by: Gerhild Fulson / Cookbook Author, Blogger, German Oma!
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German crumb cake recipes, aka Streuselkuchen, are quick and delicious treats to make for your family and friends. These traditional cakes, which are so easy to make, look so pretty, too.
Traditionally, the German Streusel cake you find in a German bakery is made with a yeast dough. This one isn't. That means it's quicker to make and easier for those who struggle with yeast dough. And, it's SO good!
The fruit and flavorings can be changed to provide variation. What doesn't change though for making crumb cakes, is the standard streusel warning below!
For variety, you can use different fruit and flavorings; apple slices nestled under the crumbly topping taste so good, but peach slices, pear slices, halved plums, or pitted cherries are also delicious.
Even just jam works in a pinch. You'll be able to create various crumb cakes this way.
What is needed though, is a cup of coffee and that dollop of whipped cream served on the side. In Germany, everything is better with whipped cream! Or, be a rebel and add a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Yum!
If you like working with yeast, then you'll want to go to this recipe for my German Peach Cake with Streusel shown below.
The above recipe uses a bread machine to make quick work of the dough, but it has a link to use a stand mixer if you prefer. Check it out.
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Generally speaking, streusel is an easy recipe made using all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, and cold butter in a ratio of 2:1:1. That means, 2 cups flour to every 1 cup sugar and 1 cup butter. That's really the easiest way to remember this.
There are, of course, variations.
If I'm making an apple crumb cake recipe, or actually most apple recipes, I'll use whatever type of apple I have on hand, although Mackintosh, Golden Delicious, and Mutsu are especially tasty.
I also like using Granny Smith - my all-time favorite apple for both eating and baking apple cake!
This recipe has NONE of this: “yeast mixture” or “let the dough rise at a warm room temperature in a draft-free place” or make sure you're using “active dry yeast or should that be instant yeast”!
Instead, it's as simple as:
1. Gather all your ingredients.
These are just simple pantry ingredients along with a couple of apples from your crisper. Use any variety you have. Easy Peasy.
2. Grab your kitchen machine, a hand mixer, or just your big wooden spoon and get mixing.
Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl, and then beat in the eggs. Mix the dry ingredients together and add alternately to the bowl along with the milk.
3. And, after a few minutes, your dough is done. You'll notice it's quite a thick dough, and that's how it should be. Spoon it into a prepared baking pan. Use an offset spatula to help spread it into all the corners.
Once it's all nice and even, prepare your apples.
4, Peel and slice them and layer them over the top of the dough. Don't be too concerned about how they look. You can shingle them in rows. However, once they are covered by the streusel, you won't see your handiwork.
Just make sure the apple slices are in an even layer. If you wanted to, you can use pear or peach slices, or even a combination of these. Halved and pitted plums as well as pitted cherries make wonderful substitutions, as well.
5. Then make your streusel. Either use the cold butter and hands method, or melt the butter and mix into the flour and sugar mixture with a fork.
Above, you'll see I used the melted butter method. It goes so much quicker, and we actually like the results better.
However, to be totally traditional, use the cold butter and hands method.
6. Use your hands to break up the streusel pieces and crumble it over the fruit.
Once you have evenly covered the entire cake with the streusel, the cake is ready to be put into the oven. Oh, you can also sprinkle with some sliced almonds, if you wish.
7. Bake until it has a lovely golden, browned top.
Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 10 minutes before you cut into it.
It really does taste best warm from the oven, but it's also a treat served at room temperature.
Yummy with freshly whipped cream or ice cream.
German crumb cake recipes, aka Streuselkuchen, are quick and delicious treats to make for your family and friends. These traditional cakes, which are so easy to make, look so pretty, too.
Traditionally, the German Streusel cake you find in a German bakery is made with a yeast dough. This one isn't. That means it's quicker to make and easier for those who struggle with yeast dough
Prep Time
15 minutes |
Bake Time
45 minutes |
Total Time60 minutes |
Makes 16 servings
Cake Ingredients:
Streusel Topping Ingredients:
Instructions:
To make Streusel Topping:
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Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com
07.28.2024 revision update
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