German Fruit Cake Food

GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat two 9-inch round cake pans with oil and dust with flour. Whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a small bowl; set aside.
• Microwave the chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl on high power for 45 seconds; remove and stir. Microwave again at high power in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until the chocolate has melted completely; set aside.
• Beat the granulated sugar, oil and eggs in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in the melted chocolate. Alternate beating in the flour mixture and the milk, adding the flour in three additions and the milk in two, starting and ending with the flour, until just incorporated. Add half the milk, and mix until just incorporated. Repeat with the remaining flour mixture and milk, making sure not to overmix. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool in the pans for 10 minutes, run a thin spatula around the edges and then turn the cakes out onto a cooling rack to cool completely. (They will have a sugary "crust" on the top. This is from the melted chocolate and is not a problem. It will soften once the cake is assembled or if the layers are baked the day before.)
• For the filling: While the cakes cool, spread the pecans on a baking sheet and bake, tossing once, until toasted, 8 to 10 minutes. Finely chop. Whisk together the milk and egg yolks in a medium saucepan until smooth. Add the brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, vanilla and salt, and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture has thickened and coats the back of a spoon, 5 to 6 minutes. (It will be similar to the thickness of eggnog.) Pour the mixture into a large bowl. (Don't worry if it seems thin. The coconut and nuts will bind it.) Stir in the coconut and pecans; set aside to cool.
• For the frosting: Put the chocolate in a medium bowl. Heat 1 cup of the cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until steaming but not boiling, and pour over the chocolate. Let stand a few minutes, and then whisk until smooth; let stand at room temperature (or put in the refrigerator if your kitchen is hot) until thick but not set, 20 minutes to 1 hour. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons cream to the chocolate mixture, and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until lightened in color and fluffy, about 1 minute (do not overbeat, or it will become hard and grainy). The frosting should hold medium peaks and will continue to firm up a bit as it stands. Spoon about 1 cup frosting into a pastry bag fitted with a star tip.
• To assemble: Put one cake layer right-side up on a serving plate, and top with half the filling. Top with the second cake layer and the remaining filling, spreading it to about 1/2 inch from the edge. Frost the sides, and decorate around the top edge of the cake with the frosting in the pastry bag.
• Loosely cover the cake with plastic wrap and leave at room temperature overnight. Unwrap and serve.

OLD-FASHIONED GERMAN COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• For cake, dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in water. Let stand 5 minutes. In a large bowl, combine shortening, sugar and egg. Gradually mix in 2 cups flour, milk and yeast mixture. Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place dough in a greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch dough down. Divide in half and press each half into a greased 11x7-in. baking pan. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour. Combine all topping ingredients except peaches. Sprinkle over dough. Top with peach slices. Bake at 375° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.

GERMAN PLUM CAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream the butter, add the sugar, vanilla, egg, lemon peel, sour cream and salt (if desired).
• Mix the flour and baking powder and add that into the mixture.
• Grease the base of a round baking pan and spread the dough over the pan.
• Liberally spread plums over the dough.
• To make the optional topping, cream the butter, add flour, sugar and cinnamon.
• Sprinkle over the plums and bake for 30-45 minutes in the middle rack at 375 F.
• Be careful not to let the bottom burn!
• Serve with lots of freshly-made whipped cream.
• If you like, you may also sprinkle rum or cinnamon over the fruit before baking.

TRADITIONAL GERMAN OBST KUCHEN - FRESH FRUIT FLAN (SPONGE CAKE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In large bowl, beat yolks. Add sugar, softened margarine and yeast. Mix well.
• Add flour, then vanilla and mix well.
• In separate bowl beat egg whites until stiff. Add egg whites to flour mixture - then gradually mix in enough milk to give a soft dropping consistency.
• Grease German flan pan. Add dough to greased pan, spreading evenly with a spatula.
• Bake at 350F degrees for about 20 minutes until tests done with a toothpick.
• Remove from oven. Cool in pan on a rack for 15 minutes, then invert on a cake plate or other large plate.
• Arrange fresh berries or other fresh or canned fruits (kiwi slices, pineapple, gooseberries, apricots, and cherries are nice) on top of the inverted sponge cake (note: you may add a thin custard layer prior to filling with fruit, if you wish). Spread your favorite fruit glaze over the top of the fruit (may use a clear glaze or use strawberry or red currant jelly, or apricot jam). Chill until serving time.
• Serve with dollops of fresh whipped cream, and a cup of coffee. Enjoy!

GERMAN FRUIT CAKE BOTTOM

Steps:

• Grease pan. Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C).
• Cream butter, sugar and vanilla sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beat until light in color.
• Mix flour, salt and baking powder. Add half of flour, beat until just blended. Add 3 tbs milk, just blend. Add rest of flour, just blend.
• Batter should drop slowly from a spoon, forming long tips. If too firm add another tbs milk.
• Spread batter evenly in pan.
• Bake in lower third of oven 18-22 minutes until golden yellow. Let cool in form for 10 minutes, then remove and let cool completely on a wire rack.
• Use immediately or store tightly wrapped for 24 hours or freeze.

GERMAN FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar together.
• Separate eggs and add the yolks to the butter, beating well.
• Sift together the flour and the spices.
• Mix the buttermilk and baking soda together, then add some to the butter mixture,alternating with the flour mixture, until all is incorporated.
• Add the preserves and the nuts, stirring gently.
• Beat the egg whites in a clean bowl with clean beaters until stiff peaks form, then fold gently into the batter.
• Scrape into a large greased& floured Bundt pan or tube pan and bake at 350 F preheated for 1 1/2 hours or until cake tests done.
• Let cool before removing from pan.

RICH FRUIT KUCHENS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the milk, sugar, salt, oil, egg and 2-1/2 cups flour; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Do not knead. Cover and refrigerate overnight., The next day, for custard, whisk the eggs, cream and sugar in a large bowl until combined; set aside. Divide dough into 4 portions. , On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion into a 10-in. circle. Press each circle onto the bottom and up the sides of an ungreased 9-in. pie plate. Arrange 2 to 2-1/2 cups of fruit in each crust. Pour 1 cup custard over fruit., For topping, combine the sugar, flour and cinnamon in a small bowl. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle 1/3 cup over each coffee cake. Cover edges of dough with foil. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and custard reaches 160°.

GERMAN FRESH FRUIT KUCHEN (BREAD MACHINE)

Steps:

• Measure dough ingredients into bread machine pan in the order suggested by manufacturer.
• Process on dough/manual cycle.
• When cycle is complete, remove dough from machine to lightly floured surface.
• If necessary, knead in additional flour to make dough easy to handle.
• Roll dough to 10 x 15-inch rectangle.
• Place on large, greased baking sheet.
• Arrange fruit, in lengthwise rows, 1/2 inch apart, on dough.
• Sprinkle Crumb Topping between rows of fruit.
• Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 20 to 40 minutes.
• Makes 1 (10 x 15-inch) coffee cake.
• Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes or until done.
• Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.
• Brush fruit with jam and drizzle Almond Icing over cake.
• Crumb Topping: Combine 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 3 tablespoons sugar, 3/4 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg.
• Cut in 3 tablespoons softened butter or margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Almond Icing: In small bowl, combine 1 cup sifted powdered sugar, 4 to 5 teaspoons milk and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract; stir until smooth.