Kuchen Baking Babes wish you a merry Christmas

Is it a bread or a pastry? It has yeast in it, so could it be called a low bread with a sweet topping? It had me puzzled a little when our Peruvian Babe Gretchen announced the recipe for December. 

But as a obedient girl I just started baking it. We all love baked goods with apple in it and this was no exception. I tried to freeze some pieces for later... ha ha... I already had to take out again the next day. What was I thinking!

These types of German traybakes are very good, we buy different ones everytime we go to Germany (which is close by from where we live). So thanks Gretchen for picking this wonderful sweet bake this month!

If you want to bake along and become a Bread/Kuchen Baking Buddie, bake, post and send your details to our kitchen of the month Gretchen. Happy holiday baking!

Holiday Apple Kuchen
(12 servings)

(PRINT recipe) 

350-390 g flour, divided
7 g active dry yeast
118 g milk
100 g granulated sugar
60 g butter, unslated
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
5 apples, sliced
66 g dark brown soft sugar
1 TBsp lemon juice
1,5 tsp apple pie spice

Crumb Topping
105 g flour
150 g soft dark brown sugar
70 g butter, unsalted

In a bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside. Grease a 13x9x2 baking pan; set aside.
In a large bowl, combine 1 cup of the flour and the yeast; set aside.

In a small saucepan, heat and stir milk, granulated sugar, butter and salt just until mixture is warm and butter almost melts. Add milk mixture and eggs to flour mixture. Beat with an electric mixer on low to medium speed for 30 seconds, scraping sides of the bowl constantly. Beat on high speed for 2 minutes or until smooth. Beat in as much of the remaining flour as you can without the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour to make a stiff batter.
Spread batter into the prepared baking pan. In another large bowl, combine apples, brown sugar,  lemon juice and apple pie spice. Place apple mixture on top of the batter. Sprinkle with Crumb Topping. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour.

Bake in a preheated 180º/375ºF oven for 30 minutes or until top is browned and apples are tender. Cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Cut into 12 pieces and serve warm or at room temperature.

(Optional) Cream Cheese Topper to put a dollop on each piece
1 (8oz) package cream cheese, softened
150 ml whipping cream
100 g powdered sugar
In a small bowl, beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Beat in whipping cream and powdered sugar.

(Source: from the Better Homes & Gardens Holiday Baking 2009 Magazine)