Kuchen??? What on earth is that, you ask???? Ahh...well, the answer varies, dependent upon who it is that is baking said kuchen!
From wikipedia:
"Kuchen (German pronunciation: [ˈkuːxən]), the German word for cake, is used in other languages as the name for several different types of sweet desserts, pastries, and gateaux. The term itself may cover as many distinct desserts as its English counterpart "cake."
Kuchen desserts are presumably handed down from people of German heritage and as such are often popular in many areas of German settlement in the United States, particularly North Dakota, South Dakota, Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Kuchen was introduced into the Chilean cuisine when German immigrants settled southern Chile in the 1850s. Kuchens in Chile usually have fruits, such as apples, strawberries or murtas. Nontraditional Chilean kuchen with walnuts are sometimes offered. Now kuchens are found in many Chilean bakeries and in many of the larger "hipermercados" which is the local name for large grocery store. In Brazil, it is called "cuca" or less common "cuque" and it is found in areas of German settlement, like Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná and Santa Catarina states."
My paternal relatives were 1st generation GERMAN. Our family "kuchen" was a coffee cake type base, with fresh fruit, a bit of butter, and a cinnamon sugar topping. Much like this:
GERMAN PLUM KUCHEN
Grease a jelly roll pan and preheat oven to 375 degrees.
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 stick butter, softened + 3-4 TBS
2 LG eggs
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 1/2 c.all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 c. milk
2 1/2 to 3 lb. sm. plums, depending on size of plums
3-4 TBS cinnamon sugar for topping
Cream butter and sugar. Mix in the eggs, flour, salt, baking powder, vanilla, and milk. Stir until combined, but do not beat.
Spread dough on pan. Was, halve, and pit plums. Lay plums on dough with cut side up, overlapping attractively. Sprinkle plums with sugar and cinnamon. Then dot each plum with a little piece of butter. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.
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I have actually made this recipe with a VARIETY of fruits--from peaches to canned mandarins, and have never not LOVED it.
2 comments:
mmmmm, this sounds wonderful.Sure wish I had a piece right now. Will copy that recipe for sure.
Thanks!
That cake looks delicious. In fact, more than delicious, it’s mouth-watering. And did I mention that plums are among my favorite fruits? I can almost smell the flavor the cinnamon sugar gives the plums. Thanks for the recipe.
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