Need help in finding a recipe

[The empressof all]

When I was growing up our Lutheran Church (very high German) had Sunday coffee and cake after services. They served a cake that I can only describe as being between a danish and a coffee cake. I believe it was a yeast dough and very buttery. The kicker with this was the topping-- which was a very thin layer of what I can only describe as Buttery Crunch. It was thin and crackly and definitely buttery.

I've been thinking of these cakes for a few weeks. I haven't had one since I was a child. Anyone have a clue what these could be called. I googled butter crunch danish and butter crunch in general but didn't get anything that came close.

[Warpy]

1. That's because what you needed to look up was "krum kuchen"

It's a German crumb cake and you're right, it's heaven.

http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/Krum-Kuchen-Crumb-Cake-258365 should do it. All the other recipes I found are similar, whether Penn. Dutch or in German.

[The empressof all]

2. That looks delish....But that's not it

What we had was more of a danish and there was no crumb top. The dough was more "stretchy" like a danish. The top was glistening with butter and sugar and had a distinctive crack and a little bit of a flake. I called the church this morning but this was 45 years ago....I'm waiting for a call back....I'm hoping they don't think I'm an insane old woman calling them about 45 year old breakfast menu.

We also use to sell these little chocolate stars around Christmas time for Luther League. They were the best chocolate....I'd love to have them again too.

[Warpy]

3. Then make a yeast dough and before it goes into the oven

sprinkle it with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon. That will give the "crack" you're looking for. It's what I top my apple cakes with.

However, I think it's more likely a version of krum kuchen than a yeast dough. Think about those whipped egg whites.

[Lars39]

4. That particular church might have put out a cookbook in the past.

Have you tried googling the name of the church?

[The empressof all]

5. I did....I can't even find a web site.

It's possible that they aren't there anymore..

[Lars39]

6. Frustrating, isn't it, the hunt for old recipes.

I'm still trying to recreate something my grandmother used to make.

[grasswire]

14. what are you looking for?

I love to go on the hunt for recipes.

[Lars39]

16. Tea cakes that are like biscuits...

made with bacon grease the old-fashioned way in a big bowl of flour. She probably never had a recipe of it. They were good, though.:9

[grasswire]

7. well, what about this?

http://www.oregonlive.com/foodday/index.ssf/2010/03/rise_and_shine.html

Breton Butter Cake

Obscure, yet apparently scandalously delicious.

[The empressof all]

11. I've been dying to try those since seeing them on the Food Network

I plan on driving through Salt Lake City on the major road trip just to get one. :rofl:

I may try that technique they discribed with some frozen puff pastry

But that's not what I'm looking for

[housewolf]

8. Where was this?

Sometimes knowing the location can help in finding recipes, as sometimes they are traditional local fare.

[The empressof all]

10. This was in Jersey City NJ

The church had German roots so my guess this was a German pastry. I don't think it was made by the church ladies but instead came from one of those Evil Jersey Bakeries. I don't recall ever seeing them in the Italian Bakeries close to where I lived. I think I may try a buttery danish dough and top it with a liberal dusting of Sanding sugar mixed with butter. The top just gave off a hint of a glaze and had a distinctive crunch. My guess is that it was applied before the ending of the baking cycle. The Pastry itself was golden yellow.

[grasswire]

13. what was the crumb like?

Like a batter cake? Or like a danish?

[The empressof all]

20. Definitely more of a Danish dough

It was a rich and buttery one at that. A bit less of a chew than a croissant though.

[pscot]

9. Or this

http://germanfood.about.com/od/baking/ig/German-Cake-Photo-Gallery/butterkuchenstuck500.htm

[The empressof all]

12. Butter Kuchen.....I bet this was really close to it

There was no cinnamon in the ones I'm remembering and the "cake" part looks like it has more of a crumb than the ones I want. But Thanks...I think this is the right track!

[pscot]

19. For a a more pastry-like crumb try this

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Danish-Pastry/Detail.aspx

[hippywife]

15. I've read all the posts here so far

and my only suggestion is to see if the local area has a small town newspaper and place a classified explaining what you are looking for.

They have one here through our local electric cooperative and even have a section for people looking for such things and for other people from some 50 years ago.

