In the realm of breakfast pastries, Herman Coffee Cake reigns supreme, captivating taste buds with its tender crumb, irresistible streusel topping, and a hint of nuttiness from toasted pecans. This beloved treat, passed down through generations, is now accessible to home bakers thanks to Alice's Recipes.
Our comprehensive guide features two recipes: a starter and the main coffee cake. The starter, prepared in advance, forms the foundation for the bread's complex flavor and texture. The coffee cake batter, infused with warm spices and studded with crunchy pecans, is then poured over the starter, creating a delightful contrast between the soft interior and the crispy topping.
This detailed guide not only includes step-by-step instructions for both recipes but also offers valuable tips and tricks to ensure a perfect bake. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting your culinary journey, Alice's Recipes will lead you towards creating an unforgettable Herman Coffee Cake that will impress your family and friends.
MOIST HERMAN COFFEE CAKE
A sourdough spiced coffee cake, also known as an Amish Friendship Cake.
Provided by Autumn
Categories Desserts Cakes Coffee Cake Recipes
Yield 36
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- To Make Starter: Mix 2 cups flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 2 cups warm water, 1/4 ounce yeast in a bowl, cover and let stand over night (cover should be loose). Refrigerate and stir daily. On fifth day feed Herman one cup flour, 1 cup milk and 1/2 cup sugar; stir and refrigerate. Stir daily until 10th day. On 10th day remove 1 cup starter and feed as on fifth day.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease four 8 inch pans or three 9 inch pans.
- Mix together 1 cup starter, white sugar, self rising flour, salt, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, oil, eggs, raisins, 1 cup chopped nuts, honey (optional). Stir until combined. Pour into prepared pans. Top with sugar-nut topping.
- Dot with 1/2 cup butter or margarine and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 15 minutes. Remove cakes from oven and pour glaze over still-warm cakes.
- To Make Sugar-Nut Topping: Mix together 1 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 cup chopped nuts.
- To Make Glaze: Combine 1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar, 2 tablespoons melted margarine, 2 tablespoons milk. Use immediately to glaze cake.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 204.3 calories, Carbohydrate 27.1 g, Cholesterol 18.9 mg, Fat 10.4 g, Fiber 0.9 g, Protein 2.3 g, SaturatedFat 2.9 g, Sodium 151.4 mg, Sugar 18.4 g
HERMAN COFFEE CAKE STARTER AND BREAD
This delicious cake (and starter) should be shared with friends, who in turn share with their friends ... and on and on. Thus, often called a "Friendship Cake", it fills the house with an irresistible aroma and makes a lovely present for any Holiday. Although it takes about 3 weeks for the Starter to be ready to use, feeding Herman is very quick and easy. This recipe was given to me by a friend over 30 years ago, and I still enjoy sharing this Herman Cake & Starter (including recipe). Prep. time does not include making the Starter the very first time.
Provided by BeachGirl
Categories Quick Breads
Time 1h15m
Yield 1 bundt cake, 16 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- STARTER: Stir Ingredients together, mixing well, in a gallon container.
- Cover tightly and refrigerate.
- Feed Herman the same 3 Starter ingredients (above) every 5 days for a total of 4 times (20 days).
- Stir Herman daily.
- When you are ready to bake a Herman Cake, you should have about eight cups of starter.
- Bake Herman cake (recipe below) on the 25th day from the first feeding.
- ***Keep your own starter growing, use some to bake a Herman Cake, and give some to friends.
- ***SHARING YOUR STARTER: If someone gives you a cup of Herman Starter, you must feed it for 10 days before you bake with it.
- Day 1: Feed Starter with 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup flour, and 1 cup milk.
- Stir, cover and refrigerate.
- Day 2-4: Stir.
- Leave in refrigerator.
- Day 5: Feed Starter again with 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup flour, and 1 cup milk.
- Stir, cover and refrigerate.
- Day 6-9: Stir.
- Leave in refrigerator.
- ***Herman should now be about 4 cups: use 2 cups to bake, give 1 cup to friend, and keep 1 cup to grow more Starter.
- ***Day 10: MAKE HERMAN CAKE AS FOLLOWS: Mix all Herman Cake ingredients together, along with 2 cups of Herman Starter, and pour into a greased/floured bundt pan.
- Sprinkle top with Topping mixture.
- Bake 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.
- Or use a 15x19-2" pan and bake 325 degrees for 30-35 minutes.
- TOPPING MIXTURE: Mix together all Topping ingredients and sprinkle over cake BEFORE baking.
- GLAZE: Mix all Glaze ingredients together and cook for 5 minutes.
- Pour over top of hot baked Herman Cake.
HERMAN STARTER
This is a recipe for the yeast starter affectionately called "Herman." It's kept in your fridge and fed every five days. I'll be entering more recipes for Herman as time permits, so come back and search every once in a while!
Provided by Fuzzys Finds
Categories Yeast Breads
Time 5m
Yield 1 bowl of starter, 1 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- combine all ingredients to a smooth batter in a 2-quart glass or ceramic container (no metal). Cover with cheesecloth or other loose covering, and keep in a warm place (around 80 degrees F) for 3 to 4 days to ferment. It should expand and bubble. When ready it should have a yeasty, slightly sour smell.
- At this point, this is Herman's "First Day" in the ten-day cycle of Herman Life. He's ready for his first feeding.
- Feeding Herman: Mix together 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk, and 1/2 cup sugar. Stir this into Herman, cover loosely, and place in the fridge. It will be lumpy. Stir daily (but if you forget a day, he'll be fine).
- In five days, you'll need to feed him again. (Day 5).
- In five more days (Day 10), you'll feed him again and/or use him to make something. Pay attention to the specific recipe to see whether you feed him just before making the item or afterwards.
