Pull Apart Kuchen Recipes

APPLE KUCHEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Lightly grease and flour a 9x13-inch pan.
• To make the crust: Place the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl or food processor fitted with a steel blade and mix to combine. Add the vanilla and butter, a little at a time, and mix until it resembles cornmeal. Press into the prepared baking pan and transfer to the oven. Bake until slightly golden but not brown, about 12 to 15 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Lower the oven temperature to 400 degrees.
• To make the filling: Place the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in the bowl of a mixer fitted with a paddle and beat until creamy. Add the egg, mix to combine, an pour over the cooled crust.
• Place the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and mix to combine.
• Place the apples on top of the filling in two or three columns. Sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar and transfer to the oven. Bake until firm and a rich brown, about 20 minutes. Cut into 20 to 24 pieces.

RASPBERRY-FIG PULL-APART COOKIES

Steps:

• Pulse together the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract and salt in a food processor until smooth. Add the flour and butter and pulse until the dough just comes together in a solid mass (chunks of butter should be visible), about 6 to 8 long pulses. Shape the dough into a rectangle about 1/2-inch-thick. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour. Wipe out the food processor.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Combine the figs, raspberry jam and juice in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat and cook, stirring frequently, until the figs are plump and the juice is syrupy, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Puree in the food processor until smooth and set aside to cool completely.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Generously spray the back side of a baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside.
• Put the chilled dough between 2 pieces of parchment. Roll out the dough into an 11-by-13-inch rectangle and 1/8-inch-thick (see Cook's Note). Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Remove the top piece of the parchment, to free it from the dough, then place it back on top. Turn the dough over and remove the top piece of parchment. Spread the fig mixture evenly over the dough.
• Roll the dough into a log using the parchment as a guide (the dough is very soft and the parchment will make it easier to roll). Transfer the log to the prepared baking sheet, brush with the egg wash and coat with the sanding sugar. Cut 20 slits across the log, about 1/2-inch apart. Each slit should go about three-quarters of the way through the log so that it is still completely intact. Bend about a quarter of the log by turning some of the newly cut "tabs" out so that the pinwheels of filling are facing up. Continue turning the "tabs" out and bending the log until you have a ring. Butt the ends up against each other.
• Spray the outside of a 3 1/2-inch round ramekin with cooking spray and place in the center of the ring. Chill the shaped rugelach dough for 30 minutes. Bake until cooked through and golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Remove the ramekin and let the ring cool for 5 minutes then slide a flat spatula underneath to free the ring from the baking sheet. Gently slide the ring onto a cooling rack and let cool completely before serving.

"EVERYTHING" PULL-APART ROLLS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the milk and 8 tablespoons butter. Heat until the butter is melted, about 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool to 105-115 F. Add the yeast and stir until dissolved. Let stand to allow yeast to bloom, 10 minutes.Meanwhile, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment, combine flour, sugar, and kosher salt. Mix on low speed until combined, about 30 seconds.
• After the yeast has bloomed, add the milk mixture to the mixer. Mix on low speed for about 1 minute; then increase the speed to medium-low and mix until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 4 more minutes. Meanwhile, lightly grease a large bowl. Remove the dough from the mixer, shape it into a round, and place into greased bowl. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour. In the meantime, grease a 13x9-inch baking pan.
• When the dough has doubled in size, remove from bowl onto a clean work surface lightly dusted with flour. Use a bench scraper to divide the dough in half. Gently roll each piece of dough into a log 12 inches long. Then cut each log into 6 equal pieces.
• Using the cupped palm of your hand, roll and shape each piece into a taut ball against the floured work surface; close any visible seams with your fingers. Transfer the dough balls to the greased baking pan and space them out evenly. Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap and let the rolls rise in a warm place for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 375 F.
• When the rolls have finished rising, prepare the "Everything" Topping: In a small bowl, combine the flaky sea salt, onion flakes, garlic flakes, and sesame seeds.Brush the tops of the rolls with 2 tablespoons of melted butter, then sprinkle with the "Everything" Topping. (Tip: Sprinkling from a height will ensure even distribution.) Bake until the rolls are golden, 18-20 minutes. Serve the rolls warm or at room temperature.

DOROTHY ZEHNDER'S APPLE KUCHEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
• In a bowl, combine 1/2 cup butter, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla. Gradually beat in 1 1/4 cups flour. Press crumbly mixture onto bottom and up sides of 9-inch pie plate. Bake in oven for 5 minutes. Cool.
• Beat cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla until combined. Beat in egg. Pour over crust.
• Mix apples, juice, remaining sugar, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice. Spoon over cheese. Bake for 45 minutes.
• Combine oats, 1/3 cup flour and 1/3 cup brown sugar. Cut in 1/4 cup butter or margarine, to resemble coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over pie. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes more.