Sour Cream Coffee Cake

This has been THE Christmas morning coffee cake for years.  It keeps several days and freezes.

Ingredients:

Batter

  • 1 c Butter
  • 1½ c Sugar
  • 2 Eggs
  • ½ pt Sour Cream
  • 2 c Flour
  • ½ t Baking Soda
  • 1½ t Baking Powder
  • 1 t Vanilla

Cinnamon Mixture

  • ¾ c Walnuts, finely chopped
  • 2 t Cinnamon
  • 2 T Sugar

Instructions:

Do not preheat oven!

  1. Butter and flour a 9″ tube pan or bundt pan (even if it is teflon)
  2. Combine butter, sugar, eggs  beating until light and fluffy
  3. Blend in sour cream
  4. Sift flour with baking soda and powder into creamed mixture
  5. Add vanilla, blend well
  6. Mix nuts, cinnamon, sugar
  7. Sprinkle half the nut mixture in the pan
  8. Spoon scant half the batter over nut mixture (dough will be very thick)
  9. Sprinkle remaining nut mixture on batter
  10. Spoon remaining batter into pan
  11. Place in cold oven.  Turn oven to 350°
  12. Bake 55 minutes

Serves: 12-14

Source: Sunset Cook Book – Food with a Gourmet Touch, 1960

French Toast a la Dave

Dave the Hubby says:  Breakfasts on Saturday, growing up, were always something battered, a rotating menu of pancakes, waffles (both made via Bisquik) and french toast.  Years later, I did some research and cobbled together this recipe.  I always keep slowly ratcheting up the extra spices — which should be, of course, to taste, the point here being that there’s more to french toast than egg and milk batter.  Spice it up!

Ingredients:

  • 4 eggs, whole and beaten
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1½  tsp vanilla
  • 1½  tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 4 slices of bread

A note on bread:  Bread selection is important in French Toast. You want something that will soak up the batter quickly and thoroughly, but won’t get soggy and tear. Heavier breads seem to do better; thicker slices work, too, but may not soak through. Make sure that if the bread has a flavor, it complements the spices above and whatever toppings you’re putting on.  I prefer something on the soft side, but thin/sandwich cut.  Other people prefer a thick slice.  The bread should be soft enough to soak up the egg/milk mix, hearty enough to maintain its integrity when dredging and flipping, and of a taste not to conflict with the spices or topping.  White or buttermilk work great.

A note on toppings:  I’m a butter and maple syrup guy.  Never been much into the powdered sugar, or the fruit syrup, but your mileage may vary.  Whatever, make sure you have plenty on hand before starting the toast!

Directions:

  1. Blend all of the above in a bowl.  Pour into a 9×13 pan.
  2. Heat flat griddle on medium-low (about 1/3 of the way on our stove).
  3. Dredge pieces of bread through the mixture, getting them battered on both sides.  Let any excess drip off for a second, then put on the griddle.  Cook on both sides until a thin brown crust appears.  Toast should be crispy on the outside, still a bit tender (though not goopy) on the inside.
  4. Top with butter and syrup, or your favorite toppings (see above)

Serves:  Four pieces, or so my notes say.  I almost always double the recipe, and it goes further than 8 slices.  Most adults will eat 4, but poll your guests before starting.  The mix, being eggs and milk, probably won’t keep long.  You may be better off making as much toast as you can and freezing the leftovers for mid-week snacking.

Source:  Dave the Hubby

 

German Pancakes

A family favorite that is sure to amaze old and young alike. This baked pancake, also called Dutch Babies, puff up in amphitheater or bumpy forms. I like them with melted butter, powdered sugar and lemon juice, Dave goes for the traditional butter and syrup. This recipe does not need any adjustment for altitude or convection baking.

Ingredients:

  • 9 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cup Flour
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 1/2 cup Milk
  • 6 tablespoons Butter, melted
  • Butter, melted
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Lemon Wedges
  • Syrup

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 450°.
  2. Using a French whisk or fork, beat eggs until blended.
  3. Sift flour, measure, and sift again with salt.
  4. Add flour and salt to eggs in four additions, beating slightly after each.
  5. Add milk in two additions.
  6. Lightly beat in melted butter.
  7. Generously butter bottom and sides of unheated 9 or 10 inch frying pan.
  8. Pour batter into frying pan and bake in a very hot oven (450°) for 10 minutes.
  9. Reduce oven temperature to 350° and bake 10 minutes more.
  10. Slip onto heated plate; serve immediately.
  11. Serve with melted butter, lemon, and powdered sugar.

Note: VAK uses glass pie plates in place of frying pans.

Serves: 4

Source: Sunset