EmailMother's Day means doing something special for Mom, and buying her another cellophane-wrapped lotion basket is not very inspired. Instead, channel the days when all you needed was a homemade gift to make her happy: Deliver her a delicious coffee cake for brunch. Since there's no formal definition of what a coffee cake is, the CHOW Test Kitchen covered the bases with three very different versions: an easy sour cream cake that the kids can help make; a fancy swirled 'n' streuseled number; and, for the skilled baker, a yeasted version that is more like a sweet fruit-filled bread. Now all you need to get Mom is a nice bag of coffee beans.
Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Braided Coffee Cake with Apple-Ginger Filling
Port-Cherry Swirled Coffee Cake with Almond Streusel
