Coffee Cake. Maud Stoltz. Recipe

Coffee cake is a delicious and versatile baked treat that is enjoyed by people all around the world. This delectable cake is characterized by its moist and tender crumb, enhanced by the rich flavors of coffee. Coffee cake has a long history and is believed to have originated in Northern and Central Europe, where coffee was commonly consumed during breakfast or dessert. The tradition of serving a special cake alongside coffee quickly spread across the continent and eventually made its way to the Americas.

Although there are many variations of coffee cake, one popular and timeless recipe is the Maud Stoltz Coffee Cake. This recipe combines the delightful flavors of brown sugar, molasses, and coffee, along with an assortment of warm spices and raisins, all incorporated into a fluffy and tender cake batter. The resulting coffee cake is truly irresistible and perfect for any occasion.

To begin, gather the following ingredients for the Maud Stoltz Coffee Cake:

- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup molasses
- 1 cup boiling coffee
- 1/2 cup lard
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoonful soda
- 1 teaspoonful salt
- 1 tablespoonful cloves
- 1 tablespoonful cinnamon
- 1 tablespoonful allspice
- 1 tablespoonful vanilla
- 1 tablespoonful lemon
- 1 nutmeg
- 1 cup chopped raisins
- 4 cups flour

Before diving into the recipe, here are a few fun facts about coffee cake:

1. Coffee cake does not typically contain coffee as an ingredient, but rather refers to its traditional pairing with a cup of coffee. The name originated from the tradition of serving this cake alongside coffee.

2. Coffee cake has a lot of regional variations worldwide. In Germany, it is known as "Kaffee-und-Kuchen," which means "coffee and cake." In Denmark and Sweden, it is called "kaffekage" and "kaffebrod," respectively.

3. Coffee cake gained popularity in the United States during the 19th century. It became a staple of American households, particularly enjoyed during breakfast or as a sweet treat with coffee.

Now, let's proceed with the recipe for Maud Stoltz Coffee Cake:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a cake pan of your choice.

2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the lard, butter, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.

3. Add the molasses, boiling coffee, egg, soda, salt, cloves, cinnamon, allspice, vanilla, lemon, and nutmeg to the creamed mixture. Mix well to combine.

4. Gradually add the flour to the mixture, mixing until just incorporated. Do not overmix as it can result in a dense cake.

5. Fold in the chopped raisins until evenly distributed throughout the batter.

6. Pour the batter into the greased cake pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.

7. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

8. Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes. Then, transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.

The Maud Stoltz Coffee Cake is now ready to be served! You can enjoy it as is or add a simple glaze or streusel topping for extra flavor and visual appeal.

Similar dessert dishes that you might enjoy include traditional cinnamon streusel coffee cake, sour cream coffee cake, and apple crumb coffee cake. Each of these recipes offers its own unique twist on the classic coffee cake, providing endless possibilities for indulging in this scrumptious treat.

Coffee cake is a versatile and crowd-pleasing dessert that has stood the test of time. Whether you're enjoying it alongside a cup of coffee or savoring it as a standalone treat, the Maud Stoltz Coffee Cake is sure to satisfy your cravings for something sweet, moist, and packed with warm flavors.