Apricot Kuchen - German Coffee Cake

butter

🥗Healthier: coconut oil

💰Cheaper: margarine

Coconut oil reduces saturated fat while maintaining moisture.

all-purpose flour

🥗Healthier: whole wheat flour

💰Cheaper: cake flour

Whole wheat flour adds fiber and nutrients.

sugar

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: brown sugar

Honey provides natural sweetness with a unique flavor.

eggs

🥗Healthier: flaxseed meal

💰Cheaper: egg substitute

Flaxseed meal is a vegan alternative that binds ingredients.

In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of slightly warm whole milk, 1/4 cup of sugar, 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.

Mix the ingredients together and add 1 tablespoon of instant yeast, letting it sit for a minute before whisking it in.

In a separate bowl, combine 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour with 4 tablespoons of softened butter, cutting the butter into the flour.

Add the wet mixture to the flour mixture and mix until a dough forms, adjusting with more flour if necessary to avoid stickiness.

Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it rise for about 1 hour.

For the custard, heat 1/2 cup of whole milk and 1 1/2 cups of cream until bubbles form, but do not boil.

In another bowl, whisk together 3 eggs, 1/4 cup of sugar, a pinch of salt, and 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon.

Slowly add the heated milk and cream mixture to the egg mixture to avoid cooking the eggs, then return to the heat until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon.

Turn out the risen dough onto a floured surface and knead it lightly before dividing it into two pieces.

Roll each piece of dough out to about 1/2 inch thick to fit into two buttered 9-inch pie pans.

Let the dough sit in the pie pans for about 30 minutes before adding the filling.

Prepare the apricot filling using a mix of dried apricots (rehydrated), canned apricot filling, and fresh apricots, slicing them as needed.

Pour about 10 ounces of custard over each pie, then sprinkle with cinnamon and a little nutmeg.

Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 30-35 minutes, checking halfway through to rotate the pans.

Allow the kuchen to cool before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens