Hello, Good News! Are you looking for a tasty treat to enjoy during the Passover holiday? If so, you are in luck! In this article, we will show you how to make a scrumptious passover coffee cake that is sure to impress your family and friends.
A passover coffee cake is a moist and fluffy cake that is flavored with coffee and topped with a crunchy streusel. It is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert. Unlike regular coffee cakes, a passover coffee cake does not contain any leavening agents or dairy products, making it suitable for the kosher dietary laws of Passover. Instead, it uses ingredients such as matzo cake meal, almond flour, coconut flour, and tapioca starch to create a light and tender texture.
What You Need to Make a Passover Coffee Cake
Ingredients
To make a passover coffee cake, you will need the following ingredients:
- Oil: You can use any neutral oil such as canola, vegetable, or sunflower oil. Oil helps to keep the cake moist and prevents it from drying out.
- Eggs: Eggs are essential for binding the batter and adding richness and flavor. You will need four large eggs for this recipe.
- Sugar: You will need both white and brown sugar for this recipe. White sugar adds sweetness and lightness to the cake, while brown sugar adds moisture and caramel flavor. You can also use coconut sugar or maple sugar if you prefer.
- Banana: A ripe banana adds natural sweetness and moisture to the cake. It also helps to mask the taste of matzo cake meal, which can be bland and cardboard-like.
- Vanilla: Vanilla enhances the flavor of the cake and adds a nice aroma.
- Matzo cake meal: Matzo cake meal is finely ground matzo that is used as a substitute for flour during Passover. It has a coarse texture and a mild flavor. You can find it in most kosher grocery stores or online.
- Almond flour: Almond flour is made from blanched almonds that are ground into a fine powder. It adds a nutty flavor and a moist texture to the cake. It also helps to reduce the amount of matzo cake meal needed, which can make the cake dense and dry.
- Tapioca starch: Tapioca starch is a gluten-free starch that is extracted from the cassava root. It helps to bind the batter and create a soft and springy texture. You can also use potato starch or corn starch if you prefer.
- Coconut flour: Coconut flour is made from dried coconut meat that is ground into a fine powder. It adds a subtle coconut flavor and a light texture to the cake. It also helps to absorb excess moisture and prevent the cake from being soggy.
- Baking powder: Baking powder is a leavening agent that helps the cake rise and become fluffy. You will need to use a kosher for Passover baking powder that does not contain any cornstarch or other prohibited ingredients. You can find it in most kosher grocery stores or online.
- Baking soda: Baking soda is another leavening agent that reacts with the acidic ingredients in the batter such as brown sugar and banana. It helps to create air bubbles and lift the cake.
- Salt: Salt enhances the flavor of the cake and balances out the sweetness.
- Cinnamon: Cinnamon adds a warm and spicy flavor to the cake and complements the coffee flavor.
- Boiling water: Boiling water helps to dissolve the sugar and activate the baking soda. It also creates steam in the oven, which helps the cake rise.
- Hazelnut brittle: Hazelnut brittle is a crunchy candy made from caramelized sugar and toasted hazelnuts. It adds a delicious crunch and nutty flavor to the cake. You can find it in most kosher grocery stores or online, or you can make your own by following this [recipe](^2^).
- Confectioners’ sugar: Confectioners’ sugar is powdered sugar that is used for dusting the cake after it is baked. It adds a touch of sweetness and makes the cake look more appealing.
Equipment
To make a passover coffee cake, you will need the following equipment:
- A large mixing bowl: You will need a large mixing bowl to whisk together the wet ingredients such as oil, eggs, sugars, banana, and vanilla.
- A medium mixing bowl: You will need a medium mixing bowl to sift together the dry ingredients such as matzo cake meal, almond flour, tapioca starch, coconut flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- An electric mixer: You will need an electric mixer to beat the butter and sugar until fluffy and creamy. You can also use a hand mixer or a whisk if you prefer.
- A rubber spatula: You will need a rubber spatula to fold in the dry ingredients and the boiling water into the wet ingredients. You will also need it to scrape the batter into the baking pan and spread it evenly.
- A measuring cup: You will need a measuring cup to measure the boiling water and pour it over the batter.
- A measuring spoon: You will need a measuring spoon to measure the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- A knife: You will need a knife to chop the banana and the hazelnut brittle.
- A fork: You will need a fork to mash the banana.
- A 9 x 13 inch baking pan: You will need a 9 x 13 inch baking pan to bake the cake. You can also use a bundt pan or a springform pan if you prefer.
- Cooking spray or oil: You will need cooking spray or oil to grease the baking pan and prevent the cake from sticking.
- A cooling rack: You will need a cooling rack to cool the cake after it is baked.
- A sifter or a fine mesh strainer: You will need a sifter or a fine mesh strainer to sift the confectioners’ sugar over the cake before serving.
How to Make a Passover Coffee Cake
Step 1: Preheat the oven and prepare the baking pan
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Grease and flour your baking pan using a little of all three flours. This will help prevent the cake from sticking and make it easier to remove. Set aside.
Step 2: Whisk together the wet ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the oil, eggs, white sugar, brown sugar, banana, and vanilla until smooth and thick. The mixture should be pale yellow and slightly frothy.
Step 3: Sift together the dry ingredients
In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the matzo cake meal, almond flour, tapioca starch, coconut flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Sifting helps to aerate the flours and remove any lumps. It also helps to distribute the leavening agents and spices evenly throughout the batter.
Step 4: Fold in the dry ingredients and the boiling water
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in three batches, alternating with the boiling water. Use a rubber spatula to gently fold in each addition until well combined. Do not overmix or else you will deflate the batter and make the cake tough. The batter should be smooth and thick but pourable.
