Grape cuca: a traditional and delicious Gaucho recipe

We've already heard about cornmeal and guava cuca, now a grape cuca? It's something a little different, don't you think?

But even though it may seem different at first, it is extremely tasty and delicious, perfect for when you want something sweet.

Where does grape cuca come from?

Cuca, or kuchen, is a traditional dish in Brazil, but those who brought it to our lands were European immigrants, more specifically the Germans, in the second half of the 19th century.

It was part of the tradition in Germany, and was known as farofa cake, or Streuselkuchen, and when he arrived in Brazil he took his roots in the south.

But over time we adapted the recipe, making it more versatile and accessible, just as society's conditions began to change.

It really is a very well-known dish in the south, but nowadays it is a dish consumed nationally.

Grape cuca recipe

Let's now see how you can make a grape cuca recipe, and learn how to prepare this delicious piece of gastronomic delicacy.

Check out the ingredients for the dough:

• 500g of wheat flour;
• 1 egg;
• 1 and ½ cup of warm water or 360ml;
• ½ tablespoon of salt;
• grated nutmeg;
• 1 tablespoon of dry organic yeast;
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract;
• 2 tablespoons of softened butter;
• ¾ cup of sugar.

We also have the ingredients for the grape topping:

• 2 to 3 cups of grape;
• 1 tablespoon of sugar.

And finally the sfregolá coverage:

• ½ cup of sugar;
• 2 tablespoons of cold butter;
• ½ cup of wheat flour.

Method of preparation

In a large bowl add the egg, yeast, water, butter, vanilla extract, sugar, nutmeg and salt, mix well and now add the wheat flour.

After adding the wheat flour, mix the dough with your hands until it is very homogeneous, and until it becomes a soft dough.

Use your hands to move the dough, mixing carefully and then cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rise in a closed place for around 30 minutes.

As a result, the dough will double in size in a short time, you can even leave it in an oven or microwave.

While the dough is rising, let's move on to the sfregolá topping, mix all the ingredients in a bowl and use your fingertips to rub it together so that it becomes crumbly.

Once ready, clean the grapes and dry them well so they are dry, then mix them with the sugar.

Once your dough has risen, choose the dish or shape that will be used for your grape cuca. Grease the pan with butter and transfer the dough to the dish.

Place the grapes on top of the dough and the sfregolá on top of the grapes, again let it rise in a reserved place with a cloth on top, for approximately 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, place the grape cuca in the preheated oven at 180°C for approximately 30 minutes or until the surface is golden.