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Monday, December 28, 2009

Blackberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake - Blue Monday



We've finally reached Connecticut and are again with the men in blue. I'm sure you've heard it was a less than perfect year for Christmas travelers. I can attest to an unintended night in Phoenix and an unplanned, though lovely, extension of our Austin visit. Folks more intelligent than I, know better than to book flights that go anywhere near O'Hare airport at this time of year. We've had a run of good luck these past few years and it was bound to end sooner or later. It did. Some blame Hermes, others Christopher. I prefer to take a deep breath, swear a little and then surrender to the limitations of the day. Fortunately, it has all ended well. It's been a wonderful holiday so far and I have another week to go. Oops! More snow is forecast for tomorrow.







From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I saw the prototype for this coffee cake on Annie's Eats while searching for new sweet breads for the holiday. I wanted to give a Pacific Northwest twist to her wonderful Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake, so I began to dissemble it. I chose to use a moist potato dough for the cake base, swapped blackberries for raspberries and, of course, felt compelled to use hazelnuts in the streusel topping. I also doubled the ingredients so I could have a spare cake in the freezer. This is not a difficult recipe if you break it into its component parts. It will take time, but you'll also have a luscious coffee cake to serve your family and friends. A refrigerator dough is used to form the base of the coffee cake, so you'll want to start this the day before you plan to serve it. Here's the recipe.

Blackberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake
...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
Dough
1-1/4 cups warm water
2 (4-1/2 teaspoons) packages active dry yeast
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1/2 cup instant, reconstituted warm mashed potatoes, prepared without butter and salt
2 large eggs + 2 egg yolks, room temperature
1/2 cup butter, softened
6-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Berry Topping
4 cups fresh or frozen blackberries
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in 2 tablespoon orange juice
Cream Cheese Filling
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Streusel Topping:
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup toasted chopped hazelnuts
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces
Egg Wash
1 large egg
1 tsp. heavy cream or whole milk
Glaze
2/3 cup confectioners' sugar
4 teaspoons milk
1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Directions:
1) To make the dough: Pour warm water into a medium size bowl. Sprinkle yeast over water; add sugar and salt; stir to combine. Let sit until mixture begins to bubble, about 5 minutes.
Add eggs, soft butter, warm mashed potatoes and 3 cups flour. Beat with a portable mixer until just smooth. Using a wooden spoon, beat in 2 additional cups of flour until just mixed into dough. Add remaining 1-1/2 cups flour, using hands to mix dough until it's smooth and leaves sides of bowl. Brush top with oil or melted butter. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in refrigerator until doubled in bulk, about 2 hours. Punch down. Cover and return to refrigerator for one to three days, punching down once each day. Remove dough from refrigerator 2 hours before proceeding to shape.
2) To make berry filling: Combine berries, sugar, lemon juice, salt, cinnamon, cornstarch and orange juice in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Continue boiling, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick and shiny, 1½ to 2 minutes. Scrape into a small bowl, cover and chill thoroughly before using.
3) To make cream cheese filling: Beat cream cheese, sugar, flour and salt in bowl of a mixer at high speed until smooth, 2-4 minutes. Add lemon zest, egg and almond extract. Reduce speed to medium and continue beating, scraping down sides of the bowl at least once, until incorporated, about 1 minute. Scrape mixture into a small bowl and chill thoroughly before using.
4) To make streusel topping: Mix brown and granulated sugars, flour, hazelnuts, cinnamon and salt in a small bowl. Add butter pieces and toss to coat. Rub butter chunks and dry mixture together between your fingertips until mixture is crumbly. Chill thoroughly before using.
5) When ready to shape coffee cakes: Remove dough from refrigerator 2 hours before shaping. Then turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide dough into 2 pieces. Shape each piece into a log about 8 inches long and about 2 inches in diameter. Roll each log evenly into a 40-inch rope about 1 inch in diameter. Flatten each rope into a strip that is 1-1/2 inches wide. Use both hands to twist each strip of dough into a coil. Loosely coil each rope in a spiral pattern, leaving a ¼-inch space between coils. Tuck ends under and pinch to seal. Place each coil on a separate baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover shaped cakes with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until nearly doubled in volume, about 45-60 minutes.
6) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Brush each cake with egg wash. Spoon half of cheese filling over the center of the top of each cake, leaving a border clear around edge. Layer half of blackberry filling over cheese filling on each cake. Sprinkle streusel topping over each cake. Bake until deep golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted in center of the cake reads 190 degrees F, about 25-30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and cool for at least 20 minutes.
7) To make glaze: Whisk together confectioners' sugar, milk and almond extract in a bowl. Drizzle over top of finished cakes and let set before serving. Yield: 2 cakes; 16-20 servings.

This post is being linked to:
Smiling Sally - Blue Monday

This recipe is linked to:
Wild Yeast - Yeast Spotting

41 comments:

  1. Glad you made it safe and sound! What's Christmas without something going a little haywire!

    Coffee cake looks fantastic - all the changes you made were everything I would like!!

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  2. It all worked out in the long run.
    Snow looks lovely. We have lot's of the white stuff too.
    Blue boys look good.
    Happy Blue Monday
    Love Claudie
    xoxo

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  3. What a beautiful combination of flavours for your cake. Deliciosa!
    I am glad you had an enjoyable holiday in spite of the weather!

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  4. Such a gorgeous cake! Love the flavour so much. And the top photo looks really beautiful.

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  5. You sounded very calm about your travel hiccups. I'm a poor cook so the sight of your delicious cake really depressed me! My husband is lucky to get a rock bun!

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  6. Mmmmm, this looks wonderful,
    especially with a hot cup of coffee! I am glad you made it safe and sound, Mary. Hope you continue to enjoy the holiday season....Christine

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  7. That looks so yummy, I want some...NOW! LOL

    Cute boys in blue!

