Memories of Streusel Kuchen

When Anita comes to town we go on long walks into the country side. Anita lives in the "big city" and has a charming country house in our little town.

As we parted Anita said that she was going home to bake Streusel Kuchen and that she would be by later with a piece of her famous cake. No one, truly no one bakes Streusel Kuchen like Anita. It is superb. Not too sweet, with a yeast base and a very generous amount of Streusel on the top. Streusel are made of mostly butter, a little sugar and a tiny bit of flour.





I grew up in a small farming community, in East Germany. On Saturdays, our town baker would permit residents to bake their own cakes in his huge ovens. Along with other residents, I would carry a large baking sheet of unbaked Streusel Kuchen on top of my head, through town and to the Baker. We would pick up our finished cakes a few hours later. While carrying the cake, I would eat a few Streusel off of the unbaked cake, not too many Streusel or my Mother would notice.

Gina

Streussel Kuchen

Not Kirschwasser Torte, not Sacher Torte, not Croquembouche, not Linzer Torte but I go weak at the knees for

Streusel Kuchen

Anita's Streusel Kuchen, just looking at this picture makes my mouth water

Recently, Forbes Magazine published an article "America's top 25 Towns to live Well". Our little Spring City was listed as one of them. Spring City was settled by Mormon Pioneers in 1852. The entire town of Spring City is listed on the National Historic Register.

Because we are a Historic Town, we celebrate each May by opening our doors to visitors from far and wide.

Anita, the baker of the fine Streusel Kuchen (above and below) lives in one of those beautiful historic stone houses. Her little son was so bored with all of the visitors he begged his mother to bake her famous Streusel Kuchen. It would give him something to do and he could make a little money on the side.

Now, a few years later, every year , on the Memorial Day weekend, the line for Streusel Kuchen gets longer and longer.

And, if you would like Anita's recipe, please let me know. I don't know if she will part with it and I don't know if yours will turn out as well. It takes a special talent to bake this simple cake. Many a Baker, in the old country, has been banished from his home town for not being able to bake a decent Streusel Kuchen.

Gina