German Food Guide
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Today's Spotlight Recipe: Advent Gugelhupf
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 Gugelhupf Tips
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Butter, milk, and eggs should all be at room temperature. This helps them mix well together. |
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For a light, airy texture, be sure to sift the flour and baking powder together. Also, if its available in your area, use Superfine Sugar (also called Baker's Sugar). |
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It is best to butter and flour the cake pan to prevent any sticking. |
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The Gugelhupf (pronounced "google-hoopf") is the Southern German version of the American Bundt Cake and the Italian Panettone. The Gugelhupf is a favorite cake during Advent because it can be easily decorated with glazes, chocolate, marzipan stars, candied fruits, nuts, etc.
2 sticks (250g) Unsalted Butter
1 1/4 cup Sugar
1 package vanilla sugar
Pinch of Salt
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
4 Eggs, yolks and whites separated
2 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour
3 teaspoons Baking Powder
1/2 cup Milk
1 tablespoon Rum
1/2 cup Raisins
1/4 cup chopped Walnuts
1/2 cup candied fruit, chopped (i.e. candied lemon and/or orange peel)
Powdered sugar for decorating
Preheat oven to 350° F (175° C). Prepare the gugelhupf pan (or a bundt cake pan) by buttering and flouring it. Alternatively, you can use cooking spray.
Cream the butter in a mixing bowl using a paddle attachment. Add sugar, vanilla sugar, cinnamon, salt. Continue mixing until the butter starts to lighten in color slightly. Add 1 egg yolk and continue mixing until the egg yolk has been completely absorbed into the butter. Repeat this with the remaining 3 egg yolks.
Combine the flour and baking powder then sift this mixture to remove any lumps. With the mixer running, slowly add the flour to the butter mixture. Drizzle in the milk and rum and mix just until the fluid has been absorbed by the batter. Gently mix in the candied fruit, raisins, and walnuts.
Whip the egg whites until soft peaks form.
Gently fold this into the batter. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Do not fill the cake pan completely because it will rise during baking. Fill the pan about three-fourths full. Bake the cake for 50-60 minutes.
Remove the cake from the oven and allow to cool. Remove the cake from the pan. Dust with powdered sugar. If you want the Gugelhupf to look more festive, consider drizzling some melted chocolate or powdered-sugar icing over the cake and adding nuts, candied fruit, and other decorations.
Makes 1 Gugelhupf (8 servings)
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The name "Advent" comes from the Latin word "adventus", meaning "coming" or "visit". For Christians, Advent-time represents the waiting for the coming (birth) of Christ. It is also a time of preparation for the Christmas celebration.
Advent is a very important part of the Christmas season in Germany. The Advent period starts four Sundays before Christmas Eve, which falls between November 27th and December 3rd, and it ends on Christmas Eve, December 24th. When Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday, it is also the last (fourth) Sunday of Advent.
In Germany, many traditions have been established around Advent. Check back again tomorrow as we begin to identify some of the most popular Christmas and Advent traditions.
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Today is the First Advent, which officially starts the Christmas season and Advent period in Germany.
The first candle is lit today on the Advent Wreath.
An Advent Wreath is basically a set of 4 candles. The first candle is lit on the First Advent, then an additional candle is lit during each subsequent Sunday. Traditionally, the candles are attached to a pine wreath along with other Christmas decorations. However, you can also buy special Advent 4-candle candelabra. If you want to get creative, consider using 4 candle holders, then add your own decorations, such as red ribbons, ornaments, and pine branches. |
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