*** BEST EVER BUNDT CAKE WINNER *** Hanukkah is celebrated with foods fried in oil, like jelly donuts (sufganiyot in Hebrew). This Bundt cake is composed of many small donuts that are filled before baking. The taste is reminiscent of sufganiyot eaten warm while playing dreidel as the candles burn in remembrance of a long ago miracle.
1 cup milk, warmed
1 – ¼ ounce packet rapid rise yeast
1 cup plus 3 Tablespoons sugar, divided
3 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup seedless red raspberry preserves
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 Tablespoons orange juice
1 Tablespoon orange liqueur (such as Sabra)
1 teaspoon cinnamon confectioner’s sugar
1. Spray a 12 cup Classic Bundt pan with non-stick cooking spray.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with bread hook*, pour warm milk. Sprinkle with yeast and 3 Tablespoons sugar. Stir to combine. Allow to sit for 5 minutes. Add flour, salt and oil. Stir on low speed until a ball of dough forms. Knead on low speed for 5 minutes, until dough is smooth and elastic. Allow to rest for 10 minutes.
3. Divide dough into 2 pieces, and roll each piece into a 2-inch thick log. Cut each log into 10-12 pieces. Flatten each piece of dough with fingers; place a 1/2 teaspoon of preserves into center of each dough round and fold dough over preserves to form a ball. Pinch dough together to seal.
4. Meanwhile, combine melted butter, vanilla extract, orange juice and liqueur in a small bowl. In another small bowl, combine remaining 1 cup sugar and cinnamon. Dip each ball of filled dough first in butter mixture and then in cinnamon-sugar, rolling to coat. Place in Bundt pan, creating two layers of balls. Second layer of balls should rest above empty spaces between balls on first layer. Cover with plastic wrap, and allow to rest for 45 minutes.
5. Pre-heat oven to 350F degrees. Uncover Bundt pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, until dough appears golden. Place on wire rack to cool for 15 minutes. Run a rubber spatula around edges and center of pan. Invert onto serving plate. Sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar.
6. Best served warm from the oven. If not serving immediately, wrap tightly in foil and heat at 300F degrees for 5-10 minutes until warm.
Serves: 10-12
*Note: This may also be done by hand. Stir together ingredients in a large mixing bowl until dough is formed. Turn out onto lightly floured board and knead for 5-10 minutes until dough is smooth and elastic. Proceed as above.
