Title: Kouglof (sweet brioche with raisins & almon
 Categories: Cakes
      Yield: 16 Servings
 
-------------------------EQUIPMENT------------------------------
           1 kouglof mold (1x3.5 litre/
           -- 6 pints or 2x1.75 litre)
           -- Traditionally, Kouglof
           -- (also spelt Kugelhopf or
           -- gougelhopf) is baked in a
           -- tall, fluted mold.
           -- A savarin or baba mould
           -- can be used instead.

---------------------------DOUGH--------------------------------
     25 g  Fresh yeast (1 oz)
    120 ml Milk (4 fl oz), boiled and
           -- cooled to lukewarm
     15 g  Fine salt (1/2 oz)
    500 g  Flour (1 lb 2 oz)
      6    Eggs
    350 g  Butter (12 oz)
     75 g  Sugar (3 oz)

--------------------------FILLING-------------------------------
    200 g  Raisins (7 oz)
      3 tb Rum
    100 g  Whole almonds (4 oz),skinned
           -- and very light toasted
      1    Egg yolk mixed with 1 table-
           -- spoon milk
           Butter for the mould
           Icing sugar for dusting
 
  Preparation, dough Put the yeast and the milk in the bowl of your
  mixer and beat lightly. Add the salt, then the flour and the eggs.
  Switch the mixer on to medium speed and work the mixture with the
  dough hook for about 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth and
  elastic with plenty of body. If you are making it by hand, use a
  spatula and work the dough for about 20 minutes. Mix together the
  butter and sugar, reduce the speed of the mixer to low and add the
  butter mixture to the dough, a little at a time, working the dough
  continuously. When all the butter is incorporated, increase the speed
  and mix for 8 to 10 minutes in the mixer or about 15 minutes by hand,
  until the dough is very smooth and glossy. It should be supple and
  fairly elastic and will be coming away from the sides of the bowl.
  Cover the dough with a baking sheet and leave it in a warm place
  (about 24 C/75 F) for 2 hours, until it has doubled in bulk. Knock
  back the dough by punching it with your fist not more than 2 or 3
  times. Cover it with a baking tray and refrigerate for at least 4
  hours, but not loner than 24 hours.
  
  Preparation, raisins: Put the raisins in a bowl with the rum, cover
  with clingfilm and leave to macerate for several hours.
  
  Moulding Generously butter the mould and place one-third of the
  almonds in the bottom of the ridges. On a lightly floured surface,
  roll out the chilled dough into a narrow rectangle long enough to
  line the bottom of the mould. Chop the remaining almonds and strew
  them and the rum-soaked raisins over the dough. Roll out the dough
  into a fat sausage shape, pressing it firmly together. Arrange it
  round the bottom of the mould and press down lightly. Seal the two
  edges together with a very little egg yolk-milk-mixture. Leave in a
  warm place (about 25 C/77 F) for about 2 1/2 hours, until the dough
  has risen to three-quarters fill the mould. Preheat the oven to 220
  C/425 F. Bake the kouglof in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, then
  lower the temperature to 200 C/400 F and cook for another 35 minutes.
  If it is becoming to brown towards the end, cover it with greaseproof
  paper. Invert the hot kouglof on to a wire rack, carefully remove the
  mould and return it to the oven for 5 minutes so that the centre
  finishes cooking and becomes ligthly coloured. Leave to cool for at
  leat 2 hours before serving.
  
  Serving Lightly sprinkle with icing sugar. Kouglof freezes very well
  once cooked. Wrap in a plastic bag and freeze; it will keep for
  several weeks. Be sure to take it out of the freezer 2 or 3 hours
  before serving.