Sourdough Christmas Cake
Description
The baking is simple and quick. Baked goods made with sourdough are considered some of the healthiest, so it's best to treat your loved ones to a cake, bread, or a sourdough-based loaf. You can use rye or wheat sourdough—the taste and aroma of the baked goods will only slightly vary. Since cake is a traditional Christmas treat, there's no need to prepare something entirely new—simply enhance the flavor of a classic cake with raisins, vanilla, cinnamon, nuts, or cranberries. The baking is done. Serve at the table.
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
Prepare the starter. Dilute the starter with room-temperature water and mix well. Add the sifted flour and mix. Cover the mixture with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for 12 hours.
- 2
Step 2
Into a bowl with sifted flour, add room-temperature butter and mix until crumbly. Into the bowl of a stand mixer, add the sourdough starter, room-temperature milk, eggs, sugar, and the flour-butter mixture.
- 3
Step 3
Knead in a mixer for 3 minutes on speed 1, then for 3 minutes on speed 2. Place the dough into a bowl greased with vegetable oil. Shape the dough into a ball, turn seam-side down, smooth the surface, and cover with plastic wrap.
- 4
Step 4
Leave at room temperature for 1 hour. Stretch the dough, pulling one edge as much as possible and folding it to the opposite side. Repeat stretching in a circular motion, flip seam-side down, and smooth the surface.
- 5
Step 5
Stretch the dough two more times, taking a 1-hour break between each stretching. Place the dough onto a floured work surface. With your hands, stretch the dough into a rectangle. Rinse the raisins and cranberries, dry them with a paper towel, and spread them evenly over the rectangle.
- 6
Step 6
Fold the dough into thirds twice, dust with flour, turn seam-side down, and cover with plastic wrap for 30 minutes. Then stretch the dough again by hand into a rectangle and spread almond cream over it. Sprinkle a little almond flour on top.
- 7
Step 7
Fold the dough so that the creamy filling is inside, and seal the edges to prevent the filling from leaking onto the baking sheet. Transfer the dough to parchment paper, sprinkle with flour, and smooth out the surface of the dough.
- 8
Step 8
Place the dough with the parchment paper into a baking pan, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rest for 2.5 hours. Bake the cake in a preheated oven at 190°C for 40 minutes. Completely cool the cake on a wire rack and dust with powdered sugar.