Best Placek Recipes

PLACEK

Steps:

• Heat milk in a small saucepan until it reaches 110 degrees. Remove from heat; stir in yeast and 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar until completely dissolved. Let stand until foamy, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Transfer yeast mixture to a stainless steel bowl. Add 2 cups flour and stir to combine. Spray a piece of parchment paper with cooking spray and cover dough. Cover parchment with a kitchen towel and let rise until doubled in size, 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together 1 1/2 sticks butter, 1 1/4 cups sugar, orange zest, eggs, and 2 cups flour.
• Change mixer attachment to a dough hook and add yeast mixture to mixer bowl. Mix together on low. With the mixer running, slowly add 2 cups flour and raisins. Butter a large bowl and add dough. Spray a piece of parchment paper with cooking spray and cover dough. Let rise until doubled, 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, use a fork to mix together remaining 2 cups flour, 1 stick butter, and 1 cup sugar until crumbly.
• Butter three 9-by-5-by-3-inch (8-cup) loaf pans and divide dough evenly between them; top each with crumbs. Spray a piece of parchment paper with cooking spray and cover dough; let rise until rounded over the top.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Transfer placek to oven and bake until golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool for 1 hour in pan before removing. Store at room temperature, up to 1 week.

GRANDMA'S PLACEK

Steps:

• Warm milk over low heat until scalded (soft bubbles form around edge of pot) but not boiling.
• Add butter and remove from heat.
• Mix in sugar, salt, nutmeg and vanilla. Let cool.
• Meanwhile, sprinkle yeast into water in 2 cup measure,
• stir in 1/2 teaspoon sugar.
• Let stand undisturbed to "proof" about 10 minutes.
• Add eggs to milk mixture, one at a time, beating well.
• Add yeast-in-water mixture.
• Add flour with raisins.
• Knead dough 5 minutes, adding extra flour as needed.
• Placed kneaded dough into greased pan and grease top of dough to prevent it from drying out. Keep warm to rise until double, about 1 to 2 hours.
• Knead dough again (for 5 minutes) and put into greased loaf pans. Let rise 1 to 2 hours again.
• This recipe makes approximately 1 bunt, 2 large and 2 small loaf pans.
• Crumble topping ingredients together.
• Add topping to bread in loaf pans.
• Preheat oven and bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.
• Bread is done when tester comes out clean.

PLACEK

Steps:

• Put raisins in a bowl and pour in enough water to cover; set aside until raisins begin to plump, at least 15 minutes.
• Dissolve yeast in warm water in a bowl. Let stand until the yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam, about 5 minutes.
• 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.
• 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.
• Grease two 9x5-inch loaf pans.
• Beat dough down to release air and pour into the prepared loaf pans.
• 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.
• Preheat oven to 310 degrees F (154 degrees C).
• 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.

POLISH FRESH PLUM CAKE--PLACEK Z SLIWKAMI

Steps:

• Lightly coat a 13"x9" pan with cooking spray. Heat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt and 3/4 cup sugar. Add 1/2 cup softened butter, milk and eggs. Beat at medium speed 4 minutes.
• Pour batter into prepared pan. Place plums on top, cut side up, pushing down slightly into batter.
• Cut remaining 1/4 cup sugar and cloves into 3 tablespoons cold butter and sprinkle over plums. Bake about 40 minutes or until a toothpick tests clean.
• Let the cake cool in the pan so the plum juices will be reabsorbed to create a moist cake. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar, if desired, and cut into 12 squares.

PLACEK Z KRUSZONKA

Steps:

• Place sugar and butter in a large bowl or stand mixer. Scald the milk, and pour it into the bowl with sugar and butter. Stir until butter is completely melted. Let cool to 110 degrees.
• Add yeast and mix well. Add egg-salt mixture and half the flour, stirring constantly. Add the vanilla and raisins, if using, and mix well. Add the remaining flour and mix well. The dough will be sticky.
• Turn out into a greased bowl and cover with greased plastic wrap. Let rise until doubled. Grease two (9x5-inch) loaf pans and make the crumb topping in a medium bowl by combining flour and sugar, and cutting in the butter with your fingers. Set aside.
• Using slightly dampened hands, punch down dough and divide it in half. Place in prepared pans. Sprinkle half the crumb topping on each cake. Place on a baking sheet (to catch any crumbs that fall off while baking), cover with greased plastic wrap, and let rise until dough mounds slightly over the top.
• Heat oven to 300 degrees and bake 50 minutes or until instant-read thermometer registers 190 degrees. Remove from oven. Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then turn out and cool coffee cakes completely on their side on a wire rack. Best if eaten within a few days of making, but freezes nicely.

