easy peasy coffee cake

This will be the easiest coffee cake you've ever made.
Uses a box cake mix, for goodness' sakes!
And oh-so-good!
So, get out there and get started!!

Easy Peasy Coffee Cake

Adapted from Joy the Baker

Serves 12.
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped walnut
1 box yellow cake mix
1 package vanilla Jell-O pudding
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup hot water
4 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon butter extract
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons flour
1/2 stick butter, softened
1/2 cup whole milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla


Preheat the oven to 350*.
Grease and lightly flour a 9 by 13-inch pan. Set aside.
To make the cake, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon and walnuts in a small bowl. Set aside. 

In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, pudding mix, sour cream and hot water. Mix well. Beat in the eggs, vegetable oil and extracts until very few lumps remain.

Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle all of the brown sugar mixture over the cake batter. Sprinkle with the chocolate chips. Carefully spread the remaining batter over the brown-sugar and chocolate chip mixture. With a butter knife, spread and swirl the cake batter and brown sugar mixture.

Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove the cake form the oven and cool slightly.
To make the icing, combine the sugar and the flour in a bowl. Set the bowl aside. Over medium heat, melt the butter in a medium saucepan. Whisk the flour and sugar mixture into the melted butter until the mixture becomes moistened. The mixture will appear to separate from the butter. Decrease the heat to low and keep stirring, it will come together after about 2 minutes.
Stir in the milk. Raise the heat to medium and cook until the mixture becomes thick and smooth, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Add the vanilla. Let cool to lukewarm and drizzle over warm coffee cake.

This cake stays moist for days. Enjoy!