Placek

Placek is a yeast-raised coffee cake with a crumb topping commonly baked in eastern Europe for holidays and special occasions.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 50 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins
• Calories: 404 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup raisins
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 6 cups all-purpose flour
• water to cover
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 cup warm water
• 0.5 cup butter

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Grease two 9x5-inch loaf pans.

Step 2

Dissolve yeast in warm water in a bowl. Let stand until the yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam, about 5 minutes.

Step 3

Put raisins in a bowl and pour in enough water to cover; set aside until raisins begin to plump, at least 15 minutes.

Step 4

Heat milk and 1/2 cup butter together in a saucepan over medium-high heat until milk is heated just below boiling, about 5 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and cool scalded milk to lukewarm temperature.

Step 5

Beat 1 cup sugar, eggs, salt, nutmeg, and vanilla extract together in a bowl; add milk mixture and yeast mixture and stir until just combined. Drain raisins and stir into sugar mixture. Beat flour, 2 cups at a time, into sugar mixture, beating well after each addition until dough is well mixed. Set bowl in a warm area of the kitchen, cover with a clean towel, and allow dough to double in size, about 2 hours.

Step 6

Beat dough down to release air and pour into the prepared loaf pans.

Step 7

Mix 1 cup sugar, 1 cup flour, and 1 tablespoon butter together in a bowl using 2 knives in a scissor-like fashion until crumbly; sprinkle over dough. Allow dough to double in size, 30 to 45 minutes.

Step 8

Preheat oven to 310 degrees F (154 degrees C).

Step 9

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of a loaf comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Remove loaves from pans and cool on a wire rack.