Hungarian Golden Dumpling Coffee Cake Aranygaluska Food

HUNGARIAN GOLDEN PULL-APART CAKE WITH WALNUTS AND APRICOT JAM (ARANYGALUSKA)

Steps:

• Dissolve the yeast in the warm milk in the bowl of a standing mixer equipped with a paddle attachment. Add 1/4 cup of the sugar, the eggs, orange zest, vanilla, and 1 stick of butter. Gradually add the flour and salt, beating until mixed. Cover the bowl and leave for an hour, or until the dough has about doubled in size.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F and butter a 10-inch round pan with some of the second stick of butter.
• Melt what is left of the second stick of butter plus the remaining half stick and put it in a small bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the walnuts, brown sugar, remaining white sugar, cinnamon, and the cake or cookie crumbs.
• Roll the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick circle. Using a 1-inch cookie or biscuit cutter, cut circles of dough. Dip the circles first in the butter, then in the nut mixture and set in the pan, almost touching each other. After a layer is completed, spoon on dollops of jam. Make a second layer, filling in the holes with dough, then jam, continuing and rerolling until the dough is used up, ending with the walnut topping but not the jam. Bake in the oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown and set. Leave in the pan for a few minutes, then turn onto a plate and serve warm. You can either cut the cake or pull the sections apart. Serve for a sweet breakfast treat, or as a dessert, served with good vanilla or rum raisin ice cream.

HUNGARIAN GOLDEN DUMPLING COFFEE CAKE (ARANYGALUSKA)

Steps:

• Soften yeast in warm water and let stand 5-10 minutes so that it proofs.
• In a large bowl, combine shortening, 1/2 cup sugar, and salt, then immediately pour scalded milk over mixture.
• While mixture is warm, mix in 1/2 cup flour and beat until dough is smooth.
• Stir the yeast, then add it to the dough, mixing well.
• Add half of the remaining flour and beat until dough is very smooth.
• Beat in the eggs and enough of the remaining flour to make a soft dough.
• Turn dough out on lightly floured surface and let rest 5-10 minutes.
• Knead by folding opposite side over towards you, then using the heels of your hands to push the dough away, then give it a quarter turn and repeat process until smooth and elastic (5-10 minutes) (always turn the dough in the same direction and use as little additional flour as possible).
• Form dough into a large ball and place in a greased bowl.
• Turn the ball over so that the surface on the top is greased and cover bowl with waxed paper and a towel.
• Let rise in warm place (80°F) until doubled in bulk (1 1/2-2 hours).
• Punch dough down with fist, pull the edges into the center, and turn ball over inside the bowl.
• Cover bowl and let dough rise until nearly doubled again in bulk.
• Meanwhile, lightly grease the bottom of a 10-inch tubed pan.
• In a shallow dish combine 1 cup sugar, nuts, and cinnamon and set aside.
• Place melted butter in another shallow dish and set aside.
• Tear off bits of dough and form into balls 1-1 1/4-inch in diameter (about the size of walnuts).
• Roll balls first in melted butter, then lightly in the cinnamon mixture.
• Arrange a layer of balls in the bottom of the pan so that they don't touch each other.
• Sprinkle about 1/3 of the raisins over the balls and gently press into the dough.
• Continue this process until all of the dough is formed into balls and arranged in the pan and all of the raisins have been used up.
• Sprinkle any remaining butter and cinnamon mixture over the top layer.
• Cover pan with waxed paper and towel and let dough rise until light (30-45 minutes).
• Bake at 375°F until golden brown (35-40 minutes).
• Run spatula around sides of pan and invert onto a plate.
• To serve, break cake apart with 2 forks.