Warm Strawberry Crumb Cake

Ingredients

• 3 pounds strawberries, hulled and halved (8 cups)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch dissolved in 2 1/2 tablespoons of water
• 1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped
• 1/2 cup lightly packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• Pinch of salt
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed and chilled
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup buttermilk

Steps

1. Make the filling: Preheat the oven to 325°F. In a large bowl, toss the strawberries with the sugar, lemon juice, cornstarch slurry, and vanilla seeds; let stand until the berries release some of their juices, about 30 minutes. Pour the fruit filling into a 9- x 13-inch glass or ceramic baking dish set on a sturdy baking sheet.
2. Make the crumb topping: In a medium bowl, mix all of the ingredients with your fingers until a coarse meal forms; press into small clumps.
3. Make the cake: In a medium bowl, whisk the flour with the baking powder and salt. In a large bowl, using a handheld electric mixer, beat the butter with the sugar at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well between additions. Beat in the vanilla extract and scrape down the bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the batter in 3 additions, alternating with the buttermilk.
4. Spoon the batter over the fruit filling, spreading it to the edge. Sprinkle with the crumb topping. Bake in the center of the oven until the fruit is bubbling, the crumb topping is golden, and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool slightly. Serve the crumb cake warm or at room temperature.