Recipe
Coffee cake
Fluffy cinnamon rolls with brown sugar and cream cheese frosting: the coffee cake that was so popular in Cuba. Ideal with a cup of coffee.
- Preparation3 h 15 min
- Cooking45 min
- Total time4 h
- Servings12 rolls
- DifficultyMedium
Coffee cake is a sweet that was very popular in Cuba. In the rest of the world, it is known as cinnamon roll or cinnamon bread.
It is considered to originate from Sweden and Denmark, and some books record its existence since the mid-19th century, although at that time it was only baked in select places because its ingredients were expensive. In many countries, it is served to accompany coffee, and perhaps that is why in Cuba we know it as coffee cake.
As we know it in Cuba, it is a roll with a dough very similar to brioche: fluffy and moist crumb, cinnamon flavor, and a sugar or cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
Check off the ingredients you have.
For the dough
For the filling
For the frosting
Also
Method
Dough
- Heat the water and pour it into a glass with two tablespoons of sugar and the yeast. Mix well and let rest for 5 minutes.
CiberCuba - In a deep bowl, place the butter at room temperature, the milk (preferably warm), the eggs, the vanilla, and the brown sugar. Mix and, when well integrated, add the yeast you prepared.
CiberCuba - Beat well until integrated, by hand or with a machine with a dough hook. Add the flour in several parts to make it easier to incorporate.
CiberCuba - You will obtain a firm dough. Dust a little flour on the work surface and knead it with your hands for about 5 minutes.
- Form a ball, place it in an oiled container, and cover it with a clean damp cloth or plastic wrap. Let rest for 2 hours.
Filling and shaping
- In a glass, mix the white sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Set aside.
- Dust the table with flour again and roll out the dough with a rolling pin.
CiberCuba - With a brush, spread the filling butter all over the dough. Distribute the sugar and cinnamon mixture evenly on top. If you like, add raisins or nuts.
CiberCuba - Roll up the dough little by little. If you prefer, divide it into two and make two rolls.
- Cut the roll into portions about 5 cm wide.
CiberCuba - Grease the baking tray with butter or cover it with baking paper. Arrange the rolls leaving space between them so they can rise.
- Cover the tray with a cloth and let rest for 1 more hour.
CiberCuba
Baking and frosting
- Preheat the oven to 180 °C and bake the rolls between 30 and 45 minutes, until golden.
- Meanwhile, prepare the frosting: beat the powdered sugar, butter, cream cheese, and vanilla with electric beaters until well integrated.
CiberCuba - Cover the coffee cakes with the frosting when they are hot, just out of the oven.
- Let them cool down and enjoy them with a Cuban coffee. Enjoy!
CiberCuba
