspiration. So glad to hear that your summer is going so great so far. I am loving following along on IG!
Now I know what to do with those cherries in my fridge (besides just eating them, that is!) It’s great to see you so happy and I love how you are creating so many memories this summer.
Oh Kristen, I’m so glad you are having a wonderful, happy, laid-back summer. You and your family definitely deserve it!
I love that you are having an intentionally happy summer. I’m sure the kids can do without the stress of “having to” do activities. This sounds like my growing up, make your own fun, life. I am now thinking of the girls’ secret hide-out and wondering if they are visiting it at all this year.
Gorgeous photos! And I am the same way. I sometimes feel like a bad mom cause I don’t have my kids all signed up for loads of activities, because it gets so stressful (and I become a taxi). We have just been hanging out all summer, and lovin it! This cake looks dangerously good! 😉
This looks so tasty! Love those fresh cherries and love the frosting, yum! What a great breakfast treat.
cherries are my all time favorite fruit (and with such a short season…boo hoo). this coffee cake could put me right into the coma I am needing right at this very moment!! looks perfectly, perfect Kristen!
I love anything with cherries in the summertime! Thanks for this! Looks great!
It makes me hungry. I love it.
I am happy that you’re happy. The cake was awesome. I love you.
Awwwww
What a beautiful post! Sounds like the kind of summer I love, and always strive to have 🙂
I am happy too (you know this!). Hugs to you my dear. You are a joy…you spread joy. I’m happy that things are coming together for you and your family right now.
This seriously has me drooling. I just bought some cherries at the farmer’s market last weekend (although we’ve eaten most of them now!) Looks like I need to pick up some more!!
Know what makes me happy? Hearing about your happiness. It’s so nice to know that friends (even ones we’ve never met in person) are happy and doing well.
Well, this coffee cake would make me happy; I’m so excited for cherry season and it’s so short I want to make EVERYTHING.
What makes me happy? It has always been the small things…those sweet gestures, the unexpected moments. My daughter finding a companion gardening book dated the same year as my old Better Homes and Gardens cookbook (1974) and giving it to me for no reason. My dog decided she wants to snuggle. But best of all? Getting out into my garden again for the first time in 3 years after a serious injury. Having my little pond running and the weeds gone and flowers blooming; I can just sit there and do nothing and be completely fulfilled. That space makes me happy.
I can feel from your post that you are happy. Life is awesome, isn’t it? I’m having my good period as well and it’s amazing to feel good when you wake up. The cake looks awesome, and pictures are beautiful. Wish you all the best, Marta
I love your happiness posts, and I love the idea of a selfish, carefree summer. I’m pretty sure you deserve it. 🙂
Glad to hear you’re having a happy summer! With a bowl full of cherries by your side, how can you not be happy? Thanks of sharing this wonderful recipe.
After a few rough years, you deserve all the happiness in the world, Kristen. You are wise to have an unscheduled summer to do as you and the kids please. I try to do the same on one of my three days off! It usually involves a bike ride or dinner with friends. Or maybe just a movie night at home with my hubby (eating homemade pizza, of course). I’ve never kept a gratitude journal, but my “Life Is Good” posts help me to remember to be thankful for the things that make me smile.
Take care!
Love this post! We all have so many things to be happy about and often forget. Life is too short, as we all know so well, take time to enjoy those small things.
For me…tomorrow’s the first day of this summer’s CSA!
Yes. Life is to short. We don’t know what would happen tomorrow.
So glad that you are having a great summer! This cake looks perfect and is very timely! I have a huge bag of cherries to use up!
What a sweet post. So many things are making me happy lately! My new home, my job, my incredibly sweet husband. Life is good 🙂 And this cake looks lovely.
Summer break is making me happy. And, reading this post of yours made me very happy because you totally deserve great happiness, my friend.
This looks so decadently delicious! I’d love a slice!
That doesn’t sound selfish at all it sounds heavenly and just the kind of summer I’ve been dreaming of.
I like your recipe. There is always reason to be happy everyday and it’s so glad to hear that you life is full of happiness.
Dang, thank you very much for posting this! It is going to help when I buy Gourmet Coffee at the store! Super Fantastic!
Made this delish cake today for a party and it was a total hit. will make it again!