Kuchen!

“Kuchen” is the German word for “cake,” but in my family it’s always referred to a traditional German coffee cake that is a staple of social gatherings on my grandfather’s side of my mom’s family. From a recipe passed down from my great-grandmother, a German immigrant, kuchen has been made by all her children, in-laws, and grandchildren — except my mom.

However, that changed today when, for the first time, my mom and I made kuchen. We were unsure how it would turn out, but it ended up being perfect. So perfect, the pan was almost gone within 10 minutes of me trying the first piece.