When my husband, Mark ('72), and I were students at North Texas, we used to race over to the Student Union Building, hoping there would still be some of their famous coffee cake available. Some days we were sadly disappointed because it was already sold out. l asked the professor in one of my food classes if there was any way we could get the recipe and make it ourselves. I have had this recipe in my files for 50 years now and would like to share it with anyone else who loves their coffee cake. Enjoy!

NTSU SUB Coffee Cake

Cake: 1/2 cup shortening, 1 cup sugar, 1 egg, 2 cups flour, 2 tsps. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. salt, 3/4 cup milk, 1 tsp. vanilla.

Cream shortening and sugar. Add egg and blend well. In separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt.

Mix dry ingredients and milk into the shortening and sugar mixture. Spread into greased 8” by 8” baking dish. Spread 1/8 cup soft margarine on top and into spots into the dough.

Topping: 1/4 cup softened margarine (or butter), 3/4 cup sugar, 1 1/2 tsps. cinnamon, 1/4 cup flour. Cream margarine and sugar. Add cinnamon and flour. Crumble on top of the cake batter. Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes.

Jerrie Nuckolls King ('73)
Franklin, Tennessee

Editor's note: Thanks for sharing this treasured recipe. We've printed a similar version since 1994, but it differs slightly in the preparation of the topping (https://northtexan.unt.edu/issues/recipe-sweet-treat). We think this is a good excuse to try both!