Yeast Raised Sweet Coffee Cake

Ingredients

• For the Sponge:
• ½ cake yeast
• ¼ cup lukewarm water
• 1 cup milk
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 cups sifted flour
• For the Dough:
• ½ cup milk
• ½ cup butter
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 4 cups flour
• Melted butter for brushing
• Sugar or cinnamon for topping

Method

1. 1 Crumble yeast into lukewarm water and let soak for 20 minutes.
2. 2 Scald the milk, add salt, and let cool until lukewarm.
3. 3 Add yeast to milk and mix in enough flour to make a thick batter; beat smooth, cover, and let rise overnight or until light.
4. 4 Scald and cool the second portion of milk. Cream butter, sugar, and salt; beat in eggs.
5. 5 Mix the risen sponge with the cooled milk, then add the butter mixture and enough flour to form a soft dough.
6. 6 Beat hard or knead by hand until smooth; let rise until doubled.
7. 7 Roll dough to ½ inch thickness, place in buttered pans, and brush top with melted butter.
8. 8 Let rise again until doubled, sprinkle with sugar or cinnamon, and bake in a hot oven (425°F) for 20 minutes.