Step 5: Fold in the hazelnut brittle
Chop up half a cup of hazelnut brittle into small pieces. Fold them into the batter using a rubber spatula. The hazelnut brittle will add a nice crunch and nutty flavor to the cake. You can also use other nuts such as walnuts, pecans, or almonds if you prefer.
Step 6: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake
Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread it evenly with a rubber spatula. Tap the pan lightly on the counter to release any air bubbles. Bake for about 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. The cake should be golden brown and springy to the touch.
Step 7: Cool the cake and dust with confectioners’ sugar
Let the cake cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cooled, use a plastic knife to go all around between the pan and cake to loosen them. Then flip the cake onto a serving plate or cut into pieces and serve from the pan. Sift some confectioners’ sugar over the top of the cake for extra sweetness and decoration. Enjoy your passover coffee cake with some coffee or tea!
A Table Breakdown of Passover Coffee Cake Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | Calories | Fat | Carbs | Protein | Fiber | Sugar |
|————–|———-|—–|——-|———|——-|——-|
| 1 slice (1/12 of cake) | 288 | 7 g | 57 g | 3 g | 2 g | 39 g |
The nutrition facts are based on this [recipe](^2^) and may vary depending on the ingredients and brands you use. As you can see, a passover coffee cake is a high-carb and high-sugar dessert that should be enjoyed in moderation. However, it also provides some healthy fats and fiber from the almond flour, coconut flour, and hazelnut brittle. It is also gluten-free and dairy-free, making it suitable for people with celiac disease or lactose intolerance.
FAQs About Passover Coffee Cake
What is Passover?
Passover is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. It is celebrated for eight days in the spring, usually in March or April. During Passover, Jews refrain from eating any leavened bread or products made from wheat, barley, rye, oats, or spelt. This is to remember the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt, without having time to let their bread rise. Instead, they eat matzo, which is unleavened bread made from flour and water.
What is coffee cake?
Coffee cake is a type of cake that is usually eaten with coffee or tea. It is not flavored with coffee, but rather with other ingredients such as fruits, nuts, spices, or chocolate. It often has a crumbly topping called streusel, which is made from butter, sugar, and flour. Coffee cake originated in Germany and Scandinavia, where it is called kaffekuchen or kaffebrød respectively.
What is the difference between passover coffee cake and regular coffee cake?
The main difference between passover coffee cake and regular coffee cake is the type of flour used. Regular coffee cake uses all-purpose flour or cake flour, which contain gluten and are not allowed during Passover. Passover coffee cake uses matzo cake meal and other gluten-free flours such as almond flour, coconut flour, and tapioca starch. These flours have different properties and require different amounts of liquid and leavening agents to create a similar texture and taste.
How do I store passover coffee cake?
You can store passover coffee cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. You can also refrigerate it for up to a week or freeze it for up to three months. To thaw frozen passover coffee cake, let it sit at room temperature for about an hour or microwave it for a few seconds until warm.
How do I serve passover coffee cake?
You can serve passover coffee cake as it is or with some whipped cream or ice cream on top. You can also drizzle some chocolate sauce or caramel sauce over it for extra decadence. You can cut it into slices or squares and serve it on a platter or a cake stand. Enjoy it with some coffee or tea for a delightful treat.
Can I make passover coffee cake vegan?
Yes, you can make passover coffee cake vegan by replacing the eggs with flax eggs or chia eggs. To make one flax egg or chia egg, mix one tablespoon of ground flax seeds or chia seeds with three tablespoons of water and let it sit for 15 minutes until gel-like. Use one flax egg or chia egg for each egg in the recipe. You can also use vegan butter instead of oil if you prefer.
Can I make passover coffee cake nut-free?
Yes, you can make passover coffee cake nut-free by replacing the almond flour with more matzo cake meal or coconut flour. You will need to adjust the amount of liquid accordingly, as coconut flour absorbs more moisture than almond flour. You can also omit the hazelnut brittle or use another crunchy topping such as chocolate chips or dried fruits.
Can I make passover coffee cake sugar-free?
Yes, you can make passover coffee cake sugar-free by replacing the white sugar and brown sugar with a natural sweetener such as honey, maple syrup, agave nectar, or stevia. You will need to reduce the amount of liquid in the recipe by about a quarter cup to compensate for the extra moisture from the sweetener. You can also use sugar-free confectioners’ sugar for dusting.
Can I make passover coffee cake without banana?
Yes, you can make passover coffee cake without banana by replacing it with another fruit puree such as apple sauce, pumpkin puree, or mashed sweet potato. You will need to use about three-fourths cup of fruit puree for one banana. You can also add some lemon juice or vinegar to increase the acidity and help the batter rise.
Can I make passover coffee cake with instant coffee?
Yes, you can make passover coffee cake with instant coffee by dissolving one tablespoon of instant coffee granules in one-fourth cup of boiling water and adding it to the batter. You can also use brewed coffee or espresso instead of water for a stronger coffee flavor. You can also add some coffee extract or espresso powder for extra intensity.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed this article on how to make a passover coffee cake. This is a delicious and easy recipe that you can whip up in no time and enjoy with your loved ones. It is also gluten-free and dairy-free, making it suitable for people with dietary restrictions. You can customize it with your favorite nuts, fruits, or chocolate for extra flavor and texture. Try it out and let us know how it turned out!
If you liked this article, please check out our other articles on [passover recipes], [coffee cake variations], and [gluten-free baking tips]. You can also subscribe to our newsletter for more updates and exclusive offers. Thank you for reading and happy baking!