Cherry Kuchen

Volga German recipe or just a classic German coffee cake.

Prep: 40 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total: 1 hour 40 Min

Batter

• 1 pound (~3 Cups) dark sweet cherries
• 1 Cup flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 Cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temp.
• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 3 Large Eggs
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Streusel

• 1/2 Cup flour
• 1/8 tsp baking powder
• 2 TBLS firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 Cup pecans (finely chopped)
• 3 TBLS unsalted butter, melted

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 350 F
• Prepare one 9" springform pan & generously grease

Streusel:

1. In medium mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, brown sugar, pecans and melted butter.
2. Stir to mix
3. Spring 1/3 of the mixture evenly on the bottom of the pan & press down lightly to form a bottom crust.
4. set aside
5. reserve the remaining 2/3 of steusel for the topping

Batter:

1. Wash cherries, remove pits, place on towel to dry.
2. Set aside.
   
   
3. In medium mixing bowl, add flour, baking powder, salt and whisk together to mix.
4. Set aside.
   
   
5. In large bowl of electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
   Tip: To cream, start by placing the butter in the bowl, with an electric mixer on medium speed begin by beating the butter about 1 minute until it is smooth and light in color. With the mixer still on medium speed, slowly add the sugar to the butter, either one tablespoon at a time, or in a very slow steady stream, taking from 3 to 4 minutes to add all of the sugar, and beating until the butter and sugar are fully incorporated and the mixture is a light, or pale yellow color, with a fluffy texture. While adding the sugar, stop the mixer occasionally to scrape the mixture off the paddle and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula so the mixture blends evenly.
   
   
6. Add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly mixed. Add vanilla with the last egg.
   Tip: Crack eggs in a bowl and whisk together before adding them to the batter.
   
   
7. With mixer on low speed, gradually add 1/2 of the flour mixture. Mix until blended then add remaining half. mix until blended, scraping down sides as necessary.
   
   
8. Carefully spread batter over streusel crum layer
   
   
9. Arrange cherries on the top.
   
   
10. Bake 60 to 65 minutes or until a long toothpick comes out clean.
    
    
11. Remove from oven and place on wire cooling rack for 10 to 15 minutes