John's Basic Coffee Cake

 John’s basic coffee cake

7 ½ cups all-purpose flour

3 ¾ cups sugar

¼ cup and ½ teaspoon baking powder

1 ¼ cup shortening

3 ¾ cups milk

5 eggs

Topping:

Mix 1 ⅔ cups brown sugar (packed), 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour, 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon and 1 cup butter until crumbly.

Streusel filled coffee cake: 

Omit topping; spread half the batter in the prepared pan. Mix 2 ½ cup brown sugar, 3 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 2 ½ cups finely chopped nuts and ½ cup and 1 tablespoon butter, melted; sprinkle half the mixture over batter in a pan. Top with remaining batter, then remaining brown sugar mixture.

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease pan. Blend all ingredients except topping; beat vigorously 1 to 2 minutes. Spread in pan. Sprinkle topping over batter. Bake for 45 minutes (more or less) or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Yield: 50 servings