That’s what my Grandma always said when she wanted a kiss from one of us grandkids, “Give me some sugar.” Well, in this case, we’re going to be giving you some real sugar – and serious amounts of it. So who’s ready for some dessert from North Carolina?! 
While Mike was at his conference in Charlotte, I treated myself to a relaxing day all for me. I went running, shopping, enjoyed a fantastic lunch al fresco and then had a mani/pedi. It was during my mani/pedi that I got a wealth of information about things to do and see in Charlotte. My salon rep was a fantastic conversationalist and an absolute joy to spend the afternoon with. She, in fact, reminded me of my Grandma.
The one thing that she strongly recommended was a visit to the Moravian settlement near Winston-Salem. She talked about the Moravian sugar cake and how absolutely delicious it was and practically a necessity for the holidays. You can imagine my blog wheels were instantly turning. Mike and I tried to configure our route home through the Winston-Salem area, but we didn’t quite make it that direction. And while we did manage to find some Moravian sugar cookies, no cakes… 
So when we started on this culinary tour of North Carolina, I knew that Movarian Sugar Cake was on our list. First of all, this was a fantastic experience to learn about the Moravians which was a culture and religion completely unknown to me. It was also another great opportunity to practice with yeast dough.
We started the recipe by creaming together shortening, eggs, sugar and salt. 
Next Mike scaled the milk for us. Did you know that scalded milk is: …milk that has been heated to 82 °C (180 °F).[1] At this temperature, bacteria are killed, enzyme in the milk is destroyed, and many of the proteins are denatured. Since most milk sold today is pasteurized, which accomplishes the first two goals, milk is typically scalded to increase its temperature, or to change the consistency or other cooking interactions due to the denaturing of proteins. 
We then added our proofed yeast, scalded milk and mashed potatoes to the creamed dough ingredients. You can use homemade mashed potatoes for this recipe, but for our purposes we just whipped up a cup of the instant variety. One thing to note, if you’re using instant, replace any milk required with water and omit any salt required. 
Next we kneaded the dough – well, the stand mixer did. I wasn’t taking any chances with my dough-killing kneading skills and Miss A wasn’t on hand to help at the moment. Once the dough formed a soft, smooth ball we placed it in a greased and covered bowl to rise. 
Wouldn’t you know, three hours later the dough had risen – and rather nicely too. I think I have found the secret – have something or someone else do the kneading for me. 
The kids were now home (though Miss A had fallen asleep) and Mr. N was ready to punch the dough down for us. 
Once the dough was punched down, we divided it in two, spreading one batch over a large jelly roll pan (the traditional method) and another into a 9×13-inch baking dish. We then set the dough aside to rise for another 1-1/2 hours. 
Our dough rose beautifully again and our Sleeping Beauty was now ready and waiting to use her favorite kitchen tool, the pastry blender. Miss A used the pastry blender to crumble some butter, flour, brown sugar (1 pound worth!) and cinnamon for the topping. Doesn’t that just sound delicious, and it gets better too! 
Before crumbling the topping over the dough, Miss A and I used our fingers to make small circular indents in the dough about an inch apart. 
We then, and now here’s where it gets better, spread copious amounts of melted butter on the top of the dough before sprinkling over the brown sugar topping. 
The sugar cake then baked at 350F for about 15 or 20 minutes at which point it was golden brown and delicious. 
The cake smelled wonderful and looked just like a warm, fresh coffee cake. The traditionally spread cake (on the jelly roll pan) was roughly an inch in thickness and beautifully done. I was a bit nervous about the cake done in the casserole baking dish as it was about three to four inches thick. I was afraid it would be too dry, or not cooked all the way through, but it too was done to perfection and quite delicious. 
The thinner cake was sliced up for a Memorial BBQ at my sister-in-law’s. It had the consistency of a coffee cake and was warm, sweet and delicious. Not a single slice was left at the end of the day (and there were only 10 of us there). 
Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on how you’re looking at it) this recipe makes a double batch and each batch makes about 16 to 24 servings. So despite our best efforts to finish it off on Memorial Day we still had a lot left at home. Being as this was a strong 4 spoon dessert for Mike and it received another 4 spoons from each of the kids, we knew we had to get more of it out of the house. So I took some into the office this week too. 
It disappeared there too. And while I thoroughly enjoyed the Moravian sugar cake, it gets a solid 3 spoons from me. It’s wonderful, it’s delicious and it’s a great dessert. It’s just not one I’m going to hide in the freezer, crave and eat for a nightly snack. Those desserts get my 4 spoon ratings. 
So there you have a Moravian sugar cake. It’s definitely worth the effort and would make for a great brunch item served to guests. Or for your kids… 
And if you don’t believe me, here’s one more shot of Mr. N waiting, hoping that Miss A won’t like her taste and will give it to him. Unfortunately for him, Miss A loved the sugar cake. Fortunately for him there was plenty more inside. 
Print this recipe: Moravian Sugar Cake
Eat, Play, Love 
🙂 This reminds me of a sweet bread that gets sprinkled with sugar from back home in Syria… I love this recipe, and want to try it soon… Beautiful pics as always 🙂
LikeLike
Sounds like you had a great trip…great photos. And this bread sounds divine…sugar sugar sugar! My kind of recipe. I’m absolutely loving that last photo of Mr. N looking up at Miss A. SO cute!!
