Kouglof (Sweet brioche with raisins and almonds)

Kouglof (Sweet brioche with raisins and almonds)

16 Preparation Time :

Categories : Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -- -- --

--EQUIPMENT--

1 kouglof mold

1x3 1/2 litre/

6 pints or 2x1 3/4 litre

-- Traditionally, Kouglof

-- (also spelt Kugelhopf or -- gougelhopf) is baked in a

-- tall, fluted mold.

-- A savarin or baba mould

-- can be used instead.

--DOUGH--

25 g Fresh yeast (1 oz)

120 ml Milk (4 fl oz), boiled and -- cooled to lukewarm

15 g Fine salt (1/2 oz)

500 g Flour (1 lb 2 oz)

6 Eggs

350 g Butter (12 oz)

75 g Sugar (3 oz)

--FILLING--

200 g Raisins (7 oz)

3 tb Rum

100 g Whole almonds (4 oz),skinned

-- and very light toasted

1 Egg yolk mixed with

1 table-

-- spoon milk

Butter for the mould

Icing sugar for dusting

Preparation, dough

Put the yeast and the milk in the bowl of your mixer and beat lightly. Add

the salt, then the flour and the eggs. Switch the mixer on to medium speed

and work the mixture with the dough hook for about 10 minutes, until the

dough is smooth and elastic with plenty of body. If you are making it by

hand, use a spatula and work the dough for about 20 minutes.

Mix together the butter and sugar, reduce the speed of the mixer to low

and add the butter mixture to the dough, a little at a time, working the

dough continuously. When all the butter is incorporated, increase the

8 to 10 minutes in the mixer or about 15 minutes by

hand, until the dough is very smooth and glossy. It should be supple and fairly elastic and will be coming away from the sides of the bowl.

Cover the dough with a baking sheet and leave it in a warm place (about 24

2 hours, until it has doubled in bulk.

2 or times. Cover it with a baking tray and refrigerate for at least 4 hours,

but not loner than 24 hours.

Preparation, raisins:

Put the raisins in a bowl with the rum, cover with clingfilm and leave to

macerate for several hours.

Moulding

Generously butter the mould and place one-third of the almonds in the

bottom of the ridges.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough into a narrow

rectangle long enough to line the bottom of the mould. Chop the remaining

almonds and strew them and the rum-soaked raisins over the dough. Roll out

the dough into a fat sausage shape, pressing it firmly together. Arrange

it round the bottom of the mould and press down lightly. Seal the two

edges together with a very little egg yolk-milk-mixture. Leave in a warm

place (about 25 C/77 F) for about 2 1/2 hours, until the dough has risen

to three-quarters fill the mould.

220 C/

425 F.

Bake the kouglof in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, then lower the

200 C/400 F and cook for another

becoming to brown towards the end, cover it with greaseproof paper.

Invert the hot kouglof on to a wire rack, carefully remove the mould and return it to the oven for 5 minutes so that the centre finishes cooking

and becomes ligthly coloured. Leave to cool for at leat 2 hours before

serving. Serving Lightly sprinkle with icing sugar.

Kouglof freezes very well once cooked. Wrap in a plastic bag and freeze;

it will keep for several weeks. Be sure to take it out of the freezer 2 or 3 hours before serving.

1992, ISBN

0-333-57670-5) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -