These German Cake Recipes Are Sure To Please You or Your Guests!
Searching for traditional German “Kuchen” recipes? You’re in the right place if you want great German cake!
From rich German cakes to cakes with loads of fruit or crumbs (Streusel), to cakes you whip together 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 – 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” also seems to be a very popular cake. However, unlike the name suggests, it doesn’t actually originate 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 this cake on our list.
Instead, we’re focusing on authentic German cake recipes that actually originated in Germany. So, having said that, let’s get baking. Let us know which once 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 such a delicious and popular cake. Seasonally available – because plum season is only in the fall – this classic cake can be made a few different ways. Our version is with a yeast cake base, with fresh plums on top that are covered in deliciously 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 German 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 yeast 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 in the classic cake pan. Add a few (okay, a lot) of freshly 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)
Starting off with a classic German cake, this delicious German apple cake with a hint of sweet and delicious crumble on top is the perfect dessert.It's made from classic baking ingredients as well as apples and cinnamon. Although it has a really fancy look, this cake is actually fairly easy to make!
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 multi-layered dessert looks fancy and complicated but it's actually relatively simple to make. The simple butter cake base is always a hit – and the browned almonds on top make for 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 loaded with poppyseeds, German Poppy Seed Cake – also known as Mohnkuchen – is another classic cake eaten at coffee time. We made our version with a simple buttery crust. The filling can vary – we made it with poppy seeds and farina for a velvety richness. As many German cakes are, we topped it off 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 from crispy butter biscuits/cookies layered with sweet chocolate.Served chilled, the combination of crunchy and smooth textures are a delight to any chocolate lover! Since it has to be served right out of the fridge, this cake is best served at home.
Get This Kalter Hund Recipe!
Marble Cake (Classic German Marmorkuchen)
Did you know that marble cake actually originates in Germany? It's also a relatively easy cake to make. Complete with a golden-brown crust, the chocolate and vanilla swirls inside make every slice artsy and unique!It serves well with whipped cream or powdered sugar, making it a popular simple option for "Kaffee and Kuchen" (coffee and cake).
Get This Marble Cake Recipe!
German Butter Cake (Butterkuchen)
This light and yeasty German butter cake is an easy and classic German cake recipe. It's made from a simple yeast dough – and lots of butter – and finished off with sugar and sliced almonds that brown up to form a crispy, sweet top!Butter cake is one of these classic sheet cakes that you make when you have lots of people to feed and aren't sure about their preferences.Since it's a simple cake with basic ingredients and no fruit or cream, it stores well for a few days and is easy to transport, too!
Get This German Butter Cake Recipe!
Easy Lemon Cake
While the exact origin of lemon pound cake is uncertain, it's believed that it originated in Europe. And to this day it's a very popular cake to make in Germany, too!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 delicious 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 a yeast dough as the base, fresh vanilla pudding (made from scratch or made from a package), and, of course, more German crumbs – aka Streusel – on top!
Get This Vanilla Pudding Cake Recipe!
