Butter Cake(With Variations)

1Steve's Note:

Delicious buttery cake with a coice of topping options. Nice with a good cup of coffee.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 45 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 15 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 1 9x13 in ...

Pastry

• 2 (¼ ounce) packets active dry yeast
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup water
• ¾ cup milk
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup butter
• 1 freshly grated lemon zest
• 3 large eggs

Butter Topping

• ½ cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1⁄3; cup almonds , blanched, chopped

Directions:

1. Sprinkle the yeast over warm water.
2. Heat milk, sugar, salt and the 1/2 cup butter together until sugar is dissolved and butter melted.
3. Cool to lukewarm.
4. Add dissolved yeast.
5. Place the flour blended with lemon rind in a large mixing bowl, make a well in the center.
6. Add yeast-milk mixture and the eggs.
7. Stir until smooth.
8. Pour into a buttered 9x13-inch baking pan, spreading dough evenly.
9. Let rise in a warm place for about 45 minutes.
10. Chop the butter into the mixed sugar and cinnamon to form fine particles.
11. Sprinkle over top of risen batter.
12. Add the almonds.
13. Bake in hot oven (375° F) for 30 minutes, or until top is golden and syrupy.
14. Variations: Streuselkuchen: This is much the same as Butterkuchen (Butter Cake) except that the lemon rind is omitted from the butter and a crumb topping of 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup ground almonds and 8 Tbsp (1 stick) butter are sprinkled over batter.
15. If desired, 1/4 tsp cinnamon may also be added to the topping mixture.
16. Apfelbutterkuchen: (a German specialty).
17. Prepare dough as for Butterkuchen, place sliced peeled apples over top of dough before placing in oven.
18. Cover apples with same Butter Topping.
19. Almonds are an optional addition.