Poppy Seed Squares

There is a German Bakery in our area that makes the most amazing poppy seed squares.  They are a favorite of ours.  I used to work around the corner from the bakery and as a treat, I would bring them home.  Now that I no longer work there, we don't have them very often because it is about a 45 minutes drive away.  So I decided to see if I could make them.  I took a number of different recipes and combine them to make something that is fairly close.

Filling:
1 12 1/2-ounce can poppy seed filling for cakes, pastries and desserts

4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons grated lemon peel

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 large egg white


Top & Bottom:
2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces

1 large egg

1/4 cup sour cream


Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter 8-inch square baking pan. Mix poppy seed filling, lemon juice, lemon peel and vanilla in medium bowl. Beat egg white in small bowl until stiff but not dry. Fold white into filling. Set aside.


Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in large bowl. Using fingertips, rub butter into dry ingredients until mixture resembles coarse meal. Mix egg and sour cream in small bowl. Add to flour mixture; stir until moist clumps form. Gather dough together; divide in half. Press 1 dough piece onto bottom of prepare pan.

Bake crust until golden, about 15 minutes. Spread filling over crust. On floured surface, press second dough piece out to 8-inch square. Place atop filling; press to adhere.

Bake until crust is golden, about 35 minutes.  Cool in pan on rack.

Top with an icing glaze.  I used 2 Cups powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla (you could use lemon too for a different flavor), 1/8 Cup milk (more if you want it a little thinner).  Mix together and pour over slightly warm squares.  Cut into squares and serve.


Bulk of the recipe found at www.epicurious.com

Amish Starter Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

INGREDIENTS
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 cup poppy seeds
1package instant vanilla pudding mix
1package lemon jello mix
1 cup Amish Friendship Bread Starter
Zest of one lemon
Juice of 1 lemon
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup applesauce
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup vegetable oil

DIRECTIONS:
In a large mixing bowl blend together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, poppy seeds, Jello & pudding mix. Make a well in the center of the bowl.

In a separate bowl, mix together the Amish starter, eggs, milk, applesauce, vanilla, and vegetable oil. Add to dry ingredients and blend until just combined. Pour batter into 2 greased loaf pans or 1 Bundt cake pan.

Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 50 mins - 1 hour. Cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack. Remove cake from pan.

OPTIONAL:

I glaze with a lemon glaze (here are the rough estimates, I stir until it is a glaze consistency and tastes not too sour)

2 tbsp or more lemon juice
1 cup icing sugar (add more to thicken)
2 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp vanilla