- Herman can be used for biscuits, coffeecake, pancakes, cookies, banana bread, sweet rolls, and more. I believe the recipes I have have been handed down from one Herman owner to another for decades. Hope you enjoy!
HERMAN STARTER -- FOR AMISH FRIENDSHIP BREAD
The starters I found here aren't the same as mine, and I keep losing it, so I'm putting it here for easy reference
Provided by nonnie4sj
Categories Yeast Breads
Time P10DT25m
Yield 4 cups starter
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water.
- Let stand 10 minutes.
- In a 2 quart container glass, plastic or ceramic container, combine 1 cup flour and 1 cup sugar.
- Mix thoroughly or flour will lump when milk is added.
- Slowly stir in 1 cup milk and dissolved yeast mixture.
- Cover loosely and let stand until bubbly.
- Consider this day 1 of the 10 day cycle.
- Leave loosely covered at room temperature.
- On days 2 thru 4; stir starter with a spoon.
- Day 5; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk.
- Days 6 thru 9; stir only.
- Day 10; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk.
- Remove 1 cup to make your first bread, give 2 cups to friends along with this recipe, and your favorite Amish Bread recipe.
- Store the remaining 1 cup starter in a container in the refrigerator, or begin the 10 day process over again (beginning with step 2).
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1044.6, Fat 7.8, SaturatedFat 4.3, Cholesterol 25.6, Sodium 94.4, Carbohydrate 230.8, Fiber 3, Sugar 149.9, Protein 16.4
HERMAN SOURDOUGH STARTER
This is a recipe for a sweet sourdough starter known as Herman. There are a number of things that can be made from it. It's very important to NOT use metal utensils or bowls! It will take 15 days for the starter to mature and be ready to use the first time you make it. After that it can be ready for use every 10 days.
Provided by Sue
Categories Bread Yeast Bread Recipes Sourdough Bread Recipes
Time P6DT22h40m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- In a large glass or plastic container, dissolve the yeast in warm water. Stir in the flour and sugar, mix until smooth. (DO NOT USE A METAL SPOON)! Cover loosely and store in a warm place overnight.
- The next day, stir and refrigerate.
- Stir once each day for the next four days. On the fifth day, stir, then divide in half. Give half away with feeding instructions.
- Feed starter with 1/2 cup white sugar, 1 cup flour, and 1 cup milk. Stir until smooth. Cover and place in refrigerator. Stir once each day for next four days.
- On the tenth day feed again with 1/2 cup white sugar, 1 cup flour, and 1 cup milk. Return to refrigerator and stir once each day for the next four days.
- On the fifteenth day it is ready to be used for baking. Reserve one cup of the starter in the refrigerator and continue to follow the stir and feed cycle (Stir once a day for four days, stir and feed on the fifth day, ready for use on the tenth day.)
Nutrition Facts : Calories 382.3 calories, Carbohydrate 82.2 g, Cholesterol 4.9 mg, Fat 1.9 g, Fiber 1.9 g, Protein 8.9 g, SaturatedFat 0.9 g, Sodium 28.6 mg, Sugar 34.2 g
HERMAN BREAD
A simple way to use your extra Herman Starter. Add one half cup of cheddar cheese for a totally different flavor.
Provided by Jacquelyn Demery
Categories Bread Yeast Bread Recipes Sourdough Bread Recipes
Time 3h
Yield 15
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- In a small mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the yeast mixture with the Herman Starter, oil, 2 cups flour and salt; mix well. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
- Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan. Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and form into a loaf. Place into the prepared pan. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top of the loaf is golden brown and the bottom sounds hollow when tapped.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 116.7 calories, Carbohydrate 19.3 g, Fat 3 g, Fiber 0.8 g, Protein 2.8 g, SaturatedFat 0.4 g, Sodium 466.3 mg, Sugar 0.1 g
(HERMAN STARTER) COFFEECAKE
This is a cinnamon topping coffeecake made with the famous Herman starter. If you don't have your own Herman in the fridge, search for Herman starter here on recipezaar.com to get it started, or beg a cup from a friend who does. Well worth the little bit of extra effort! Topping ingredients are listed within the recipe to keep them separate from the batter ingredients.
Provided by Fuzzys Finds
Categories Breads
Time 55m
Yield 1 9 x 13 pan of cake, 12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9x13 pan.
- Beat eggs; add sugar and oil, beating well.
- Add remaining dough ingredients (starter, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, milk, baking soda, salt, nuts &/or raisins) and beat 2 minutes with electric mixer at medium speed. (Note: This goes against my policy to not mix flour any more than necessary to get the dough to come together. I don't beat it this much myself.).
- Pour dough into greased 9x13 bakign pan.
- Combine the topping ingredients: 1T flour, 1t cinnamon, 1 cup brown sugar, and 1/4 cup butter. Sprinkle topping over batter in pan.
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Check middle of cake for doneness; otherwise it may turn out soggy.
- Note: 1 teaspoon each of nutmeg and ginger may be added as well. Another variation places the nuts in the topping and folds one cup of drained, crushed fruit (pineapple, peaches, etc) into the batter.
Tips:
- For the best results, use a starter that has been active for at least 7 days.
- If you don't have a starter, you can make one by following the instructions in the recipe.
- Be sure to let the dough rise in a warm place, free from drafts.
- If you don't have a Dutch oven, you can bake the coffee cake in a greased 9x13 inch baking dish.
- To make sure the coffee cake is cooked through, insert a toothpick into the center. If it comes out clean, the coffee cake is done.
- Let the coffee cake cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.
Conclusion:
Herman coffee cake is a delicious and easy-to-make bread that is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert. With its tender crumb, sweet and tangy flavor, and crunchy pecan topping, this coffee cake is sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it. So next time you're looking for a special treat, give this recipe a try. You won't be disappointed!
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