"BUTTERMILK" PLACEK RECIPE - (4.3/5)

Steps:

• 1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. 2. In a stand mixer, cream butter. Add sugar and eggs. 3. In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients. 4. Make "buttermilk" by combining the milk and vinegar. Stir well. 5. Begin to alternately add the flour and 'buttermilk' to the butter mixture. Mix well between additions. 6. Add vanilla and lemon juice. 7. Grease a 9x13' pan with coconut oil. 8. Pour batter in pan. 9. Make crumble by melting butter in a small bowl in the microwave. 10.Add flour and sugar and sprinkle over batter in the pan. 11.Bake for 1 hour. 12.Remove from oven and make glaze. 13.Combine milk, confectionary sugar and vanilla. Mix with a whisk. 14.While cake is still warm, pour glaze over crumble top. 15.Top with walnuts, if desired.

POLISH QUICK CAKE WITH FRUIT (PLACEK Z OWOCAMI)

Steps:

• Beat butter and sugar until smooth an creamy. Add 1 egg at a time, alternating with flour and beat well until blended.
• Pour batter into grease 9 x 13 pan.
• Arrange fruit such as sliced peaches, apples dusted with cinnamon or plums sliced in half on top of cake so it's well distributed.
• Bake at 350°F 30 - 40 minutes until cake is golden. Cool and dust with icing sugar.
• Be sure every guest gets a nice slice of fruit on top!

PLACEK SWIATECZNY - POLISH DESSERT BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Beat eggs with sugar using an electric mixer for 5 minutes at high speed.
• Mix chopped nuts, raisins and orange peel with 2 tablespoons of flour.
• Mix remaining flour with baking powder and salt.
• Cream together the butter, lemon peel and vanilla extract until fluffy.
• Beat in vodka, then add egg mixture gradually, beating constantly.
• Add the flour mixture and beat for 5 minutes.
• Fold fruit-nut mixture into the batter.
• Turn into a greased and floured 9x5x3-inch pan or a 1 1/2 quart ring mold.
• Bake at 350 degrees F. for 1 hour.
• Cool cake in pan on wire rack for ten minutes, then turn cake out onto rack and cool completely.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and set aside to mellow for a couple of days.

IRENE'S CREAM CHEESE PLACEK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Cream together: cream cheese,butter,sugar.
• Add eggs-beat just until blended.
• In another bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, salt & baking soda.
• Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk to creamed mixture-beating after each addition.
• Put in a greased & floured 13X9 pan.
• Mix together topping ingredients and sprinkle on batter.
• Bake 35 to 40 minutes-do not over bake or will be too dry!

PLACEK SWIATECZNY (HOLIDAY BREAD), MARK'S

Steps:

• Beat the eggs with the sugar for 5 minutes at high speed. Add to the butter by small portions Add vodka, vanilla, and lemon rind, beating constantly. Add the baking powder and flour, beat 5 more minutes until the batter is thick. Mix the nuts, raisins, orange rind and cornstarch separately, then fold into the batter Bake at 350F for 1 hour in a loaf pan that has been buttered and floured or buttered and sprinkled with bread crumbs.
• Notes: I've tried it both ways, and find the bread crumbs do a better job than flouring the pan.

PLACEK

Steps:

• 1. Mix together the lukewarm milk (warm enough to activate the yeast)and yeast to proof. Mix together 2 T. sugar and 3 C. flour with the yeast mixture and allow it to bubble and rise, about a half hour. 2. Cream together 2 C. sugar and 1 1/2 C. butter then start adding one egg at a time. Add salt, flour and vanilla. 3. Add the yeast mixture and beat well, until the dough becomes elastic. 4. Divide the dough between four well buttered loaf pans and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled in size. 5. In a food processor mix crumb topping. 6. Once risen beat down the loaves and top generously with the kruszynski. 7. Let the dough rise once more until it reaches about 3/4 of the way up the pan. 8. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.