Polish Poppy Seed Cake Recipes

POLISH POPPY SEED CAKE

Steps:

• Place poppy seeds in a small pot, cover with boiling water and set aside for 24 hours.
• Line a colander with a cheesecloth and spoon in the poppy seeds. Allow to drain for several hours. Once drained, transfer to a food processor and process until fine.
• Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup margarine, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 egg, and baking powder in a large bowl and knead into a smooth dough.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a deep quarter sheet pan (9x13-inches) and line with parchment paper.
• Roll out dough on a slightly floured surface and place in the prepared sheet pan.
• Combine egg yolks, 9 tablespoons margarine, and 1 cup sugar in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in drained poppy seeds gradually. Add apples, honey, breadcrumbs, walnuts, and raisins and mix well.
• Beat egg whites in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl until stiff peaks form. Lift your beater or whisk straight up: the egg whites will form sharp peaks. Fold egg whites into poppy seed mixture; spread over base in sheet pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour until cake is set; transfer to a wire rack to cool.
• Mix enough boiling water with confectioner's sugar to form a smooth icing. Spread generously over cooled cake.

POLISH POPPY SEED LOAVES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt; cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Combine eggs, yolks and yeast mixture; add to crumb mixture and mix well. Beat in sour cream and vanilla until smooth., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Do not let rise. Divide in half. Roll out into two 12-in. squares; cover with plastic wrap., In a small skillet, cook and stir poppy seeds and butter over medium heat for 3 minutes. Stir in the raisins, honey and lemon juice. Transfer to a bowl; cool for 10 minutes. Stir in candied orange peel and lemon zest., In a small bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, on high just until stiff peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Fold into poppy seed mixture. Spread over each square to within 1/2 in. of edges. Roll up each square jelly-roll style; pinch seams to seal., Place on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 45 minutes. , Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Combine icing ingredients; drizzle over cooled loaves.

MAKOWIEC (POPPY SEED CAKE/ROLL)

Steps:

• For the dough: Mix together yeast, sugar, and salt in a large bowl.
• Pour in milk, stir until dissolved.
• Whisk in 1 cup of flour, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 15 minutes.
• Stir in egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract.
• Knead remaining 2 cups flour and butter into yeast mixture, adding each alternately a little at a time.
• Kneed until smooth and elastic, about 15 minutes.
• Place dough in a large bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
• For the filling: Simmer poppy seeds in a medium pot full of water until soft, about 40 minutes.
• Drain and puree in a food processor, about 4 minutes.
• Return poppy seed puree to same saucepan.
• Add sugar, butter, raisins, almonds, vanilla extract, and honey.
• Cook, stirring, over medium-low heat for 15 minutes.
• Set aside to cool.
• To Cook: Preheat oven to 350*F.
• Roll out dough to a 16" x 12" rectangle.
• Whisk egg white in a bowl into stiff peaks, fold into the poppy seed filling.
• Spread over dough, leaving a 1" border all around.
• Fold dough lengthwise in thirds to form a long log.
• Pinch ends to seal.
• Place cake on nonstick baking sheet, brush with beaten egg white, and bake until it sounds hollow when tapped, about 50 minutes.
• Cool before serving.