Grab Oma's cookbooks!    |   Free English/German Herb & Spices Chart   |   Oma's Newsletter 

Christmas Baking - Helen's Koenigskuchen

by Helen
(Powassan Ont)

Koenigskuchen (King's Cake) is a traditional German Christmas cake recipe I like to make this time of year. Although the original Koenigskuchen recipe uses all-purpose flour, I like to make it with whole wheat flour. Not only is the whole wheat healthier, it gives the cake a darker colour, similar to a regular fruitcake.

Traditional recipe is:

250 grams butter
200 grams sugar
one package vanilla sugar (or 1/2 tsp.vanilla extract)
a pinch of salt
grated peel of 1/2 lemon (or 1/2 tsp. lemon juice)
4 eggs
1/8 liter milk
350 grams all-purpose flour
1 package (one or two teaspoons) baking powder
4 tablespoons rum (I believe it helps in the leavening of the cake)
40 grams finely minced citron
150 grams each of raisins and currants.

  • Crumble the butter or margarine into a lukewarm bowl.
  • Beat until foamy, then add sugar, eggs, vanilla, salt, and lemon rind, a bit at a time, stirring continually about four to five minutes for each egg.
  • Sift together flour and baking powder and add a spoonful at a time alternating with small amounts of milk. The flour must be mixed in completely before you add the milk.
  • Then add the floured raisins and currants. The dough must stick to the spoon.
  • Bake at 175 -190 Celsius for 67 -75 minutes.
  • Dust with powdered sugar or glaze.

    My changes are:
  • I use whole wheat flour.
  • I don't use citron.
  • If I don't have currants, I add the same amount in raisins.
  • I also add one can pitted sour cherries, drained, to the dough as this gives me a drier dough. Because of the whole wheat flour, I add cherry juice till I have the right consistency.

    • Comments for Christmas Baking - Helen's Koenigskuchen

    Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

    Click here to add your own comments

    May 18, 2011
    Rating
    starstarstarstarstar     		Königskuchen in American Measurements
    by: Gerhild

    Here's the ingredient list for Helen's Königskuchen in American measurements as well as temperature in Fahrenheit.

    Ingredients:
    1 cup butter
    7/8 cup sugar
    one package vanilla sugar (or 1/2 tsp.vanilla extract)
    a pinch of salt
    grated peel of 1/2 lemon (or 1/2 tsp. lemon juice)
    4 eggs
    1/2 cup milk
    3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
    1 package (one or two teaspoons) baking powder
    4 tablespoons rum (I believe it helps in the leavening of the cake)
    1/4 cup finely minced citron
    3/4 cup each of raisins and currants.

    Instructions:
  • Preheat oven to 365° F. Use greased loaf pans.
  • Crumble the butter or margarine into a lukewarm bowl.
  • Beat until foamy, then add sugar, eggs, vanilla, salt, and lemon rind, a bit at a time, stirring continually about four to five minutes for each egg.
  • Sift together flour and baking powder and add a spoonful at a time alternating with small amounts of milk. The flour must be mixed in completely before you add the milk.
  • Then add the floured raisins and currants. The dough may stick to the spoon.
  • Fill greased loaf pans no more than 3/4 full.
  • Bake at 365° F. for 67 -75 minutes.
  • Dust with powdered sugar or glaze.
    		•
    May 18, 2011
    Rating
    starstarstarstarstar     		Koenigskuchen Recipe
    by: Anonymous

    I need the recipe translated into American! That is, cups and tablespoons and teaspoons, etc. MANY THANKS!
    Dec 04, 2009
    Rating
    starstarstarstar     		King's Cake Sounds Regal
    by: Gerhild

    Making a Koenigskuchen is going to be on my baking list for this year's Christmas celebration. The addition of the cherries is interesting. Unusual, but why not. It makes it more of a fruit cake - I like that.

    Thanks for sharing this with us.

    Click here to add your own comments

    Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Share Your German Christmas Memories.

    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. 

    I pop in all the time as well, to chat and to answer questions. 

    Meet with us around Oma's table, pull up a chair, grab a coffee and a piece of Apfelstrudel, and enjoy the visit.

    Newest Recipes

    RSS

    1. Oma's German Chicken Fricassee Recipe ~ Hühnerfrikassee

      Make this chicken fricassee recipe and you'll think you're back in Oma's kitchen. German comfort food. Originally just a 'leftover' meal, now it graces the best restaurant menus.

      Go to the recipe

    2. Oma's Top 10 German Foods with Recipes

      Oma's TOP 10 German foods that will have you thinking you're back in your Omas kitchen in Germany. Cooking and baking together, but best of all, making memories!

      Go to the recipe

    3. Oma's Apfelkuchen ~ German Apple Cake Recipe

      This German apple cake always looks amazing and tastes scrumptious! So quick and easy to make, it's just like Oma's versunkener Apfelkuchen served fresh from the oven.

      Go to the recipe

    *  *  *  *  *

    Words to the Wise

    "When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful."

    Proverbs 29:18 (NLT)