Moravian Sugar Cake

Many Moravians--a Germanic people from a region in what for most of the twentieth century has been known as Czechoslovakia--settled in Ohio, southern Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois in the last century. The mashed potatoes give this Moravian coffee cake, which is good for breakfast or an afternoon break, a distinctive, moist texture.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 35 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
• Calories: 243 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• 1 large egg
• ½ cup warm water
• 2 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons warm water
• 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, divided
• 1 (8 ounce) russet potato, peeled and cubed
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• ¾ cup firmly packed light brown sugar

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Step 2

Place potato in a small saucepan with enough water to cover it by 1 inch; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until very tender, 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 3

Transfer potato to a strainer and let sit until completely drained. Force it through a ricer into a bowl. Stir in 2 tablespoons warm water.

Step 4

Proof yeast in a small bowl with remaining 1/2 cup warm water until mixture is foamy, about 5 minutes.

Step 5

Stir yeast mixture, mashed potato, 2 1/2 cups flour, sugar, melted butter, egg, and salt together in a large bowl until well combined.

Step 6

Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead, 8 to 10 minutes, adding as much of the remaining 1/2 cup flour as necessary to form a smooth, elastic dough. Transfer the dough to large, buttered bowl, turning to coat with the butter. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Step 7

Punch dough down, then press it evenly in a buttered 9x13-inch baking pan. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place until puffed, 30 to 45 minutes.

Step 8

Make indentations all over the top of the dough with your thumb and scatter the cold butter pieces over top. Stir brown sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl and sprinkle evenly over the dough.

Step 9

Bake in the middle of the preheated oven until dark brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Let the cake cool for 5 minutes and cut it into squares.