German Autumn Fruit Kuchen Recipes

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°.

FRESH PLUM KUCHEN

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs. Combine flour and baking powder; add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Add lemon zest. Pour into a greased 10-in. springform pan. Arrange plums on top; gently press into batter. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. , Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 40-50 minutes or until top is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes. Run a knife around edge of pan; remove sides. Cool on a wire rack.

GERMAN KUCHEN

Steps:

• 1. Dough- Scald milk and add butter, sugar, and salt. Dissolve yeast in warm water in seperate bowl and then add to milk mixture. Beat in eggs and then flour. Cover and let rise until doubled. About an hour. Punch down and divide into 5 pieces. Roll out into desired shape and let rise 30 minutes. Then choose your topping. I used a 9" round cake pan for mine.
• 2. Cinnamon Topping: Use a pastry blender to mix butter and brown sugar and flour. Add cinnamon and sprinkle over dough after it rises the second time. Dot with Butter if desired. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes.
• 3. Cherry Topping: Heat can of dark cherry pie filling and spread on crust after it rises second time. Bake for 20 minutes at 375.
• 4. Cheese Topping; Mix cottage cheese, egg and sugar in blender intil creamy. Heat slowly until warm on stove. Pour on dough after rises second time. Bake at 375 for 25 minutes.
• 5. Butter Topping: Beat together sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Slowly beat in oil. Add oil too fast and it will curdle. Heat on top of stove until hot and pour on crust after second rising. Bake 25 minutes at 375.
• 6. Apple Topping: Peel and slice thinly 3 apples. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar and nutmeg to taste. Roll this dough out in a rectangle. Fill the center with apples and dot with butter. Bake 20 minutes at 375.

FRUIT KUCHEN

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine flour, salt and sugar; cut in butter until mixture resembles cornmeal. Mix egg and milk; add to flour mixture., Press into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Arrange fruit on crust. Combine remaining filling ingredients; pour over fruit. For topping, combine ingredients until crumbly; sprinkle over filling. Bake at 350° for 50-60 minutes or until fruit is tender.

GERMAN AUTUMN FRUIT KUCHEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 F.
• Butter and flour an 11-inch round tart pan with a removable bottom or a 9-inch square cake pan.
• In a large bowl, cream the butter with the sugar until smooth; beat in the eggs until light and fluffy.
• Stir in the vanilla, flour, and salt.
• Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.
• Press your choice of fruit evenly into the batter, sprinkle with the sugar and dot with the butter.
• Bake for 40 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
• Serve warm or cool on a wire rack.
• Serve with a topping of slightly sweetened whipped cream, if desired.
• The kuchen can also be frozen, well wrapped.
• Thaw and reheat in a 300 F.
• oven for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Makes 12 servings.
• The Great Holiday Baking Book.

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 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.