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Christmas Baking - Helen's Koenigskuchen

by Helen
(Powassan Ont)

Koenigskuchen (King's Cake) is a traditional German Christmas cake recipe I like to make this time of year. Although the original Koenigskuchen recipe uses all-purpose flour, I like to make it with whole wheat flour. Not only is the whole wheat healthier, it gives the cake a darker colour, similar to a regular fruitcake.

Traditional recipe is:

250 grams butter
200 grams sugar
one package vanilla sugar (or 1/2 tsp.vanilla extract)
a pinch of salt
grated peel of 1/2 lemon (or 1/2 tsp. lemon juice)
4 eggs
1/8 liter milk
350 grams all-purpose flour
1 package (one or two teaspoons) baking powder
4 tablespoons rum (I believe it helps in the leavening of the cake)
40 grams finely minced citron
150 grams each of raisins and currants.

  • Crumble the butter or margarine into a lukewarm bowl.
  • Beat until foamy, then add sugar, eggs, vanilla, salt, and lemon rind, a bit at a time, stirring continually about four to five minutes for each egg.
  • Sift together flour and baking powder and add a spoonful at a time alternating with small amounts of milk. The flour must be mixed in completely before you add the milk.
  • Then add the floured raisins and currants. The dough must stick to the spoon.
  • Bake at 175 -190 Celsius for 67 -75 minutes.
  • Dust with powdered sugar or glaze.

    My changes are:
  • I use whole wheat flour.
  • I don't use citron.
  • If I don't have currants, I add the same amount in raisins.
  • I also add one can pitted sour cherries, drained, to the dough as this gives me a drier dough. Because of the whole wheat flour, I add cherry juice till I have the right consistency.

    • Comments for Christmas Baking - Helen's Koenigskuchen

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    Königskuchen in American Measurements
    by: Gerhild

    Here's the ingredient list for Helen's Königskuchen in American measurements as well as temperature in Fahrenheit.

    Ingredients:
    1 cup butter
    7/8 cup sugar
    one package vanilla sugar (or 1/2 tsp.vanilla extract)
    a pinch of salt
    grated peel of 1/2 lemon (or 1/2 tsp. lemon juice)
    4 eggs
    1/2 cup milk
    3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
    1 package (one or two teaspoons) baking powder
    4 tablespoons rum (I believe it helps in the leavening of the cake)
    1/4 cup finely minced citron
    3/4 cup each of raisins and currants.

    Instructions:
  • Preheat oven to 365° F. Use greased loaf pans.
  • Crumble the butter or margarine into a lukewarm bowl.
  • Beat until foamy, then add sugar, eggs, vanilla, salt, and lemon rind, a bit at a time, stirring continually about four to five minutes for each egg.
  • Sift together flour and baking powder and add a spoonful at a time alternating with small amounts of milk. The flour must be mixed in completely before you add the milk.
  • Then add the floured raisins and currants. The dough may stick to the spoon.
  • Fill greased loaf pans no more than 3/4 full.
  • Bake at 365° F. for 67 -75 minutes.
  • Dust with powdered sugar or glaze.
    		•
    Koenigskuchen Recipe
    by: Anonymous

    I need the recipe translated into American! That is, cups and tablespoons and teaspoons, etc. MANY THANKS!
    King's Cake Sounds Regal
    by: Gerhild

    Making a Koenigskuchen is going to be on my baking list for this year's Christmas celebration. The addition of the cherries is interesting. Unusual, but why not. It makes it more of a fruit cake - I like that.

    Thanks for sharing this with us.

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