Best South Dakota Cheese Kuchen Recipes

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PEAR KUCHEN



Pear Kuchen image

Emily Elsen and Melissa Elsen, sisters who run the Four & Twenty Blackbirds bakery in Brooklyn, hail from South Dakota, where their family ran a small restaurant. Kuchen, a German cake topped with fruit that is a staple of the state's Thanksgiving tables, is central to their childhood memories of the holiday. Their recipe, topped with pears, "looks a little different than those traditionally found in local South Dakota church and community cookbooks," Melissa Elsen wrote in an email, "but it tastes like it does in my memory (with the addition of cardamom)." That cardamom, it turns out, is key to the dish's success, with citrus and savory notes that are as pleasant as they are unexpected.

Provided by Sam Sifton

Categories     cakes, dessert

Time 1h

Yield 2 kuchens, 8 servings each

Number Of Ingredients 26

1/2 cup/118 milliliters whole milk
1 1/8 teaspoons/3 1/2 grams active dry yeast (about half a packet)
2 tablespoons/28 grams unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup/50 grams sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg yolk
1 2/3 cups/209 grams all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons/53 grams cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup/50 grams sugar
2 tablespoons/16 grams all-purpose flour
1 large egg
3/4 cup/177 milliliters whole milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cardamom pods, crushed in a mortar and pestle
1/2 teaspoon anise seed, crushed in a mortar and pestle
1 tablespoon/14 grams unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons/16 grams all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tablespoons/21 grams sugar
1 tablespoon/13 grams packed light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Small pinch of salt
1 1/2 tablespoons/21 grams unsalted butter, cut into small pieces and softened
3 ripe Bosc pears (about 1 pound)
1/2 tablespoon/7 grams sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons/11 milliliters apple cider vinegar or lemon juice

Steps:

  • Make the dough: Warm milk to 110 degrees (or until warm to the touch), sprinkle with yeast, stir and let stand for 5 minutes until dissolved. Add butter and stir until mostly melted.
  • Butter or oil a large bowl. In a second large bowl, whisk together sugar, salt and egg yolk. Add flour and stir with a wooden spoon until incorporated. Add warm milk mixture and stir until combined and dough comes together in a smooth, sticky ball, about 2 minutes. Transfer to prepared bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, 2 to 3 hours. (Alternatively, dough can rise in refrigerator overnight.)
  • Meanwhile, make the pastry cream: Place a fine-mesh sieve on the rim of a medium bowl. In a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan, blend cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Whisk in flour, egg, milk, salt, cardamom pods and anise seed. Cook over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until mixture starts to thicken, then whisk constantly until it starts to boil. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, for 2 more minutes, then immediately pour mixture into fine-mesh sieve. Use a spatula to push it through sieve and into bowl. Let cool, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes, then stir in butter and vanilla. Press plastic wrap directly on surface of pastry cream and refrigerate until ready to use.
  • Make the streusel: In a small bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Add butter pieces and toss to coat. Use fingertips to rub butter into dry ingredients until pea-size lumps form. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
  • Roll out dough: Butter two 9-inch pie plates. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and with floured hands gently knead it into a log. Divide log in half and flatten into discs. With a lightly floured rolling pin, roll each disc into an 8-inch round. Transfer rounds to pie plates, pressing dough to edges of pan and just slightly up sides. Let rise for about 20 minutes while you prep fruit.
  • Set a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 350 degrees. Peel and core pears, then slice them lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices and place in a medium bowl. Sprinkle with sugar and apple cider vinegar or lemon juice and toss to coat.
  • Assemble the kuchens: Spread about 1/4 cup pastry cream on bottom of each kuchen, stopping 1/2 inch from edge of dough, then arrange pear slices in an overlapping circular pattern on top. Divide remaining pastry cream between kuchens and carefully spread it evenly over pears. Sprinkle streusel over both and bake in center of oven until dough is light golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. (If your oven can't accommodate both kuchens, refrigerate one while the other bakes.) Serve warm or at room temperature. Baked kuchens can be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, then foil, and frozen up to 1 month. Rewarm before serving.

RICH FRUIT KUCHENS



Rich Fruit Kuchens image

This German classic is such a part of our reunions, we designate a special place to serve it. Five generations flock to the "Kuchen Room" for this coffee cake. -Stephanie Schentzel, Northville, South Dakota

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Breakfast     Brunch

Time 1h15m

Yield 4 coffee cakes (8 servings each).

Number Of Ingredients 18

1 1/8 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 cup warm water (110° to 115°)
1/2 cup warm milk (110° to 115°)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup canola oil
1 large egg, room temperature, lightly beaten
3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
CUSTARD:
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1-1/2 cups sugar
8 to 10 cups sliced peeled tart apples or canned sliced peaches, drained, or combination of fruits
TOPPING:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup cold butter

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the milk, sugar, salt, oil, egg and 2-1/2 cups flour; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Do not knead. Cover and refrigerate overnight., The next day, for custard, whisk the eggs, cream and sugar in a large bowl until combined; set aside. Divide dough into 4 portions. , On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion into a 10-in. circle. Press each circle onto the bottom and up the sides of an ungreased 9-in. pie plate. Arrange 2 to 2-1/2 cups of fruit in each crust. Pour 1 cup custard over fruit., For topping, combine the sugar, flour and cinnamon in a small bowl. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle 1/3 cup over each coffee cake. Cover edges of dough with foil. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and custard reaches 160°.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 242 calories, Fat 11g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 58mg cholesterol, Sodium 69mg sodium, Carbohydrate 32g carbohydrate (19g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 3g protein.

