How you can Make Kugelhopf

Particular breads are an necessary a part of vacation celebrations throughout Europe. Stollen is a should in Germany, panettone is served in Italy and poteca is sliced up in Slovenia. However in Alsace—part of France bordering on Germany—kugelhopf is on the Christmas menu.

What’s a kugelhopf?

Kugelhopf —pronounced koo-gul-hopf—is a festive bread produced from a brioche-type dough. It’s flavored with almonds, citrus zest and dried fruit. This dense, wealthy bread is sliced and served up through the vacation season.

This bread is historically baked in a tall fluted pan and is embellished with entire almonds across the high.

Whereas this bread has its roots in jap France, it’s well-liked in elements of Germany, Austria and Switzerland in addition to elements of Jap Europe. This deal with has mass attraction!

How you can Make a Kugelhopf

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Substances

• 3/4 cup raisins or dried cherries
• 1 tablespoon rum
• 12 blanched almonds
• 1 packet (2-1/2 teaspoons) energetic dry yeast
• 1 cup heat whipping cream (110-115ºF)
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar, divided
• 2/3 cup butter, softened
• 1/3 cup shortening or lard
• 3 eggs, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup sliced almonds
• Confectioners’ sugar

Instruments

• Kugelhopf pan: This bread is historically made in a particular fluted pan. Should you’re severe about this conventional recipe, you’ll need to put money into the pan that goes with it.
• Stand mixer: Make prep work simple by mixing the dough and kneading it in a stand mixer. This one from Breville is certainly one of our Test Kitchen’s favorite stand mixers.
• Dough riser: Kugelhopf is commonly made through the vacation season and cooler months. To make proofing simpler when it’s chilly, strive a dough riser or proofing mat. It’ll gently warmth the dough to assist it rise.

Instructions

Step 1: Steep the fruit

In a small bowl, mix the raisins (or dried cherries) with the rum and let it stand as you prep the remainder of the recipe. Ideally, these elements ought to mingle for half-hour or extra.

Step 2: Prep the pan

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Grease a kugelhopf pan the identical approach you’d grease a Bundt pan: Coat each nook and cranny of the pan with a skinny layer of shortening. Then mud with flour and faucet away the surplus. It will make sure the bread will come away cleanly after baking.

However that’s not all for the prep. Nestle a blanched almond into every ridge on the underside of the pan. This can be a signature end for a kugelhopf.

Step 3: Proof the yeast

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Subsequent, it’s time to proof the yeast. Dissolve a packet of energetic yeast (not instantaneous; that’s a distinct type of yeast) in heat cream with a tablespoon of sugar and let it sit till frothy—about 10 minutes.

Take a look at Kitchen Tip: Goal to hit about 110ºF in your cream. If the liquid is simply too sizzling, it is going to kill the yeast and it’ll be no good. If the cream isn’t sizzling sufficient, it gained’t jump-start the yeast for baking. An instant-read thermometer is your finest guess for getting that temp excellent.

Step 4: Make the dough

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Within the bowl of a stand mixer, cream collectively the remaining sugar, butter and shortening (you can even use lard in lieu of shortening). Make certain to beat these elements effectively—about 5 minutes.

Then add within the yeast combination, eggs, zest, vanilla extract, salt and a couple of cups of flour. Beat on medium pace till clean. Add in sufficient remaining flour (you don’t want to make use of all of it!) till you’ve got a smooth dough.

Step 5: Knead

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Proceed to knead the dough with your mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment. Maintain the mixer going for about 10 minutes. Then add within the raisins and sliced almonds and blend till mixed.

Take a look at Kitchen Tip: Should you don’t need to knead your dough within the mixer, you may knead bread dough by hand. It’ll take some effort and time, however simply hold at it!

Step 6: Proof

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Place your kneaded dough right into a greased bowl, cowl it and let the dough proof at room temperature till it has doubled in dimension—about 90 minutes.

The proof time on this dough is longer than less complicated bread recipes as a result of the dough is enriched with eggs, butter and shortening. These elements add richness to the dough however do decelerate proofing.

Take a look at Kitchen Tip: Should you discover your own home isn’t heat sufficient to proof bread (bread dough likes a heat and humid setting—75º is ideal!), you may proof bread within the oven. Pop the bowl into your oven (it must be off!). Place an oven-safe dish beneath the bowl and fill it with boiling water. The oven will hold the steam and warmth inside and type a proofing chamber.

Step 7: Form the dough

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After the dough has doubled in dimension, punch it down (that simply means urgent out a little bit of the air). Mud your palms with flour and form the dough right into a 12-inch rope.

Place the rope into the ready pan. Press it down barely to fill the crevices.

Step 8: Proof once more

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Then it’s time for this bread’s second proof. Cowl the kugelhopf pan and let it rise till the dough is doubled in dimension—about an hour.

Step 9: Bake

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Finally, it’s time to bake! Bake at 350º till it’s a deep golden brown and the inner temperature hits 200º—roughly 60 minutes. Should you discover the bread is browning too rapidly, you may tent it with aluminum foil.

As soon as totally baked, let the kugelhopf cool on a wire rack for quarter-hour. When that point is up, invert the pan and reveal your kugelhopf. Earlier than serving, mud with confectioners’ sugar.

Take a look at Kitchen Tip: Is your kugelhopf providing you with bother? Observe the following tips for getting a cake out of a Bundt pan. You should use the identical strategies to get this deal with out of its pan in a single piece.

Kugelhopf Ideas

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Can you employ a Bundt pan to make kugelhopf?

Should you don’t need to put money into a particular pan for this recipe, you may completely use a Bundt pan to make kugelhopf. For finest outcomes, use a Bundt pan with out a variety of sharp factors or high quality particulars.

How do you retailer kugelhopf?

The easiest way to retailer kugelhopf is in an hermetic container or sealed in a bread bag. It’ll hold for a number of days this manner.

You may as well freeze kugelhopf—the entire loaf or particular person slices. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and seal it in a zip-top bag. It’ll hold effectively within the freezer for 3 months. Once you’re able to take pleasure in, defrost at room temp. You’ll be able to revive this bread by heating it in a 300º oven for five to 10 minutes.

Leftover slices (or barely stale slices) may be remodeled into bread pudding or French toast.

How do you serve kugelhopf?

Serve kugelhopf dusted with confectioners’ sugar. Be at liberty to slather it with good butter and revel in as breakfast or serve it with holiday brunch.