Kuchen Anyone???

Ja danke!!

Today in case you haven’t guessed we are off to Germany. Not a country I have been to apart from a short stay at Munich airport and Frankfurt Airport in the dead of night and early early morning!!

So without further ado….  What are we aiming for today?

I was a DUH and forgot that Kuchen means cake in German so I have used my kuchen ring piccies as no other piccies gave a good indication of what I wanted to portray prior to showing what I baked.

Apricot, Raisin and Apple Kuchen

This recipe was adapted from the stunning recipe by Ruth Joseph in her Delightful and beautiful book “Warm Bagels & Apple Strudel” . I will be working on and testing a few more of these wonderful recipes. I understand the Hairy Bikers tested this and gave it the thumbs up!!

Shabbat Apricot, Apple and Raisin Kuchen.

Dough:

• 200 mls of warmed milk
• 3 tsp dried yeast
• 4 cups of strong bread flour
• dash of salt
• 100g butter (or dairy free margarine)
• 100g castor sugar
• 2 beaten eggs
• 4 tbsp orange/ lemon zest
• Extra egg and 2 tsp milk for egg wash

Fruit all ready to go

• Filling :
• 1 can (440g) of Apple slices or pieces (not cubes though)
• 1 can of drained apricot pieces
• 1 cup raisins
• lemon/orange zest to taste
• 1/2 cup walnut pieces

Icing:

• 1 cup of icing sugar
• lemon juice to mix

METHOD: I used quite a bit of zest as i love it, you may like to use less .

• Add 3 tsp of the sugar to the milk , mix well until slightly dissolved 
• Add yeast and leave in a warm place until creamy and frothy. Usually 10-20 minutes.

While yeast is feeding:

• Put all dry ingredients into a bowl , Flour and salt.
• Rub in the butter to the Flour mix
• Stir in sugar and zest
• Remove yeast from warm place. 
• Add beaten eggs to the yeasty mix and beat well
• Pour into the dry butter mix and combine until a smooth dough
• Turn out on floured area and knead well for 6 minutes.
• Place in lightly oiled bowl and cover with a tea towel and leave in a warm place for 1-2 hours or doubled in size. 

   

  

  Rolling up the Kuchen

When Dough is almost ready:

• Mix apple, walnuts, apricots, raisins and zest together
• Tip dough out on floured area and roll out into a rectangle.
• I think mine was 40cm by 20cm.
• Spread the apple filling over the dough and fold the edges all around the dough in slightly  and then roll up like you would cinnamon buns,Chelsea buns or a Chocolate log.
• Place on Baking tray
• Slash a few slits along the top of the Kuchen.
• Cover and leave in a warm place for 45-60 minutes.
• Pre heat oven to 200 Celsius.

Rolled up and ready for egg wash and baking!!
oops and slashing:)

• Brush beaten egg wash over the kuchen and place in the oven.
• Bake for 30-40 minutes (dependant on your oven)

ready to ice

 

• Remove from oven and cool on the tray.

Very delicious

• When cool, make up Icing by combining 1 cup of icing sugar and enough lemon juice to make a paste
• Drizzle over the kuchen when cold.
• As soon as icing is set, cut a HUGE slice, pour a large cuppa and enjoy!!

http://greedybread.wordpress.com/2012/05/27/kuchen-anyone-ja-danke/

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