DAKOTA STYLE PLUM CAKES (KUCHENS)



Dakota Style Plum Cakes (Kuchens) image

This is my version of a dessert that is popular all over North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. It is simply referred to as "kuchen," and while kuchen translates to "cake" in German, the specific style that is popular here refers to a yeasted dough topped with custard and usually (but not always) fruit. Around here, you can get it in grocery stores and farmers' markets, and it's often served at parties. I love it with a hot cup of coffee.

Provided by Molly Yeh

Categories     dessert

Time 4h

Yield 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

3/4 cup whole milk
One 1/4-ounce packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for working the dough
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 large eggs
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
Nonstick cooking spray, for greasing the bowl
1 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 large egg plus 1 large egg yolk
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
4 medium plums, sliced 1/4-inch thick
Demerara sugar, for sprinkling
Ground cinnamon, for sprinkling
Flakey salt, for sprinkling

Steps:

  • For the dough: Warm the milk until just warm to the touch (90 to 100 degrees F). Stir in the yeast and a pinch of the granulated sugar and let sit until foamy, about 5 minutes. Combine the flour, remaining granulated sugar and the kosher salt in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on low speed to combine. Separate 1 of the eggs and set aside the white for the egg wash. Whisk the egg yolk and remaining whole egg into the yeast mixture. Add the yeast mixture to the flour, then mix on low speed to make a smooth, thick dough. Increase the speed to medium and add the butter a piece at a time. Once all of the butter has been added, beat on high until smooth, about 1 minute. Switch to the dough hook and knead the dough until it forms a smooth, springy ball on the hook, 4 to 5 minutes (add a little more flour, if needed, if the dough doesn't form a ball). Grease a large bowl and turn the dough in the bowl to coat. Cover and let rise at room temperature until doubled, 1 to 2 hours.
  • For the custard: Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, combine the cream, granulated sugar, cornstarch, kosher salt, egg and yolk. Whisk it together and heat over medium heat until thick, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the butter and extract; stir until combined. Transfer to a clean bowl. Cover the surface of the custard with plastic wrap. Let cool at room temp.
  • Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Cut the dough in half, then cut each half into 6 equal pieces. Working with one piece at a time, form the dough into balls by folding the dough under itself and pinching to seal underneath. Set the ball, smooth-side up, on a floured surface, and turn in your hand to form a tight round shape. Divide the 12 buns among the lined baking sheets. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Once the buns have risen, gently press down on each to make indentations that will make space for the custard. Fill the indentations with the custard. Top with the plums. Brush the buns with the reserved egg white mixed with a splash of water and sprinkle with demerera sugar, a pinch of cinnamon and flakey salt. Bake, rotating the trays from top to bottom halfway through, until the buns are risen and golden and the custard is set, 18 to 22 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

APPLE KUCHEN-THE SOUTH DAKOTA STATE DESSERT



Apple Kuchen-The South Dakota State Dessert image

South Dakota adopted Kuchen as the state dessert to celebrate the rich cultural heritage and traditional foods of their German ancestors. The word originated in the 1800s, and it describes various types of coffee cakes made from a sweet dough and a wide variety of fillings.

Provided by L D

Categories     Fruit Desserts

Number Of Ingredients 15

CRUST
2 c flour
1/2 c sugar
1/4 t. kosher salt
1/2 t. vanilla
1/2 pound unsalted butter,cold,cut into pieces
FILLING
1 pound cream cheese, rm temp.
3/4 c sugar
1 t. vanilla
1 egg, rm. temp.
TOPPING
2 t. sugar
1 1/2 t. ground cinnamon
3 granny smith apples,peeled,cored and thinly sliced

Steps:

  • 1. Directions on how to make the crust: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Lightly grease and flour a 9×13-inch pan. Place the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl or food processor fitted with a steel blade and mix to combine. Add the vanilla and butter, a little at a time. Press into the baking pan and bake in oven until slightly golden but not brown, about 12 to 15 minutes. Cool. Directions on how to make the filling and topping: Mix the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in mixer (preferably with a paddle) and beat until creamy. Add the egg, mix to combine, and pour over the cooled crust Place the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and mix to combine. Place the apples on top of the filling in two or three columns. Sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar and transfer to the oven. Bake until firm and a rich brown, about 20 minutes. Cut into 20 to 24 pieces. Mix the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in mixer (preferably with a paddle) and beat until creamy. Add the egg, mix to combine, and pour over the cooled crust Place the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and mix to combine. Place the apples on top of the filling in two or three columns. Sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar and transfer to the oven. Bake until firm and a rich brown, about 20 minutes. Cut into 20 to 24 pieces. - Recipe from the 2007 South Dakota Legislative Manual

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