Hi everyone -- I've been lurking for a long time and couldn't resist responding to this request. My PA Dutch mother-in-law would sometimes make a cake similar to the one requested, but would use a potato dough base. She called it a Moravian Sugar Cake. Here's her recipe:
MORAVIAN SUGAR CAKE
3 eggs
1 tsp salt
1 C shortening
1 C sugar
1 C cold cooked mashed potatoes
1 C warm water (110-115 degrees)
2 pkgs yeast
4 C flour (approximately)
Cream or half-and-half
Brown sugar
Cinnamon
Butter
Dissolve yeast in warm water; set aside. Cream sugar, shortening and salt; add eggs and mashed potatoes. Add yeast to mixture. Stir in enough flour to make a stiff dough. Let rise til doubled (about 1 1/2 hrs). On a floured board, work out into 2 cakes, each 12-15" square. Place each on a baking sheet. Cover and let rise again. Punch holes all around dough about 1 1/2" apart. Cover heavily with cream, then sprinkle heavily with brown sugar, then cinnamon, and dot with small chunks of butter. The holes will catch some of the sugar and butter mixture and hold it in the cake. Bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for about 10 minutes or until top is golden and cake is done. Hope you like it -- Addie