Ukranian Poppy Seed Cake Recipes

MOLLY KATZEN'S/MOOSEWOOD RESTAURANT'S UKRAINIAN POPPY SEED CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Butter a 10 inch tube or bundt pan.
• CAKE: Cream the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.
• Sift together the dry ingredients in a separate bowl.
• Add the dry ingredients to the butter/egg mixture alternately with the poppy seeds and milk; beginning and ending with the dry mixture.
• Stir batter just enough to blend thoroughly, adding the vanilla, lemon juice and lemon rind at the end.
• Spread the batter into the prepared pan, and bake for about 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean.
• Cool for 10 minutes, then invert onto a pretty cake platter. Allow to cool completely before adding the orange glaze and/or slicing.
• ORANGE GLAZE: Combine the ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer uncovered for about 3 minutes.
• Pour the hot glaze onto the cooled cake. Let stand at least 10 minutes before slicing.

UKRANIAN POPPY SEED CAKE

Steps:

• Heat poppyseeds and milk in a small saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat just before milk begins to boil. Let stand until milk reaches room temperature.
• Preheat over to 350 degrees.
• Cream together the butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Sift together the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder and salt).
• AIn thirds, alternately beat into the butter and sugar the dry ingredients and milk. Add the vanilla and lemon zest at the end.
• Lightly butter 2 loaf pans and split batter between pans. Bake 40-50 minutes until a toothpick or knife inserted comes out clean.

UKRAINIAN POPPYSEED CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and adjust oven rack to middle position.
• 2. Heat the poppy seeds and milk in a small saucepan over medium heat. Remove from the heat just before the milk begins to boil. Set aside.
• 3. Cream the butter and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• 4. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
• 5. In thirds, alternately beat into the butter and sugar the dry ingredients and milk. Add the lemon extract and zest at the end.
• 6. Lightly spray two loaf pans and divide the batter between the two pans. Bake 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out dry.

UKRAINIAN POPPY SEED CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 F.
• Grease a 10-inch tube-type pan and dust the pan with flour.
• In a small bowl, combine the poppy seeds and milk.
• cover and refrigerate overnight.
• In a large bowl, cream the butter, lemon zest, and sugar until creamy.
• Add the egg whites and beat at high speed with an electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy.
• Place the cake flour, baking powder, and salt into a sieve and set it over the bowl.
• With a spoon, stir the mixture until it is sifted into the creamed mixture.
• Add the poppy seed-milk mixture and with an electric mixer at MEDIUM speed beat until the batter is light and fluffy, scraping the sides of the bowl often.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
• Let the cake cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then invert it out onto a wire rack to finish cooling.
• TO MAKE THE GLAZE: In a small bowl, stir together the confectioners' sugar, butter, and lemon juice.
• Drizzle the icing over the cake.
• Makes about 10 servings.

UKRAINIAN CHRISTMAS POPPY SEED RUM CAKE MAKOVYI TORTE

Steps:

• FOR THE CAKE: Pour boiling water over seeds, let stand for 5 minutes, pour off water and repeat.
• Drain well.
• Grind with steel blade in processor until seeds release milk and turn white.
• Butter a 9 inch springform pan and dust it with ground almonds. (This may be done in advance.) Best to butter parchment paper to cover bottom of pan and sprinkle with ground almonds.
• Place poppy seeds and honey in a large bowl.
• Separate eggs.
• Add room-temperature yolks, one by one, to the mix, beating until thick.
• Stir in grated almonds and lemon zest.
• Beat egg whites until satiny but no dry.
• Fold a little into the mixture, then fold in the rest, until no white shows.
• Pour mixture into pan, rapping it gently to release air pockets, and smooth the top with a spatula.
• Bake on the middle rack of a preheated 350°F oven for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean from the center.
• Do not open oven door or disturb the cake while baking.
• Cool slowly, not in a draft.
• Run a sharp knife around the sides, then slowly release the spring.
• Run a knife under the bottom and cool on rack.
• TO FILL CAKE: Cover work surface with double sheets of wax paper.
• With a sharp knife, make a small incision around the torte to mark where it should be cut in half.
• Make horizontal cuts at four equidistant points, then gently pull a long thread through the cake to cut it into two layers.
• Sprinkle bottom layer with 2 or 3 tablespoons of rum, and evenly spread rum butter filling about 3/4 inch thick.
• Cover with top layer and press gently.
• Cover the sides with the rest of the filling.
• Refrigerate overnight wrapped in foil.
• TO ICE CAKE, cover work surface or a lazy susan with wide double-strength foil.
• Apply a third of the icing to sides with a spatula, pulling from the bottom up.
• Wipe spatula occasionally to avoid pulling crumbs, and dip in hot water to smooth out ridges.
• With the rest of the icing, smoothly cover the top.
• Refrigerate for at least 2 days.
• Run a sharp knife around bottom to release icing from paper.
• Slide the torte onto one hand, pull off the remaining paper and gently place torte on serving platter, taking care not to crack the icing.
• Yields about 20 slices.
• Keeps well in refrigerator.
• Serve at room temperature.
• RUM BUTTER FILLING: (Rumova masa) This is an excellent cream, the base of which may be used with different flavors.
• Here, rum is used.
• It is used as a filling for the poppy seed torte.
• This filling can also be used as icing.
• Cream butter until light, add sugar a little at a time, rum, and cream.
• Beat until very fluffy.
• WHITE ICING: Bila Shklytsia.
• This hard icing dries quickly and forms a lovely cover for a torte.
• It cures hard, not fluffy.
• Place 2 cups sugar in a bowl and add cream and vanilla.
• Mix well, gradually adding the rest of the sugar.
• Add a little more cream if too stiff.