Grandmas Placek Recipes

PLACEK

Steps:

• Put raisins in a bowl and pour in enough water to cover; set aside until raisins begin to plump, at least 15 minutes.
• Dissolve yeast in warm water in a bowl. Let stand until the yeast softens and begins to form a creamy foam, about 5 minutes.
• Heat milk and 1/2 cup butter together in a saucepan over medium-high heat until milk is heated just below boiling, about 5 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and cool scalded milk to lukewarm temperature.
• Beat 1 cup sugar, eggs, salt, nutmeg, and vanilla extract together in a bowl; add milk mixture and yeast mixture and stir until just combined. Drain raisins and stir into sugar mixture. Beat flour, 2 cups at a time, into sugar mixture, beating well after each addition until dough is well mixed. Set bowl in a warm area of the kitchen, cover with a clean towel, and allow dough to double in size, about 2 hours.
• Grease two 9x5-inch loaf pans.
• Beat dough down to release air and pour into the prepared loaf pans.
• Mix 1 cup sugar, 1 cup flour, and 1 tablespoon butter together in a bowl using 2 knives in a scissor-like fashion until crumbly; sprinkle over dough. Allow dough to double in size, 30 to 45 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 310 degrees F (154 degrees C).
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of a loaf comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Remove loaves from pans and cool on a wire rack.

PLACEK

Steps:

• Heat milk in a small saucepan until it reaches 110 degrees. Remove from heat; stir in yeast and 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar until completely dissolved. Let stand until foamy, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Transfer yeast mixture to a stainless steel bowl. Add 2 cups flour and stir to combine. Spray a piece of parchment paper with cooking spray and cover dough. Cover parchment with a kitchen towel and let rise until doubled in size, 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together 1 1/2 sticks butter, 1 1/4 cups sugar, orange zest, eggs, and 2 cups flour.
• Change mixer attachment to a dough hook and add yeast mixture to mixer bowl. Mix together on low. With the mixer running, slowly add 2 cups flour and raisins. Butter a large bowl and add dough. Spray a piece of parchment paper with cooking spray and cover dough. Let rise until doubled, 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, use a fork to mix together remaining 2 cups flour, 1 stick butter, and 1 cup sugar until crumbly.
• Butter three 9-by-5-by-3-inch (8-cup) loaf pans and divide dough evenly between them; top each with crumbs. Spray a piece of parchment paper with cooking spray and cover dough; let rise until rounded over the top.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Transfer placek to oven and bake until golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool for 1 hour in pan before removing. Store at room temperature, up to 1 week.

POLISH COFFEE CAKE (MY GRANDMA'S RECIPE!)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. Grate in the lemon rind.
• In a small saucepan on the stove, melt the butter and milk together over medium-low heat. Remove from heat, and allow to cool to about 108°, you don't want to kill your yeast because your milk is too hot. If it is really hot, to speed up the cooling process, I put it in the freezer for a few minutes.
• Using a wooden spoon, begin to stir the milk mixture into the dry ingredients. Once halfway combined, stir in the eggs. Fold everything together until just blended.
• Grease and flour a large baking pan. Pour in the batter, it will be thick, and spread evenly in the pan.
• Cover and allow to rise until it doubles in size, 1-2 hours. I stick mine in the oven with the oven light on, it works pretty quick! (Just be sure not to turn your oven on while it's in there!)
• When it's doubled in size, preheat your oven to 350°. (make sure it's not in there still!)
• To make the crumb topping, aka the best thing ever, in a medium sized bowl, stir together the sugar and flour. Cut the butter in in chunks, and using a large fork, begin to mash the butter into the dry ingredients. After a couple minutes, I tend to just use my hand, its much more efficient, and you get a better crumb.
• Using your hands, while simultaneously squeezing into chunks, spread the crumb topping across the risen cake.
• Pop in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Allow to cool for a few minutes before devouring.

BUSIA'S POLISH COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Dissolve 2 pkgs. dry yeast in the warm water until foamy.
• 2. Heat milk to scalding and remove from heat. Add sugar, salt and butter to the milk. Mix well to blend and cool to lukewarm.
• 3. Beat in eggs, one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each. Add yeast mixture, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix in raisins.
• 4. Start adding flour, a cup or two at a time, mixing well for about 5 minutes. Dough will be sticky and wet. Cover dough and raise in a warm spot till double in size.
• 5. While dough is raising mix streusel topping ingredients until crumbly.
• 6. Punch dough down. Grease 2 9x5" loaf pans or 3 smaller ones. Divide dough between the pans, patting down to even out.
• 7. Sprinkle topping over the loaves and let rise in pans until the dough reaches the top of the pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes, until loaves are golden brown. (Place pans on a baking sheet to avoid sugar spilling over and making a mess in your oven. Remove pans from oven. Take loaves out of pans and place on a rack to cool.

GRANDMA'S PLACEK

Steps:

• Warm milk over low heat until scalded (soft bubbles form around edge of pot) but not boiling.
• Add butter and remove from heat.
• Mix in sugar, salt, nutmeg and vanilla. Let cool.
• Meanwhile, sprinkle yeast into water in 2 cup measure,
• stir in 1/2 teaspoon sugar.
• Let stand undisturbed to "proof" about 10 minutes.
• Add eggs to milk mixture, one at a time, beating well.
• Add yeast-in-water mixture.
• Add flour with raisins.
• Knead dough 5 minutes, adding extra flour as needed.
• Placed kneaded dough into greased pan and grease top of dough to prevent it from drying out. Keep warm to rise until double, about 1 to 2 hours.
• Knead dough again (for 5 minutes) and put into greased loaf pans. Let rise 1 to 2 hours again.
• This recipe makes approximately 1 bunt, 2 large and 2 small loaf pans.
• Crumble topping ingredients together.
• Add topping to bread in loaf pans.
• Preheat oven and bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.
• Bread is done when tester comes out clean.

IRENE'S CREAM CHEESE PLACEK

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Cream together: cream cheese,butter,sugar.
• Add eggs-beat just until blended.
• In another bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, salt & baking soda.
• Alternate adding dry ingredients and milk to creamed mixture-beating after each addition.
• Put in a greased & floured 13X9 pan.
• Mix together topping ingredients and sprinkle on batter.
• Bake 35 to 40 minutes-do not over bake or will be too dry!

PLACEK

Steps:

• 1. Mix together the lukewarm milk (warm enough to activate the yeast)and yeast to proof. Mix together 2 T. sugar and 3 C. flour with the yeast mixture and allow it to bubble and rise, about a half hour. 2. Cream together 2 C. sugar and 1 1/2 C. butter then start adding one egg at a time. Add salt, flour and vanilla. 3. Add the yeast mixture and beat well, until the dough becomes elastic. 4. Divide the dough between four well buttered loaf pans and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled in size. 5. In a food processor mix crumb topping. 6. Once risen beat down the loaves and top generously with the kruszynski. 7. Let the dough rise once more until it reaches about 3/4 of the way up the pan. 8. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.