Keks Russian Tea Cake With Yogurt And Currants Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl mix together the cookie dough and the pecans. Cover and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Form 1-inch balls from the chilled dough and place them 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Bake until the edges of the cookies start to brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool for about 5 minutes.
• While the cookies are cooling, line another cookie sheet with wax paper. Sprinkle 1 cup of the confectioners' sugar on the bottom of the sheet and place the slightly cooled cookies on top of the sugar. Place the remaining 1 cup of confectioners' sugar in a passe or fine sieve and then sprinkle over the tops of the cookies.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, stir together the flour and baking powder. In a standing mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the butter with sugar until fluffy and light. Mix in the eggs, almond extract, and vanilla extract. Turn down the mixer and slowly add the flour mixture, a third at a time to make a stiff dough. Divide the dough into 4 pieces. Use 2 pieces to make cut out cookies, and the other half for the Russian Tea Cakes.
• For the cut out cookies: On a lightly floured surface roll out a portion of cookie dough to 1/4-inch thick. Cut out shapes using cookie cutters. Place the cookies on lightly greased or nonstick cookie sheets. Bake until lightly golden, about 10 minutes, rotating cookie sheet halfway through the cooking time. Cool on pans about 5 minutes, and then transfer to wire racks and cool completely.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 370 F (190 C), and grease and/or line 12 muffin holes.
• Beat eggs with sugar and vanilla.
• Add oil, yogurt, baking soda and most of the flour, reserving about 2 tbsp in a cup.
• Stir currants into the reserved flour and mix until currants are evenly coated.
• Quickly stir currants through the batter, which should be a very thick pouring consistency, heavy enough to support the currants. If they sink at this stage, the batter is too slack -- add a tablespoon of flour and give the mixture another quick stir.
• Divide mixture evenly between the muffin holes. Alternatively, make one whole loaf in a bundt pan or small loaf tin.
• Bake for 20 mins, or until golden on top and a skewer inserted into the centre of one keks comes out clean.
• If desired, dust with icing sugar.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Cream butter in a large mixing bowl. Add the vanilla then gradually add the 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Sift the flour, measure, then sift again with the salt. Add gradually to the butter mixture. Add the pecans and mix well.
• Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten slightly using the bottom of a glass, then bake for 20 minutes, or until edges are very lightly browned. Remove the cookies from the baking sheets and roll in powdered sugar while still hot. Cool on wire racks and roll cookies again in powdered sugar before serving.
• Once they are completely cooled, cookies may be stored in airtight containers for up to 1 week.

Steps:

• Cream butter, lemon peel and lemon juice until light.
• Add sugar and cream until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs and blend well.
• In another bowl, mix flour and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture, beating well until blended.
• Stir in currants.
• Drop by teaspoonsful onto greased and floured baking sheet.
• Bake at 350* for 10 minutes or until set.
• Remove to a wire rack to cool.

Steps:

• Warm the milk with the butter in a pan until the butter has melted, then add 100ml water to cool the mixture to room temp. Tip the flour, yeast, sugar, spice and 1 tsp salt into a bowl, making sure the yeast is on the other side of the bowl to the salt. Make a well in the flour mixture and pour the milk and butter in, mixing until it forms big flakes, then bring together with your hands. Tip on a surface and knead until smooth (about 5 mins). Put the dough into a large, lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp tea towel and leave until doubled in size, so about 1-1 ½ hours.
• Line a tray with baking paper. Tip the mixed dried fruits into the dough and knead them in, trying to disperse them evenly throughout the dough. Cut your dough into 6 even-sized balls, take each ball and, using the cup of your hand, and pressing down a little with your palm, roll the ball in a circular motion on the surface to create tension across the top of the bun and a neat round shape. Place onto a tray about 5cm away from each other and press down with your palm to flatten the dough down a little, creating the teacake shape. Cover loosely with an oiled sheet of cling film, for a further 45 mins, or until they have doubled in size.
• Meanwhile, heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas mark 6. Brush the top of each bun liberally with the egg wash, then bake for 20 mins on the top shelf of the oven, until the buns are golden and well risen. Allow to cool on a wire rack, then slice in half, toast and slather with butter if you like.