Perfect German Butter Cake

Total Time: 2 hrs 40 mins Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup lukewarm water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 vanilla bean (split)
• 1 lemon, zest of, grated
• 3 large sized eggs
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 softened unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4 packed light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup ground walnuts (optional)
• 1/3 cup ground almonds (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Recipe

• 1 butter a 13x9x2 inch baking pan.
• 2 (mixture 1) in a small bowl combine the yeast,1 tablespoon of the sugar, and the warm water.
• 3 set aside mixture 1 for 15 minutes or until bubbles appear.
• 4 (mixture 2) in a small bowl combine the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, salt, and butter.
• 5 pour the milk into a saucepan. add vanilla bean and pour into mixture 2.
• 6 let mixture 2 sit until lukewarm.
• 7 stir in mixture 1 and add lemon zest.
• 8 add eggs 1 at a time beating well after each addition.
• 9 fold in flour a little at a time.
• 10 beat dough until smooth.
• 11 spread dough onto prepared pan and cover loosely with a tea towel and set aside in a warm place for 30-45 minutes.
• 12 let rise.
• 13 preheat oven to 400°f.
• 14 for topping:.
• 15 cream butter, sugar, and light brown sugar until fluffy stir in the vanilla, the cinnamon, and the nuts (nuts are optional).
• 16 drop spoonfuls of the topping onto the dough.
• 17 bake cake for 35 minutes or until top is golden.
• 18 allow cake to completely cool in pan.
• 19 cut into slices and serve with butter.