Not Healthy: Cherry Kuchen

Kuchen is German for "cake" but like many German words it has multiple meanings and the specific meaning must be derived from its context. It has translated into the American lexicon, particularly in areas of significant German settlement, to mean a coffee cake. It often appears with a strussel topping and there are multiple variants (if you don't believe me, look around the internet). Variants range from creamy, sweet pie-like variants with a custard filling to recipes with more of a firm cake-like texture. This recipe is a yeast-raised cake with a firmer texture. There is a basic strussel topping in the recipe that you can omit if you want or replace with a more involved and complex strussel. You can also sub out the canned fruit for fresh fruit or other canned fruit. Be careful about not using canned pie filling as this will add a lot of sugar to the cake and make it too sweet. This recipe will take some time to put together because it relies on the yeast to raise the dough so it works as a good brunch recipe or you can make it the day before you plan on serving it. It will last a few days.

Cherry Kuchen Recipe

Details:

Servings: 6-9
Prep time: 35 minutes
Cook time: 20-25 minutes

Equipment:

• Oven
• Measuring spoons and cups
• 9x9 glass or metal baking dish (glass preferred)
• Fork
• Hands
• Mixing bowls

Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• 3/8 cup of water
• 1 package dry yeast
• 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/8 cup butter
• 1 can pitted tart cherries, drained
•  1/4 cup sugar

Directions:

1. Beat egg. Preheat oven to 400F.
2. Add water and yeast to beaten egg and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, blend 2 cups flour, salt, 1 tbsp sugar and 1/4 cup butter with a fork or pastry blender.
4. In a large bowl, add flour mix from last step and yeast mix from second step. Knead until smooth. Form into a dough ball and let sit for twenty minutes.
5. Once risen, roll the dough out in your 9x9 baking dish. Work the dough up the sides of the dish.
6. Pour cherries on dough so there is an even layer.
7. In a mixing bowl, mix the remaining 3/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup sugar and 1/8 cup butter together. It will form a clumpy mix. Break this up into small pieces with a fork or knife and sprinkle over the cherries.
8. Bake 20-25 minutes until topping turns golden.