LikeLike
What a neat recipe! Like the idea of adding mashed potatoes, wonder how sweet potatoes would taste? Better just leave the recipe as is, esp. with lot’s of butter and sugar! Yum! The kids look like they are having tons of fun punching the dough! LOL
Love the scenic pictures, so serene!
LikeLike
very cool dough recipe.. and yes.. lots of sugar!! so gimme some! (laugh!).. c
LikeLike
I just love the picture with Mr N waiting for Miss A to hate the cake! My kids do that too lol.
Your second picture is just breath taking, I wish I was there, it looks so peacful!
LikeLike
it looks so interesting. so different than any other “sweet” we typically have. I love how easy it is especially for kids to help make!
LikeLike
Very nice! this certainly will give me the energy for the whole day, love this for morning tea time with coffee
LikeLike
As I was following along I thought how about adding some chopped nuts or sesame seeds to the brown sugar topping.
LikeLike
I think some pecans would be fabulous with this. Great idea Norma!
LikeLike
Too bad you already busted out the Def Leopard!
LikeLike
LOL! It’s never too late. 😉
LikeLike
Your “you day” sounds utterly perfect!! And this cake… well, I’ll be giving this a try very soon!
LikeLike
Sounds like punching down the dough is a good task for small hands. This really did make a huge batch of Sugar Cake — so it would have made an appearance at my office too, otherwise I would end up eating way too much of it. Great story behind the recipe too Kristy!
LikeLike
I’ve heard of the addition of mashed potato to cakes before and how wonderfully dense and flavourful they make it. This really looks tasty, I’m keen to give this a go. How do you think it would go with some plums or strawberries added on top?
LikeLike
Mmmmm….strawberries would be fantastic! Maybe plums too, but I’m not so big on those. Good thoughts Aimee!
LikeLike
We lived in Winston-Salem for 8 years . . . this brought back fond memories of Old Salem, one of two Moravian settlements in the area.
Moravian Sugar Cookies are awesome too! 😉
LikeLike
They are good aren’t they! 😉
LikeLike
That looks delicious!! My husband would LOVE it – I will have to put this on my list!!
LikeLike
Wow, what a gorgeous coffee cake. It sounds and looks divine Kristy. What a nice time with your hubby and getting a little R&R.
LikeLike
My blog wheels were turning…. loved it! mind if I borrow the expression? and while I am t it, can I borrow your shirt too? awesome shirt, wonder where you got it… 😉
seriously now, what a great post, Mr N punches a dough down like a natural baker!
LikeLike
I bought a few pieces of clothing while we were there…this one and my hat are my favorite though. 🙂
LikeLike
Punching down the dough is the BEST part! Look at you and your yeasty experiments. Love! And this sounds so good – and probably wouldn’t last long at my house either. 🙂
LikeLike
I love how different this is!
LikeLike
Wonder if the thick one could be turned into a base for french toast . . . .
LikeLike
Now you’re talking! Unfortunately it too is gone. 😉
LikeLike
I was about to say that this reminds me so much of a sugary dough-based thing they sell in bakeries here… complete with with the cute little dimples on top, though then I read about the potato?! 😀 I wonder if this tastes anything like the Irish potato bread I like to make sometimes?
It’s gotta be good if it does – it looks so pretty and the photos are really great Kristy – such fantastic colours!
LikeLike
Mashed potatoes? Well, I guess the only difference between mashed potatoes and potato flour is some water. And anything topped off with butter, sugar, and cinnamon just has to taste good, with or without mashed potatoes! 🙂
LikeLike
‘My blog wheels were instantly turning’ – no doubt! What a delicious looking cake and it’s so fun to get the inside scoop on a popular, local recipe. And to be the recipient of that information over a mani/pedi… well, I simply can’t think of a better way to spend the afternoon! ;-). The potato in this recipe is so unique and interesting – I would have never guessed it was there by looking at the finished cake. The butter and brown sugar topping is swoon worthy and I’m just loving your outdoor photos Kristy… the lighting is of a whole other quality and clarity. Just gorgeous!
LikeLike
I’m glad you had a great trip and a wonderful Memorial Day! The cake looks interesting, very Foccaccia-like. The Hungarians use potatoes in yeast doughs too, I should did out an old recipe one day. Thanks for the reminder. Have a wonderful weekend.
LikeLike
What a beautiful looking cake and I bet it tasted amazing too. I have heard of this cake but I haven’t seen it or tasted it. I would like to try it. Gorgeous photos of your children – I can’t believe how much they love being in the kitchen! xx
LikeLike
I absolutely LOVE your first pic!
This cake sounds scrumptious – one I think I would make when my entire family is around visiting, it would be gone in a flash!
🙂 Mandy
LikeLike
What a beautiful place!!! I wish to get away there…
And this Moravian Sugar Cake looks so delicious. It’s simple yet something my kids would enjoy. I totally can see why there was no leftover!
LikeLike
I don’t think I’ve seen many sweet bread recipes with mashed potatoes in the dough. Very interesting. 🙂
LikeLike
I am loving this recipe!!! It looks so good (must have tasted even better since your gorgeous kids made it!) 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
LikeLike