Hungarian Coffee Cake
Most people approach coffee or tea and an accompanying treat in one of a few ways. Either you are (a) the dainty sip-and-nibble sort, (b) the expedient bite-and-gulp variety or (c) an eat-first, wash-it-all-down-later type.
Where we converge is in agreeing that the ritual of the coffee break or tea time makes the mundane marvelous.
Always a welcome pause, the coffee or tea break is a poor man’s or woman’s urban jungle Club Med, a virtual oasis unlike anything else in our jam-packed lives.
Best of all, it is a ritual that calls for the best in homey little treats. Miniature cheesecakes, delicate scones, buttery rugelach, lavishly swirled marble cake are just some delights that are perfect for a coffee hour recipe collection.
All are easy; none is cloyingly sweet or heavily frosted. These are wonderful just warm from the oven or even a day or two later. This is the type of baking that is solidly rooted in the home kitchen.
So bake a batch of something and brew a pot, then sit back and anticipate that small endorphin rush. Second cup is on the house.
Filling
Toast almonds in skillet over medium-low heat until color darkens slightly and nuts become very aromatic, about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Chop fine. Combine brown sugar, cocoa, chocolate chips, cinnamon, raisins, almonds and jam. Set aside.
Topping
Mix together sugar and cinnamon or cocoa and set aside.
Cake
Cream butter at medium speed until softened and add brown and granulated sugars. Blend until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, and mix thoroughly. Stir in sour cream.
In separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, dash cinnamon and dash mace. Fold into batter, mixing well at low speed of mixer.
Spread half of batter evenly in bottom of greased 9- or 10-inch tube pan. Spread all of Filling on top, keeping it away from outside and inside edges of pan. Pour over remaining batter. Sprinkle with Topping.
Bake at 350 degrees until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
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