Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350° F (176° C) and set out a 9x13 baking pan.

Step 2

In a large bowl, mix the brown sugar with the flour.

Step 3

Cut the butter into the brown sugar/flour mixture with a pastry cutter or squeezing the butter between your thumbs and forefingers, creating large flat sheets of butter mixed with flour and brown sugar. This can also be done in a food processor; process judiciously. Reserve 1 cup (approximately 150 g) and place in the freezer.

Step 4

Stir the baking soda, salt, and spices into the bowl.

Step 5

In the 9x13 baking pan, whisk together the eggs with the sour milk (or buttermilk).

Step 6

Pour the dry ingredients into the baking pan and stir everything together with a spatula or wood spoon until thoroughly blended. Spread the batter out evenly and top with the reserved crumb mix evenly as well.

Step 7

For a glass pan, bake for 35- 40 minutes, until the top is golden and a toothpick tester in the center comes out clean save a few moist crumbs. For a metal pan, bake for about 30 minutes, looking for the same doneness clues.