Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Back to food blogging! TWD: Kugelhopf

I was intrigued when I first read that Kugelhopf would be our recipe this week - sounds really different, doesn't it? Really, it's just a kind of brioche (egg and butter, mildly sweet bread) and, well, to be totally honest, I didn't really think a whole lot of it after the taste test. It was good, but nothing to write home about, especially for all the steps involved in making it. Boy, I feel terrible writing that. It makes me wonder if I didn't do something right - which, after looking at it once it came out of the oven, makes that possibility more likely (note the concave bottom of those slices).

Anyway, here's how it came together:

The dough after the first addition of liquid (warm milk and yeast).



Yeah, that's exactly what I thought: "Huh? What the heck is that?" Dorie describes this look of the dough "shaggy". I've made quite a bit of bread but that was a new one for me, but that's a pretty accurate description.

After the addition of the eggs and butter however, the dough got very smooth and was actually pretty wet.



The boys had fun helping me out with this recipe (well eyeing the potential goodness, anyway), especially my littlest one - he really enjoyed watching my not-so-sturdy old Kitchen Aid work so hard to mix the dough.

Here he is helping to hold that crazy thing down! At any speed above 3, it really starts to wobble and kinda inches its way all over the counter.


My blogging friend Cathy over at The Tortefeasor is asking for kitchen goodies from Santa, I think I need to hop on that bandwagon too! Surely the big guy reads blogs - right Cathy?

I went looking for a Kugelhopf pan at our kitchen store in the mall and they didn't have one. So, not wanting to drag a tired 15 month old over to Bed Bath and Beyond, I just used the standby bundt pan (don't read anything into that Santa - just the new mixer would be great!).

After refrigerating the dough overnight, it actually rose faster than I expected - only two hours, but that was in a slightly warmed oven.


And, ta da - here's how it looked fresh out of the oven. Yeah, not quite right. Not sure what I did wrong, but Dorie says that the dough might rise up over the top of the pan once in the oven, but obviously, that wasn't a problem for my little Kugelhopf.


It looked much better unmolded with a fine dusting of powdered sugar:

So bottom line, if I were to make this again, which is doubtful, I would skip a lot of those middle rises and just do one rise overnight in the fridge, cook it in the morning and serve it at a brunch. You can find the recipe over at The All-Purpose Girl (thanks, Yolanda - I hope yours turned out better than mine!) and you can check out all the other fabulous Tuesdays with Dorie bakers here.

Next week's recipe sounds equally intriguing, but I'm hoping for better results: Black, White (or both) Arborio Rice Pudding

16 comments:

Flourchild said...

Your bread looks so good! I thought this recipe took forever and a day! Im glad my kids liked it though! Your pictures of your kids are darling.

Peggy said...

I think you are on to something - skipping that first part of the rise! It seemed to take two days to make this and it was not spectacular, though I did really like it. Great job on yours and the cutest kids!

chocolatechic said...

OH, yours raised so lovely.


Mine...not so much.

Nancy/n.o.e said...

That's wild - yours did exactly what mine did in the oven. Same lumps and marks were still there after baking. We did love the end result, though, so a kugelhopf pan is actually going on my list for Santa! I'm just trying to figure out which one.
Nancy

Anonymous said...

Your kugelhopf slices look yummy! I'm sorry you didn't like this so much, but it was worth a try.

TeaLady said...

It does look good tho'. Wonder if you could do the first part in a bread machine! (would that be a sin in Dorieland?) Even tho you didn't like it, it was something new and different.

Cathy said...

From what I gather, Laura, Santa checks the food blogs daily for special kitchen gadget requests. It's way more efficient than writing a letter! I'm with you -- this was good, but a WHOLE lot of effort, and I think I like plenty of "easier" recipes better. What a precious shot of your sweet little boys helping hold down that mixer! Oh, and as for Facebook, you are wise to stay far away! My kids won't let me get on the computer when they are awake (the older one wants to google superheroes and the little one tries to bang on the keys) but it kept me up WAAAAAAAAY too late for the first week I was on it. I like reconnecting with old friends, but I like sleep, too! Your kugelhopf looks great!

Audrey said...

Isn't it funny...I had very different problems (didn't rise, then did!) I liked the finished product but I agree that I'm not sure I'd make this again. But it was fun to try! Beautiful kids!

CB said...

That is so cute that your little guy helped you hold down the mixer. Adorable. I agree that I probably won't make it again but at least now I can say I know what a kugelhopf is right? ;)
Clara @ iheartfood4thought

Darius T. Williams said...

You all did a great job with this - I love it!

-DTW
[www.everydaycookin.blogspot.com]

The Food Librarian said...

I think your little guy is going to be an awesome baker someday! :) Yours looks good.

Andrea at Nummy Kitchen said...

Yours looks great! I am so curious as to why so many people had the 'no rising in the oven' problem. The photos of your little one watching the mixer are precious! My youngest is 18 months and he is so happy to observe in the kitchen. I'm also intrigued at the arborio pudding, I think we will really enjoy it (I hope we will at least!) I want a new mixer from Santa too :)

NKP said...

Very pretty, I couldn't find a kugelhopf pan either. Sigh.

Sherry Trifle - Lovely Cats said...

It's a beautiful kugelhopf. Great job!

Jules Someone said...

Very nice work. That looks so good.

Matt's Kitchen said...

I love the photo of your son holding down the wandering mixer while peering over the edge!

Trying the recipe was worth it just for that picture alone. I want be attempting kugelhopf anytime soon. I wish mine had turned out looking as good as yours!