Coffee Cake Crown Recipes

COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan. Line and butter two 18cm sandwich tins. Add the sugar and butter to a bowl and whisk until very fluffy and pale.
• Whisk the eggs in a mug with a fork, then add them gradually to the mixture with 1 tbsp of flour each time. (Make sure you don't use all the flour.) When the eggs have been fully combined into the mix, add the rest of the flour and fold it in gently.
• Add the dissolved coffee to the mixture, still folding. Divide into the sandwich tins and cook for 25-30 min until risen and firm and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 5 mins then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Can be frozen at this stage.
• Meanwhile, make the icing by beating the icing sugar with the butter until light and fluffy, then add the dissolved coffee. Whisk, then cover and set aside until ready to ice the cake.
• Spread half the icing on the bottom of one sponge and spread the strawberry jam on the bottom of the other, if using. Sandwich together, then spread the remaining icing on top. Decorate with walnuts or cherries, if you like.

COFFEE CAKE CROWN

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer, stir together warm water, yeast, and a pinch of granulated sugar. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, heat 3/4 cup milk in a small saucepan until just steaming. Remove pan from heat. Add saffron; cover, and let steep 5 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together saffron-milk mixture, butter, eggs, remaining sugar, and salt. Add to yeast mixture. Using the dough-hook attachment, beat until combined, about 1 minute. With mixer on low speed, add flour, 1 cup at a time, until dough pulls away from side of bowl but is still slightly sticky (you may not need the fifth cup of flour). Add raisins, cherries, and zest. Mix until elastic and smooth, 7 to 8 minutes.
• Place dough in a large, lightly oiled bowl, and loosely cover with oiled plastic wrap. Let dough rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour, or refrigerate overnight (let dough come to room temperature before proceeding).
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees, with rack in center. Punch down dough; divide into three equal pieces. Gently roll each into a rope, 18 to 20 inches long and about 1 1/2 inches thick. On a lightly floured work surface, lay ropes vertically in front of you. Working toward yourself, braid ropes; form into a circle, and pinch ends together to seal. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet; loosely cover with lightly oiled plastic wrap; let rise 20 minutes.
• In a small bowl, whisk egg yolk and heavy cream. Brush dough with egg wash. Bake 15 minutes; reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Continue baking until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes more. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool.
• When ready to serve, make icing: In a small bowl, stir together confectioners' sugar and remaining 2 tablespoons milk until smooth; drizzle over cake.