Moravian sugar cake is a sweet coffee cake that is often made in areas around

Moravian Church The Moravian Church ( cs, Moravská církev), or the Moravian Brethren, formally the (Latin: "Unity of the Brethren"), is one of the oldest Protestantism, Protestant Christian denomination, denominations in Christianity, dating back to the Bohem ...

settlements, particularly in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. It is made with a sweet

yeast Yeasts are eukaryotic, single-celled microorganisms classified as members of the fungus kingdom. The first yeast originated hundreds of millions of years ago, and at least 1,500 species are currently recognized. They are estimated to constitut ...

dough enriched with mashed potatoes. The dough is left to rise in a flat pan, and just before baking, deep wells are formed in the surface of the dough with the finger tips, and a mixture of melted

butter Butter is a dairy product made from the fat and protein components of churned cream. It is a semi-solid emulsion at room temperature, consisting of approximately 80% butterfat. It is used at room temperature as a spread, melted as a condiment ...

brown sugar Brown sugar is unrefined or partially refined soft sugar. Brown Sugar may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Brown Sugar'' (1922 film), a 1922 British silent film directed by Fred Paul * ''Brown Sugar'' (1931 film), a 1931 ...

, and

cinnamon Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several tree species from the genus ''Cinnamomum''. Cinnamon is used mainly as an aromatic condiment and flavouring additive in a wide variety of cuisines, sweet and savoury dishes, breakfa ...

is poured on top. During baking, this forms a rich sugary crust that permeates deep into the interior of the cake. Moravian sugar cake is best served warm from the oven, but it keeps at room temperature for several days, and also freezes well.

History

The Moravian settlers who came to North Carolina in 1753 and founded

Salem Salem may refer to: Places Canada Ontario * Bruce County ** Salem, Arran–Elderslie, Ontario, in the municipality of Arran–Elderslie ** Salem, South Bruce, Ontario, in the municipality of South Bruce * Salem, Dufferin County, Ontario, part ...

in 1766 brought this recipe with them from eastern Pennsylvania and their settlements there. Moravian sugar cake is very similar to the German '' Zuckerkuchen'' (i.e. sugar cake) made in Berlin and ''

Butterkuchen ''Butterkuchen'' or ''Zuckerkuchen'' is a simple German butter cake baked on a tray. Flakes of butter are distributed on the dough which, after baking, form the characteristic holes. The whole cake is sprinkled with sugar or streusel. After furth ...

'' (butter cake) in Lüneburg. Inclusion of mashed potatoes in the dough may have derived from the practice of using potatoes in dough starters to boost the growth of natural yeasts. Often made for Holy Week and Easter, its popularity soon led to its appearance at other holidays and festive occasions, especially

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus, Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by country, around t ...

. Over the centuries, the recipe for Moravian sugar cake has changed little, and its renown has spread far beyond

Winston-Salem Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in N ...

so that it has become a beloved North Carolina breakfast confection. Freshly baked sugar cake is available at stores and bakeries in

and across the N.C.

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region.Fresh Out of The Oven: Moravian Sugar Cake
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References

{{Reflist

External links

Moravian Sugar Cake. Three Yummy Recipes; Waconia Moravian Church; accessed 11/12/2017

Winkler's Moravian Sugar Cake; American Food Roots; March 25, 2013; accessed 11/12/2017 Cakes Christian cuisine Cuisine of the Southern United States Moravian Church Moravian settlement in North Carolina Moravian settlement in Pennsylvania North Carolina cuisine

History

See also

References

External links