by: Gerhild Fulson / Cookbook Author, Blogger, German Oma!
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This Butter Cake recipe, aka Butterkuchen (sometimes called Zuckerkuchen), is a traditional German cake often served for afternoon coffee.
There's nothing quite like enjoying German cakes, especially at coffee time. That coffee time, Kaffeeklatsch, happens every day at our house at 3 pm.
If you drop by then, you may just find this delectable Butterkuchen on the table, served with my Mutti's Sammeltassen (collectable cups) that she lovingly brought back from Germany.
German butter cake is a delicious yeast cake that is light and fluffy with a sweet gooey buttery topping. It's so good when served still warm from the oven with a dollop of whipped cream and a hot cup of coffee or hot tea!
In the photo above, this butter cake is simply topped with sugar and sliced almonds.
Butterkuchen (butter cake) and Zuckerkuchen (sugar cake) are used interchangeably for this classic German sweet cake recipe because this simple yeasted sheet cake is traditionally topped with lots of butter and sugar.
Whatever you call it, it is absolutely WUNDERBAR!
This is a recipe you'll love to get your hands into ... it's fun to knead!
But if you are hesitant to make this German butter cake recipe because you haven't worked with yeast before, don't worry; it's actually quite simple and easy to make. Follow these tips and you may just find yourself making yeast cakes quite often.
The yeast dough for this butter cake recipe is a basic cake yeast dough that can be used in many different recipes.
Enjoy warm and delicious Butterkuchen with your favorite drink!
Instead of using a jelly roll pan, I'll sometimes divide the dough into two springform pans. That way, I can top one cake with butter, sugar, and almond slices and the other with butter and a cinnamon-sugar mixture. YUM!
You can also add sour cream to the topping resulting in a completely different cake.
Another delicious alternative is to cover the dough with a streusel topping.
Streusel is so easy to make when you keep the following ratios in mind.
I usually make this using 1 cup sugar, 1 cup butter, and 2 cups flour. However, if you're wanting more or less, just adjust accordingly.
Mix together quickly (I often use a pastry cutter) until you have a crumbly mixture. Crumble it on top of your unbaked cake. You may need to add a few minutes extra to the baking time.
Do you have a bread machine? You do? Then, you can make even quicker work of this recipe.
If you're looking for a really, really easy version of this cake, then check out my other German Butter Cake Recipe that uses a bread machine to make the dough. Faster. Easier. Just as delicious!
Grab your copy of Oma's favorites in her Special Occasion German Cakes & Tortes e-Cookbook.
Take a peek at all Oma's eCookbooks. They make sharing your German heritage a delicious adventure!
I have so many wunderbar memories in the kitchen with my Oma, and have had MANY of her most popular and traditional recipes, like this authentic German butter cake!
I've enjoyed this recipe multiple times in Oma's kitchen and it's become one of my favorites by far! Served with her homemade mouth-watering whipped cream, now that's a good dessert! My favorite part of this recipe is taking a great big spoonful of whipped cream and plopping it over the top.
This is such a great choice for dessert when having company over. I know it sure did impress me when I first had it at Oma's! It seems like such a simple dessert and it is! Simple, but the absolute yumminess with each and every bite is absolutely wunderbar.
Oma has made this recipe so easy to make and with little hints and tricks to help you along the way of your kitchen journey!
This recipe goes so well with a hot cup of coffee or peppermint tea. Just sit back, relax, and take in all those delicious German flavors! Take my word for it, when Oma makes it, it is ALWAYS delicious.
Learn a little bit about me, Lydia, and my kitchen adventures with Oma!
As with anything made with yeast, this tastes best served the same day it is made. Served still slightly warm from the oven with a bit of whipped cream, it is absolutely YUMMY!
Perfect for special occasions or for afternoon kaffee und kuchen (coffee and cake).
This Butter Cake recipe, aka Butterkuchen (sometimes called Zuckerkuchen), is a traditional German cake often served for afternoon coffee.
It's a delicious yeast cake that is light and fluffy with a sweet gooey buttery topping. It's so good when served still warm from the oven with a dollop of whipped cream and a hot cup of coffee or hot tea!
Prep Time
90 minutes |
Cook Time
25 minutes |
Total Time115 minutes |
Makes 20 pieces
Yeast Dough
Simple Topping
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Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com
10.02.2022 revision update
Leave a comment about this recipe or ask a question?
Pop right over to my private Facebook group, the Kaffeeklatschers. You'll find thousands of German foodies, all eager to help and to talk about all things German, especially these yummy foods.
Meet with us around Oma's table, pull up a chair, grab a coffee and a piece of Apfelstrudel, and enjoy the visit.
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For the full recipe, scroll up ...
Words to the Wise
"Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed."
Proverbs 11:24-25 (NLT)