Hanklich
Hanklich: Transylvanian Saxon yeast cake with a creamy cheese and egg topping
RomanianThe Transylvanian Saxons, German-speaking villagers who settled around Sibiu, Brașov and Sighișoara in the Middle Ages, baked Hanklich in their fortified-church villages for Sundays, weddings and the Kronenfest in late June. A thin, soft yeast base is spread with a thick layer of sweetened cottage cheese, eggs and cream that bakes into a wobbly, lemony custard with a golden top, a little like a cheesecake on bread. It is cut into squares and eaten with coffee. Some quark and cottage cheese is made with animal rennet, so check the label if you want it strictly vegetarian. The classic slip is overbaking until the topping cracks and weeps; take it out while the centre still trembles slightly. Chef's tip: roll the dough right into the corners of the tray and build a small rim, so the topping stays put.
- Total time
- 145 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 16
Ingredients
Dough
- 14 oz plain flour
- 1 ¾ oz caster sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- ¾ cup lukewarm milk
- 1 egg
- 2 ⅛ oz buttersoft
- 1 tsp lemon zest
Topping
- 1 ⅛ lb cottage cheese or quarkdrained
- 2 eggs
- 5 ½ oz sour cream
- ½ cup double cream
- 3 ½ oz caster sugar
- 2 tbsp cornflour
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 ¾ oz raisins (optional)
- ⅔ oz buttermelted, for the top
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Method
0/8 doneStep 1: Mix the 14 oz plain flour, ¼ oz fast-action dried yeast, 1 ¾ oz caster sugar and 1 pinch salt. Add the ¾ cup lukewarm milk, 1 egg and 1 tsp lemon zest and mix to a soft dough, then knead in the 2 ⅛ oz butter for 6–8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
10 minStep 2: Cover and leave to rise in a warm place until doubled.
60 minStep 3: For the topping, beat the 1 ⅛ lb cottage cheese or quark, 2 eggs, 5 ½ oz sour cream, ½ cup double cream, 3 ½ oz caster sugar, 2 tbsp cornflour, 1 tsp vanilla extract and 1 tsp lemon zest until smooth. Stir in the 1 ¾ oz raisins if using.
5 minStep 4: Heat the oven to 350°F (325°F fan) and butter a 30 × 40 cm baking tray. Roll the dough out to fit, press it into the corners and pinch up a small rim.
8 minStep 5: Cover and leave to prove for 20 minutes, until slightly puffy.
20 minStep 6: Pour the topping over the dough and spread it evenly, then drizzle with the ⅔ oz butter.
2 minStep 7: Bake for 35–40 minutes, until the dough edges are golden brown and the topping is set and lightly golden with just a slight tremble in the centre.
40 minStep 8: Cool in the tray for at least 30 minutes so the topping firms up, then cut into 16 squares.
30 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 230 kcal
- Protein
- 9 g
- Carbs
- 28 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does hanklich take?
- About 145 minutes in total: 105 minutes to prepare and 40 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 16 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of fast-action dried yeast?
- Fresh yeast, three times the weight.
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