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These German Cake Recipes Are Sure To Please You or Your Guests!
Looking for traditional German “Kuchen” recipes? You’ve come to the right place if you want great German cake!
From rich German cakes and cakes with lots of fruit or crumbs (Streusel), to cakes you whip up specifically for a special occasion, there are lots of popular German cakes out there.
You may be familiar with some of the more famous German cakes like:
- Black Forest Cake (Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte in German)
- German Plum Cake (Zwetschgenkuchen or Pflaumenkuchen)
- German Apple Cake (Apfelkuchen)
- …and even German Bee Sting Cake (Bienenstich).
We have most – but not all – of the recipes for some of these cakes on the website yet… but we are working on it all the time!
As for some other cakes, we need to clear the air a little bit.
In North America, “German chocolate cake” seems to be a very popular cake. However, unlike the name suggests, it’s not actually from Germany and Lisa (being German) was completely unfamiliar with it until she looked it up.
Sources suggest that this cake got its name from the baker whose last name was “German”. Whatever the case with this legendary German chocolate cake, that’s why you won’t find it on our list.
Instead, we’re focusing on authentic German cake recipes that are popular and actually baked in Germany. So, having said that, let’s get baking. Let us know which ones you love, and which ones you’d still like to see on here!
German Plum Cake (Pflaumenkuchen)
German Plum Cake – known as Pflaumenkuchen or Zwetschgenkuchen – is a delicious and slightly tangy cake.
Popular when plums are in season, this classic cake can be made in a few different ways. Our version is with a yeast cake base, with fresh plums on top that are covered in sweet crumbs (Streusel)!
Get This German Plum Cake Recipe
German Cheesecake (Käsekuchen)
For a classic German dessert, you've got to try German-style Cheesecake – called Käsekuchen in German. This cheesecake is lighter and fluffier than most North American versions.
Made with quark – a dairy product you can make yourself – this cake surprises with a hint of lemon zest and a buttery crust!
Get This Käsekuchen Recipe
Streuselkuchen (Classic German Crumb Cake)
Covered in delicious "Streusel", Streuselkuchen is definitely on the list of classic German yeast cakes.
This easy-to-make cake – also known as a coffee cake or crumb cake – is soft at the base and crunchy and sweet on top!
It's the kind of cake that gets served when you go over for "Kaffee and Kuchen" (coffee and cake) at the grandparent's house!
Get This German Crumb Cake Recipe
German Strawberry Cake (Erdbeerkuchen)
Another seasonally available cake (in the heart of summer strawberry season), German Strawberry cake – known as Erdbeerkuchen – is the best cake for a pop of color!
Our version is made with that spongy base. Add a few (okay, a lot) of fresh strawberries and that signature fruit glaze, and you've got yourself an easy-to-make cake that is light, sweet, and oh-so-yummy!
Get This German Strawberry Cake Recipe
German Apple Cake (Apfelkuchen)
German apple cake, known as Apfelkuchen, is a popular cake made with apples, a hint of cinnamon, and delicious streusel on top.
This version is made with a simple dough that is easy to prepare and bake. And you can use any type of apples you like!
Get This Apple Cake Recipe
Bienenstich (German Bee Sting Cake)
Got a thing for sweet honey, crispy almonds, and a delicious vanilla pudding filling? You need our German Bee Sting Cake Recipe!
This layered dessert looks fancy and complicated, but it's actually not that difficult to make. The simple butter cake base is always a hit – and the browned almonds on top add a nice crunch when you break through.
Legend has it that Bienenstich got its name because the bees were attracted to the honey in the recipe – and stung the German baker who first made it!
Get This Bienenstich Recipe
Mohnkuchen (German Poppy Seed Cake)
Sweet, rich, and full of poppy seeds, German poppy seed cake – also known as Mohnkuchen – is another classic coffee time cake.
We made our version with a simple buttery crust, but you can make a different dough, too. The filling is made with poppy seeds and farina for a velvety richness. As with many German cakes, we topped it with a layer of streusel!
Get This Mohnkuchen Recipe
Kalter Hund (No-Bake Chocolate Biscuit Cake)
This rich, chocolaty no-bake cake is a classic German cake recipe that was popular when Lisa was a child. Definitely not a healthy cake option, Kalter Hund is made with crispy butter cookies layered with sweet chocolate.
Served chilled, the combination of crunchy and smooth textures is a delight for any chocolate lover! Because it shoukd be served straight from the refrigerator, this cake is best served at home.
Get This Kalter Hund Recipe
Marble Cake (Classic German Marmorkuchen)
Did you know that marble cake actually originated in Germany? It's also a relatively easy cake to make. Complete with an optional chocolate icing, the chocolate and vanilla swirls inside make each slice artful and unique!
It serves well with whipped cream or powdered sugar, making it a popular, easy option for coffee and cake.
Get This Marble Cake Recipe
German Butter Cake (Butterkuchen)
This light and yeasty German Butter Cake is a simple and classic German cake recipe. It's made with a simple yeast dough – and lots of butter – and topped with sugar and sliced almonds that brown to form a crunchy, sweet top!
Butter cake is one of those classic sheet cakes you make when you have a lot of people to feed and you're not sure what they like.
Because it's a simple cake with basic ingredients and no fruit or cream, it is easy to transport.
Get This German Butter Cake Recipe
Easy Lemon Cake
While the exact origin of lemon pound cake is uncertain, it is believed to have originated in Europe. And to this day, it's still a very popular cake in Germany!
This moist lemon cake recipe is easy to make and sure to be a hit with any lemon lover! The simple, drizzled icing gives it a deliciously sweet flavor. It's amazing how far a little real lemon zest and a handful of other ingredients can go.
Get This Lemon Cake Recipe
Vanilla Pudding Cake
Last, but certainly not least, we have Vanilla Pudding Cake. This version is made with yeast dough as the base, vanilla pudding (made from scratch or made from a package), and, of course, more crumbs – aka Streusel – on top!
Get This Vanilla Pudding Cake Recipe
