A Swedish lussekatt, named for St. Lucy,  is a rich yeast dough bun, flavoured with saffron and enriched with raisins. They cakes are traditionally eaten during Advent and especially on Saint Lucy’s Day, December 13.  This Saffron cake is baked in exactly the same way as the bun except that it is shaped like a loaf – we thought we’d use this one for our basically series because it’s a basic yeast dough that has been sweetened and for any first time bakers, it’s an absolute breeze – the dough can be twisted and turned and shaped and flavoured to suit any occasion and any pocket. Do try this one and keep in the back of your mind.

Ingredients

• 1 tsp saffron threads
• 250ml tepid milk
• 500g  strong white unbleached flour
• 7 g of fast-action easy-blend dried yeast
• 1 tsp salt
• 50 g  golden caster sugar
• 50 g butter, melted
• 100g Quark
• 1 medium free-range egg yolk

Method

• Butter a 900g loaf tin and soak the saffron in the milk for  about 10 minutes.
• Combine the flour, the yeast, the salt and the sugar in a mixing bowl and make a well in the centre and stir the melted butter into the milk and saffron mixture and pour this mixture into the well.
• Add the Quark,  stir together and then, using floured hands, start to combine everything to make a dough.
• Knead it on a floured surface for 10 minutes until  it’s smooth and velvety.
• Place in an oiled bowl, cover with oiled cling wrap and leave in a warm place for about 2 hours until the dough has risen well and then knock the dough back.
• Shape the dough into a loaf and place into the prepared tin, cover it loosely with a piece of cling wrap that you have oiled – now leave it in a warm place for about 45 minutes to an hour until the cake risen above the sides of the tin.
• Preheat the oven to 220 C.
• Brush the top of the cake with egg yolk, making sure that it does not drip down the sides or it will stick to the tin.
• Bake cake for 15 minutes then lower the heat to 200C and cover loosely with foil and continue to bake for a further 20 minutes or until the cake sounds hollow when tapped underneath.
• Cool on a wire rack.