Ooh, this looks yummy. Hard to go wrong with coffee cake! I've never tried splitting the cake/baking... what an interesting idea! Whenever I've come across a recipe that just doesn't want to set in the middle/edges darken too quickly I just adjust to a lower oven temperature. I'll have to give this a shot one of these days!
Isn't it funny how we remember our elders through food? I have specific memories of the food my Nan would make. And older generations always had a coffee cake/biscuits/some tasty treat on hand, just in case someone decided to stop by... wouldn't it be nice if that became the norm again?!