Kuchen de Migas

Kuchen de Migas

A hybrid of Chilean and German descent, Kuchen (the German word for “cake”) de Migas (the Spanish word for “crumbs”) has a generous spiced streusel topping and is strewn with apple chunks. Germans began to settle in Chile in the 1850s, bringing over many baked goods that the Chileans adapted, such as berlines, German-style doughnuts filled with dulce de leche. But perhaps as beloved is their Kuchen demigas, a marriage of German pastry and Chilean-grown apples, like Pink Lady and Granny Smith.

Kuchen de Migas

Makes 1 (9-inch) cake

Ingredients
  

  • cups (670 grams) 1- to 1½-inch-chopped peeled Pink Lady apples
  • cups (520 grams) 1- to 1½-inch-chopped peeled Granny Smith apples
  • cups (250 grams) granulated sugar, divided
  • ¾ cup (165 grams) firmly packed light brown sugar, divided
  • ¾ teaspoon (3 grams) tightly packed orange zest
  • 1 tablespoon (15 grams) fresh orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon (2 grams) ground cinnamon
  • teaspoons (4.5 grams) kosher salt, divided
  • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
  • 4 tablespoons (32 grams) cornstarch, divided
  • ¾ cup (170 grams) plus 2 tablespoons (28 grams) unsalted butter, softened and divided
  • 2 large eggs (100 grams), room temperature
  • teaspoons (6 grams) vanilla extract
  • 2 cups (250 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon (5 grams) baking powder
  • Cinnamon Crumb Topping (recipe follows)

Instructions

  • Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • In a large bowl, stir together apples, ½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar, ½ cup (110 grams) brown sugar, orange zest and juice, cinnamon, ½ teaspoon (1.5 grams) salt, and allspice. Let stand for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in 2 tablespoons (16 grams) cornstarch.
  • In a large Dutch oven, melt 2 tablespoons (28 grams) butter over medium-high heat. Add apple mixture. Reduce heat to medium; cover and cook, stirring frequently, until apples are just softened, 25 to 30 minutes. Uncover and cook, stirring frequently, until liquid has thickened and apples are softened, about 5 minutes. Transfer apple mixture to prepared pan, spreading into an even layer. Let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat remaining ¾ cup (170 grams) butter, remaining ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar, and remaining ¼ cup (55 grams) brown sugar at medium speed until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until well combined after each addition. Beat in vanilla.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, remaining 2 tablespoons (16 grams) cornstarch, and remaining 1 teaspoon (3 grams) salt. Add flour mixture to butter mixture all at once; beat at low speed just until combined, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. (Mixture will resemble very soft drop cookie dough.)
  • Spray a 9-inch springform pan with baking spray with flour; line bottom of pan with parchment paper. Transfer dough to prepared pan; using a piece of plastic wrap pressed directly on surface, press dough evenly into bottom and up to 1¼ inches from top edge of pan. Carefully remove plastic wrap; using fingertips, gently seal any holes or bubbles left in dough. Spoon cooled apple mixture into dough, spreading into an even layer. Sprinkle clumps of Cinnamon Crumb Topping on top.
  • Bake until edges are deep golden brown, 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes, loosely covering with foil to prevent excess browning, if necessary. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes. Carefully remove sides of pan; let cool completely on base on a wire rack. (Center of cake will sink slightly as filling cools.)
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Cinnamon Crumb Topping

4.60 from 5 votes

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
  • cup (76 grams) unsalted butter, melted
  • teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup (125 grams) all-purpose flour
  • ¾ teaspoon (1.5 grams) ground cinnamon

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, stir together sugar, melted butter, and salt until well combined. Stir in flour and cinnamon until well combined.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

 

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7 COMMENTS

  1. 5 stars
    Made this in 2020 and was not disappointed. The crust was so similar to a sugar cookie and the filling made my apartment smell like orange. Every single technique used to make this scrumptious dessert is well worth the time and effort. A definite hit!

  2. 5 stars
    Absolutely delicious! A tad bit labor intensive but well worth it in my opinion. Could have just been my old pan but my springform had a bit of leakage so I’d recommend putting the springform on top of a lined baking sheet just in case.

  3. 4 stars
    This was a lot of work but I think it came out very good. The dough was kind of difficult to spread with the Saran Wrap. The flavors were delicious. I used 31/2 honey crisp & 3 Granny Smith apples Didn’t hv the allspice. It took me 2 hours to put together. I maybe a slow baker. The directions were very good. But I doubt I make it again.

  4. 5 stars
    My first time using a spring pan and it not only looked amazing but tasted even better. My husband has already requested I make it again for Christmas.

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