Braided Date Coffee Cake Food

BRAIDED COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in the 1/2 cup warm water. Stir in egg. In a small saucepan, heat and stir the 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup water, 1/4 cup sugar and salt until mixture is lukewarm and butter is almost melted. Stir butter mixture into the yeast mixture. Stir in flour.
• On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough for 4 to 6 strokes or until ingredients are combined. Transfer to a greased bowl. Cover with greased plastic wrap; chill if you like for 8-24 hours.
• Let dough stand, covered, at room temperature for 1 hour. Meanwhile, lightly grease baking sheet. Divide dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll each half of dough into a 14X9 inch rectangle. Spread the melted butter over dough rectangles. In a small bowl, mix nuts, 1/2 cup sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon. Cut each rectangle into 3 14X3 inch strips. Sprinkle the mixture in the center of each strip. Using your fingers pinch dough to seal.
• To shape a loaf, place 3 filled ropes, seam side down, 1 inch apart. Starting at the middle, loosely braid by bringing the left rope over the center rope. Next bring the right rope over new center rope. Repeat to end. Press ends together to seal; tuck under. Repeat to make a second loaf. Carefully transfer braids to cookie sheet. Cover and let rise for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350°F Bake for 20-25 minutes or until loaves sound hollow when lightly tapped. Immediately remove loaves from baking sheet. Cool on wire racks. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine 11/2 cup sifted powdered sugar, 1 tbsp milk, and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla. Stir in additional milk, 1 teaspoons at a time, until icing is easy to drizzle. Drizzle icing on loaves.

DATE COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
• Place dates in a bowl. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon baking soda on top and mix well. Add 1/3 cup boiling water, stir, and set aside until dates have swelled, about 10 minutes. Squeeze with your hands to remove most of the liquid.
• Meanwhile, mix flour and 1 teaspoon baking soda together in a bowl. Combine instant coffee, milk powder, and 2 tablespoons boiling water in a separate bowl; mix until dissolved.
• Beat sugar, margarine, and eggs together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until well blended. Add coffee mixture and dates; beat until well mixed. Gradually mix in flour. Pour batter into the prepared baking pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes.

NORWEGIAN DATE COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine dates and the 3 tablespoons of sherry.
• Cover and let stand for 10 minutes.
• In another small bowl combine pecans, brown sugar, the 1/4 cup granulated sugar, cinnamon, and the 1 tablespoon butter.
• Stir in date mixture.
• Set aside.
• In a bowl beat the 1 cup granulated sugar, the 1/4 cup butter, and egg with an electric mixer till smooth.
• Beat in sour cream and the 1 tablespoon sherry.
• Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; add to sour cream mixture.
• Beat till well combined.
• In a greased 8x8x2-inch baking pan spread half the sour cream batter.
• Top with half the date mixture.
• Top with remaining batter, then date mixture.
• Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 40 to 45 minutes or till toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.
• To prevent overbrowning, cover cake with foil for last 15 minutes of baking.
• Cool slightly.
• Sherry Glaze: In a saucepan combine 2 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons water, and 1/4 cup sugar.
• Cook and stir till bubbly.
• Reduce heat; simmer for 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat; stir in 2 tablespoons sherry.
• Drizzle glaze over coffee cake.

BEER AND DATE COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• Grease a 10-inch tube pan; line with waxed paper and grease again.
• If you don't line the pan, you may never get the cake out.
• Beat brown sugar and butter together well.
• Add the eggs, beating well after each one.
• Sift cinnamon, allspice, cloves, flour, baking soda and salt together.
• Use a small amount of the flour mixture to dust the walnuts and dates.
• Add remaining flour mixture to the creamed mixture, alternately with the beer, blending well after each addition.
• Stir in the walnuts and dates.
• Spoon batter into prepared pan.
• Bake in preheated 350º oven for 1¼ hours or until cake tester comes out clean.
• Let stand 10 minutes, invert onto a wire rack; carefully peel off paper.
• Sprinkle with powdered sugar and place on a serving plate.