Placek

Placek is a yeast-raised, crumb-topped coffee cake commonly baked in eastern Europe for holidays and special occasions. This recipe includes raisins.

• 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

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

Step 3

Dissolve yeast in 1 cup warm water in a bowl. Let stand until yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam, about 5 minutes.

Step 4

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

Step 5

Beat 1 cup sugar, eggs, salt, nutmeg, and vanilla extract together in a bowl. Add milk and yeast mixtures; stir until just combined. Drain raisins; stir into sugar-milk-yeast mixture. Beat in flour, 2 cups at a time, beating well after each addition until dough is well mixed. Cover bowl with a clean towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 2 hours.

Step 6

Punch down dough to release air. Divide in half; form into loaves and place into the prepared pans.

Step 7

Mix 1 cup sugar, 1 cup flour, and 1 tablespoon butter in a bowl using 2 knives until crumbly; sprinkle over dough. Let loaves rise until doubled in volume, 30 to 45 minutes.

Step 8

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

Step 9

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into centers comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Remove loaves from pans; cool on a wire rack.