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
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.