Good luck, empress. :hi:

[Tesha]

17. Bee Sting Cake?

AKA Bienenstich

has a " sugary-almond crunchy crust"

Like this...

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/bee-sting-cake-bienenstich-ii/detail.aspx

only without the filling.

or this...

"The honey topping was called 'bienstich' by the German bakers who invented it, probably because of its sweetness."
from here...
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Bee-Sting-Cake-Bienenstich-I/Detail.aspx

or this from - http://easteuropeanfood.about.com/od/crossculturaldesserts/r/beestingcake.htm

[The empressof all]

22. Now that topping looks close

Mine had no almond and was not as brown. It was just a shade or two darker than the golden pastry part. I really wish I had a reason to try to make this cake....It's something I know my family would love.

[grasswire]

26. nom nom nom

I think that's internet speech for "I want that now!"

Geez. That looks good.

[housewolf]

18. How about this one?

Imagine it baked in a 9"x13" pan instead of a loaf pan so that it's not as thick. There's another picture of it sliced at the website. It's based on a Polich coffee cake called "Polish placek".


http://patricklynch.net/recipes/crumb-kuchen-placek.html

[The empressof all]

21. That looks wonderful

The topping isn't right. The topping on my pastry was more "painted" on and didn't come off like a crumble. If it came off at all it came off in a flake.

That looks like a terrific recipe find though....I'd love to try that one too

[housewolf]

23. So was it more of a glaze topping?

Sort of a clear glaze sugar topping, or a white confectioner's glaze?

[The empressof all]

24. It was more of a glaze but you could flake it off with your fingernail

It had a distinctive crunch so I'm thinking it was made with sugar rather than powdered or superfine. I was thinking that perhaps brushing on sugar combined with melted butter. There was definitely a bit of a crunch going on but it tasted more buttery than sugary.

[madmax]

25. I've known a few high Germans

Usually due to, Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier.

:toast: :P

[housewolf]

27. Just came across this recipe

There's no picture so I can't tell if it's anyways close to what you are looking for or not, but check it out and see what you think.

It's a yeasted German Butter Cake, would have to be quite large based on those quantities of ingredients.

http://www.germancorner.com/recipes/A-B/butter_cake.html


Whether it's your cake or not, it sounds really, really delicious!



Or this (minus the powdered sugar)
http://www.thehungrymouse.com/2010/02/08/st-louis-gooey-butter-cake/

[The empressof all]

28. OMG That first one looks amazing and may be what I'm looking for

The egg yolks will give it that yellow color I remember and it sure looks like it will have all that butter flavor. I wonder what packs of Vanilla sugar are though. I've never seen them. I wonder if I can just substitute sugar thats been combined with vanilla bean....But how much?

I'm gonna try that recipe ......

The second one looks good too but now what I'm looking for....too gooey. :hi:

[housewolf]

31. Vanilla Sugar

http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Oetker-Original-Vanilla-Sugar/dp/B000NY31NG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=grocery&qid=1273967333&sr=8-1

A packet weighs about 9 grams (.32 of an ounce) and is equivalent to 1-2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. It can often be found at gourmet or Whole Food type stores, or on-line at Amazon.com.


or this
http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Madagascar-Vanilla-Sugar-2-6/dp/B000MS913W/ref=pd_sbs_gro_1


Or you can make your own
http://germanfood.about.com/od/baking/r/vanillasugar.htm

[housewolf]

33. Another Vanilla Sugar recipe

http://www.germancorner.com/recipes/hints/vanillasugar.html

[hippywife]

34. OMG! That Hungry Mouse site is a keeper!

She really puts a lot of work into it and has some really lovely recipes. Thanx, B! :hi:

I don't know if empress is finding what she's looking for yet, but there are lots of yummy tries being posted. LOL

[Irishonly]

29. How many years ago?

I have my grandmother and great grandmother's cook books. Every once in a great while I will pull them down and make something from them.

[The empressof all]

30. This was 45 to 50 years ago....

I was a child....I could taste them in my mind though as if it were yesterday.

This looks like it may be the closest recipe I've seen though

http://www.germancorner.com/recipes/A-B/butter_cake.html

Next time you are pouring through the books let me know if you have something like it.

[Irishonly]

32. I will

It will probably be in a couple of days or so. I have been very ill and am just starting to believe I am human again.