Kuchen

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 package active dry yeast
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/3 cup margarine or butter
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 beaten egg
• 3 tablespoons light cream or milk
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 cups thinly sliced peeled apples* or peaches, sliced plums, or cottage cheese

Instructions

1. In a mixing bowl combine 1 1/2 cups of the flour and the yeast. In a saucepan heat and stir milk, margarine or butter, the 1/3 cup sugar, and the salt till warm (120° to 130°) and margarine or butter almost melts. Add to flour mixture along with the 2 eggs. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high speed for 3 minutes. Using a spoon, stir in remaining flour.
2. Divide dough mixture in half. With lightly greased fingers, pat evenly into two greased 9x9x2-inch or 11x7x1 1/2-inch baking pans, pressing dough up the sides of each pan slightly to form a rim. Cover and let rise in a warm place till double (45 to 50 minutes).
3. Combine the beaten egg and light cream. Stir in the 1 cup sugar and the cinnamon. If using fruit, arrange atop raised dough. Carefully spoon cream-sugar mixture over fruit. (If using cottage cheese, stir into cream-sugar mixture. Spoon atop raised dough.) Bake in a 375° oven for 18 to 20 minutes. Cool slightly. Cut into squares; serve warm.
4. Prune Kuchen: Prepare as above, except omit apples, peaches, plums, or cottage cheese. While dough is rising, make prune filling. In a saucepan combine 1 1/2 cups coarsely snipped pitted prunes and enough water to cover 1 inch above prunes. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes; drain. Spoon cooked prunes atop raised dough. Carefully spoon cream-sugar mixture over fruit.
5. *Note: If using apples, simmer the sliced fruit, covered, in water about 2 minutes or just till tender. Drain well; place atop dough.