    ~Ann

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  8. The picture of the blue boys is dear indeed! Love that little tyke. You are brave to travel this time of year with all the hubbub at the airport. Glad it's all coming together for you in spite of all the inconveniences.

    Your coffee cake looks so good. I could dive into the screen just looking at it. Texture looks bakery perfect, so flaky, with an irresistible topping. Excellent!

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  9. O, Mary...so glad everything worked out well. Those fellas in blue are mighty handsome!!
    So is the coffee cake...looks delicious.
    Have a wonderful time with your family...
    Happiest New Year..

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  10. This was certainly not a Christmas to travel! We felt fortunate to have ours come between snows!

    Enjoy the rest of your trip!

    This coffeecake looks yummy as does all of your baked goods!

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  11. What a lovely coffee cake! I love the tenderness that cream cheese adds.
    We never did get the snow, they warned about it but it turned to rain by the time it got here. Whew. The last two years were full of snow so I am happy for some time off!

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  12. Mary, i am very impressed you could add a post while holding that grandbaby!!!

    And I love your coffeecakes. Planning on making one for new years morning.

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  13. wow your boys are really cute and handsome you are lucky indeed... I like your cake too it is yummy looking... Happy blue Monday.

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  14. Handsome boys in BLUE, Mary! So sorry you've had some travel woes but sounds like the visit has been wonderful! (Your coffee cake looks wonderful too!) Happy Blue Monday! Coralie

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  15. You were on my mind, as they say, traveling across the country this time of the year. Glad you've arrived safely. Beautiful snow and the perfect coffee cake to warm everyone up.
    Sam

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  16. I'm sorry that you faced the Travel Grinch, Mary, but glad that you've managed to arrive to the "men in blue." That coffee cake would make anyone smile. Happy Blue Monday!

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  17. Sorry to read that you got caught in the nasty weather, Mary. Chicago can be the worst!

    Your coffee cake looks wonderful. I resolved not to eat another sweet thing for awhile, but would love of nice big slice of this.

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  18. Mary, so happy you have arrived safely in Connecticut and with snow to greet rather than the ice and temps we have had (staying right around 32-34). So stay there a while longer until we can get 40's back for you. ;) Such a beautiful photo of your sil and grandchild.

    The coffee cake sounds delightful and one to get ready for relatives soon coming to visit. Give that new little one an extra hug from us.

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  19. Despite the travel difficulty, your men in blue has beautiful smiles still.

    Have a glimpse of a Japanese Yukata outfit at my page. Happy New Year!

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  20. That looks like perfection to me. Anything with a potato dough gets my vote! Happy New Year Mary. I'm glad your safe and sound at home! :)

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  21. Glad you made it safely for the Holidays. Great looking boys in Blue.
    Your cake looks amazing and a great picture.
    I'm way up in The Great White North and there isn't one snowflake on the ground yet, for Christmas it poured rain. Which as far as I can remember was a first.

    Happy Blue Monday!

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  22. gosh that makes me hungry! :) and that first photo so cute!

    u may view mine here

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  23. Your men in blue are too cute and your coffee cake looks soooo good!

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  24. Mary, this is an amazing coffee cake! Perfect to easy the pains of your travel adventures.

    Do give my regards to the 'nutmeg' state. I must say I don't miss that snowy weather, but I do miss the wonderful people.

    Have a great time...

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  25. I love blackberries, this is a great breakfast treat. Glad you made it ok!

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  26. Mmmm, Mary this looks great. The blue boys look so cute and handsome. I bet your family love to see you comeNs to bake. I sure woild Good eating surly follows. I hope your Christmas was wonderful and delicious. I am betting it was.

    Love with Happy New Years wishes.

    Hugs xoxo, Jeannr

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  27. What a perfect coffee cake to wake up to on a wintry morn. After four days of snow. ice and rain over the Christmas holiday - I would be more than happy to sit with coffee and your cake.

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  28. Glad you made it to your destination, Mary! Hopefully the return trip will be smoother for you.
    The coffee cake sounds wonderful- so much so that I'm bookmarking it! I have some of summer's berries in my freezer and this would be a delicious way to use some. Have a great time.

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  29. Indeed they are men in blue they look so cute in those color. Thank goodness you had a safe travel in spite of the delays here and there ^_^ But with your coffee cake is so look yummy!! Thanks for sharing! ^_^

    MYM~BM: Tricycle/Trisikad

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  30. Glad you arrived safely. It looks like the Boys in Blue were very busy. Coffee cake looks great!

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  31. I'm glad you made it there & everything worked out.Sounds like you're having a great time . The coffee cake looks yummy !
    Happy New Year !
    ~Myrna

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  32. Looks so delicious!

    I am glad you made it through the snow. What an adventure.

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  33. This looks so good. I have been looking for sweet breads and coffee cakes for the family brunches to come and I will have to try this.

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  34. The previous posts' coffee cake does look yummy, and also the cranberry glog and sesame snap peas...

    I am making your Savory Mushroom Puff tonight.

    Your boys look handsome in their winter wear and happy in the snow. Looks and sounds like the holidays are wonderful for you all.

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  35. oh wow, this looks so good! when I'm not sick of baked goods, I'll have to try it out!

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  36. Hi Mary, your Little guy in Blue so adorable helping raking the snow. Your cake is so mouth watering, im drooling. Thanks for sahring reciepes again. Happy Blue Monday!

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  37. This coffee cake is absolutely marvelous! Have a safe trip!

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  38. You are always inspiring, Mary! Have a safe and dry and happy new year.

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  39. The coffee cake looks delicious.
    Happy new year!

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