Kugelhopf, Kougelhof, Kouglof… there are many names to describe what is certainly Alsace’s most famous cake which depend on local germanic dialect. A Kugelhopf is also prepared in neighbouring regions of Southern Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
This recipe gives a ‘soft’ variant of the cake: spongy and moist it melts in your mouth when fresh. The Alsatian tradition is to eat a much ‘dryer’ Kugelhopf, which some locals dip in their morning coffee. In Alsace, the briochy cake is often traditionally prepared for Christmas.
Ingredients
- 500g plain flour
- 120g caster sugar
- 120g unsalted butter – soft (room temperature)
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- 250ml milk
- A little vanilla sugar (1 sachet) or a couple of drops of vanilla extract (optional)
- salt
- 1 sachet of yeast
- almonds (unsalted) – about 30
- sultanas soaked in rum
About the mould:
The dough that you will get from the recipe will make two average-sized Kugelhopfs.It is best to use ceramic moulds, such as those found in Alsace, however, you could use a similar mould in silicone or aluminium if you can’t get a ceramic one.
Method
- Warm the milk and melt the butter with it.
- Mix the flour, sugar, salt and add the dried yeast.
- Make a well and then add the milk and butter and the eggs.
- Mix until the mixture comes away from the side of the bowl.
- Leave to rise for several hours with a clean dry tea towel over the top.
- Once the dough has rise, beat the dough again to incorporate more air. Drain the sultanas and roll them in a little flour, then carefully mix them through the dough.
- Butter the moulds and put an almond in each hole.
- Put the mixture into each mould (do not overfill as some room is needed when it rises a final time).
- Leave to rise again for several more hours with the tea towel on the top.
- Once the dough has risen, cook in an oven at 180 (150 if fan assisted) for about 50-60 minutes. You do not need to pre-heat the oven – it should be cool when you put them in.
- When you take them out leave them to cool a little (20-30 mins) and then carefully tip the mould up and release the Kugelhopf.
- Decorate with icing sugar.
Hello,
In regards to the extraordinary kugelhopf mold, is there a specific shop you can purchase them from. If so, I would really appreciate a website you could recommend?
Thank you,
Will
Thank you William for your comment and I apologise for my late reply. There are several websites selling kugelhopf molds. One of them is Plaisir d’Alsace: http://www.plaisirs-alsace.fr/en/boutique/moules-a-kougelhopf-ou-kouglof.html?sr=13 Make sure you read their Terms and Conditions before ordering (they can sell their products by mail : http://www.plaisirs-alsace.fr/en/page-2/alsacian-products-salses-conditions.html). Have a nice day! Pierre
Thankyou Pierre for sharing your recipe & the link for the Kugelhopf mold.
My Kugelhopf turned out perfect 1st time! & remind me of my time in Colmar & my love for Alsace I look forward to visiting again hopefully soon.
Well done Angela! That’s fantastic news, I’m so happy for you… once our European heatwave gone, I think I’ll cook one myself again 🙂