CiberCuba Cocina — Coffee Cake | Photo © CiberCuba Kitchen

Coffee Cake

Name: Coffee Cake
Prep time: PT4 horasM
Total time: PT4 horasM
Yield: 12 servings

Kitchen, Desserts

Preparation Time:

4 hours

Note:

Coffee cake is a sweet that was commonly eaten in Cuba. In the rest of the world, it is known as cinnamon roll or cinnamon bread. It is believed to originate from Sweden and Denmark, and some books acknowledge its existence since the mid-19th century, although it was baked in select places due to the high cost of its ingredients. The coffee cakes, as we know them in Cuba, are a roll of dough very similar to brioche. That is to say, they have a fluffy, moist crumb, but with a cinnamon flavor and a glaze made of sugar or cream cheese. In some cases, raisins and nuts are also added. This preparation has a drawback; it is a dough that requires patience and care in its making. In different countries, it is used to accompany coffee, which might be why Cubans know them as coffee cake.

Ingredients:

500 g of strong flour
100 g of brown sugar
2 medium eggs
21 g of baker's yeast
125 ml of milk at room temperature
100 ml of water
100 g of butter
1 tablespoon of vanilla
a pinch of salt

Ingredients for the filling

100 g of white sugar
100 g of brown sugar
2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon
25 g of butter

Ingredients for the frosting

100 g of butter
50 g of cream cheese
200 g of powdered sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Instructions:

Heat the water and pour it into a glass with two tablespoons of white sugar and the yeast. In this case, we use powdered yeast. Mix well and let it rest for 5 minutes.

Preparing the dough / CiberCuba Cooking

In a deep bowl, add the butter at room temperature, preferably warm milk, the eggs, vanilla, and sugar. Mix them together, and when they are well combined, add the yeast that you had previously prepared with water and sugar.

Preparing the dough / CiberCuba Kitchen

Mix well until the ingredients are integrated. You can use a machine with dough hooks or do it by hand. Once everything is well integrated, start adding the flour. Add it in several parts to make it easier to incorporate.

Dough for resting / CiberCuba Cocina

You will get a firm dough. Sprinkle a little flour on a work surface in your kitchen and knead this preparation with your hands for about 5 minutes. After this time, form a ball and place it in a container greased with oil. Cover it with a clean, damp cloth or with plastic wrap. Let it rest for 2 hours.

Extend the dough / CiberCuba Kitchen

In a glass, mix the ingredients you will use for the filling, that is, white sugar, prieta, and cinnamon. Set it aside.

Dust the table with flour again and now roll out the dough with a rolling pin. Use a brush to spread butter all over the dough. Then add the mixture you set aside of white sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon. If you wish, you can add raisins or nuts. Distribute it evenly.

Dough with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon and with raisins / CiberCuba Cocina

Gradually roll the dough as shown in the photo. If you wish, you can divide the dough into two parts and make two rolls; this way, it yields more.

Sliced roll / CiberCuba Kitchen

I made these following a model recipe and cutting the dough into portions approximately 5 cm wide.

Grease the baking tray with butter or place parchment paper on the bottom. Arrange the cut rolls so that there is space between them, allowing the dough to rise a bit more before baking. Cover the tray with a cloth and let it rest for another hour.

Ready-to-bake rolls / CiberCuba Cocina

Preheat the oven to 180ºC. Bake the cinnamon rolls or coffee cakes for 30-45 minutes. This will depend on the particular characteristics of each oven and the thickness and size of your cinnamon rolls. To know they are ready, you will see that they are golden brown and a delicious smell fills your kitchen.

Glaze / CiberCuba Kitchen

Before enjoying this delight, prepare the frosting that is the finishing touch. In a bowl, mix the powdered sugar, butter, cream cheese, and vanilla. Beat them well with electric whisks until combined. Spread it over the hot, freshly baked coffee cakes.

Freshly baked Coffee Cakes / CiberCuba Kitchen

Let them cool down and enjoy this delicious dessert with a Cuban coffee. Bon appétit!!

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