Baba Au Rhum

Serves: 5

Clarabelle Lynch

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

53

Spice

50

Sweetness

47

Sourness

43

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.7

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 cup

Milk

2 tbsps

Sugar

1.666667 cups

All-Purpose Flour

1 tsp

Kosher Salt

1 tbsp

Water

Directions:

1

Combine the currants and rum in a small bowl and set aside

2

Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter and brush a 5-cup (6 1/2 by 3 1/2-inch) tube pan or kugelhopf mold with the melted butter

3

Be sure to coat every crevice of the pan

4

Heat the milk to 115 degrees F and then pour it into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment

5

Stir in the yeast and sugar and allow to sit for 5 minutes

6

With the mixer on low speed, first add the eggs, then the flour, salt, and remaining 4 tablespoons of butter

7

Raise the speed to medium-high and beat for 5 minutes

8

Scrape down the bowl and beater to form the dough into a ball

9

It will be very soft

10

Cover the bowl with a damp towel and allow it to rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour

11

Drain the currants, fold them into the dough with a spatula, and spoon into the prepared pan

12

Smooth the top, cover the pan with a damp towel, and allow to rise until the dough reaches the top of the pan, 50 minutes to 1 hour

13

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and make the Rum Syrup

14

Bake the cake for about 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean

15

Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then tap it out of the cake pan onto a baking rack set over a sheet pan

16

Pour all of the Rum Syrup very slowly onto the warm cake, allowing it all to soak in thoroughly

17

Amazingly, the liquid will be absorbed into the cake, so be sure to use all of the syrup

18

Heat the preserves with 1 tablespoon of water until runny, press it through a sieve, and brush it on the cake

19

Serve with Whipped Cream piped into the middle of the cake plus an extra bowl on the side

20

Place the sugar and 1 1/2 cups water in a small saucepan and cook over high heat until the sugar dissolves

21

Pour into a 4-cup heat-proof measuring cup and allow to cool

22

Add the rum and vanilla and set aside

23

Whip the cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment

24

When it starts to thicken, add the sugar and vanilla and continue to whip until the cream forms stiff peaks

25

Don't overbeat, or you'll end up with butter!