Moravian Sugar Cake Pizza

Moravian Sugar Cake Pizza is a delightful twist on traditional Moravian sugar cake, combining a soft, yeasty dough with a buttery, caramelized sugar topping. While classic Moravian sugar cake is usually baked as a flat coffee cake, this pizza-inspired version gives it a slightly more rustic shape while keeping the rich buttery flavor and crisp, sugary edges.

The dough is tender and lightly sweet, while pockets of butter melt into the surface and mingle with brown sugar and cinnamon. As it bakes, the topping develops a beautifully caramelized finish, creating a dessert that is crisp around the edges, soft in the center, and wonderfully fragrant.

Ingredients

For the Dough

• 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
• ¾ cup warm milk, about 105–110°F
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

For the Sugar Topping

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Optional Finishing Touch

• 1 tablespoon melted butter
• A light dusting of powdered sugar, if desired

Step 1: Activate the Yeast

Pour the warm milk into a large mixing bowl. Make sure the milk is warm rather than hot, since excessive heat can prevent the yeast from working properly.

Stir in the granulated sugar and sprinkle the yeast over the surface. Let the mixture sit for approximately 5–10 minutes.

When the yeast is ready, the mixture should look slightly foamy. This is a good indication that the yeast is active.

Step 2: Make the Dough

Add the flour and salt to the yeast mixture. Stir in the egg and melted butter.

Mix everything together until a soft, slightly sticky dough begins to form.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead it for approximately 6–8 minutes. The dough should gradually become smoother and more elastic.

If it feels extremely sticky, add flour one tablespoon at a time. Avoid adding too much flour, because a softer dough will give the finished sugar cake a more tender texture.

Step 3: Let the Dough Rise

Place the dough into a lightly greased bowl and turn it once so the surface is lightly coated.

Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and place it somewhere warm.

Allow the dough to rise for about 1 to 1½ hours, or until it has roughly doubled in size.

The exact rising time can vary depending on the temperature of your kitchen.

Step 4: Prepare the Sugar Topping

While the dough is rising, prepare the topping.

Combine the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl.

Mix thoroughly so the cinnamon and salt are evenly distributed throughout the sugars.

Keep the softened butter nearby. You will use it to create small pockets of buttery richness across the surface of the dough.

Please Head On keep  on Reading  (>)