This strawberry kuchen falls into the classic American fruit desserts, made with whatever fruit was fresh and in season. My German family loved getting together on weekends, and a Kuchen, was always on the table near a pot of coffee. The cake is a bit denser than your average sponge cake, and more like a pound cake texture. Scatter fresh strawberries and a scoop of home made vanilla custard on top before serving!
What is a Kuchen?
Kuchen translates to cake in German. It’s a tradition in Germany to break in the afternoon for kaffee (coffee), cake, and conversation. It allowed neighbors a reason to get together sharing food and conversation. In America, Kuchen refers more to a breakfast pastry filled with fruit or cheese with a yeasty dough, and there are many variations of a kuchen!
Is it Similar to Cake?
The traditional kuchen has more of a pastry crust and is less sweet than your average cake. The batter is doughy, and you will find many recipes that include yeast. However, I’ve omitted the yeast in this strawberry kuchen, because it’s already pretty doughy with the ingredients in it.
What Fruit Filling Can You Use?
Kuchen’s are so versatile and can be made with any fresh summer fruit. The most popular fruit filling is peaches, but here are some more suggestions for you!
- Apricots
- Cherries
- Plums
- Raspberries
- Nectarines
- Huckleberries
- Blueberries
So How Do You Make It?
Cream the butter and sugar first, and add yolks one at a time. The flour I love using it Bob’s all purpose flour. The shredded coconut will thicken the batter a lot, making the mixture pretty dense. If it’s too doughy, add a tablespoon of milk. You can mix the fruit into it, but I love thinly sliced strawberries to arrange on the top of the cake. Use a simple 8 or 9 inch round cake pan greased with butter. Let the kuchen cool for ten minutes, before slicing just like you would a pie. Add a scoop of ice cream. I am obsessed with Nada Moo’s new vanilla bean flavor. Garnish with one fresh strawberry and serve with coffee in the afternoon to your neighbors and friends!
How to Make a Strawberry Kuchen
A kuchen is the German world for cake, and is a mash up of cake, pie, and a fruit topping. Serve with a scoop of home made vanilla custard!
- Prep Time15 min
- Cook Time40 min
- Total Time55 min
- Ready in1 hour
- Yield8 slices
For the burger
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1.5 cups Bob’s all purpose flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup Bob’s shredded coconut
- 2 egg yolks and 1 large egg
- 1.5 teaspoon salt
- 1.5 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 cup oat milk
- 2 cups strawberries
- 1 teaspoon turbinado sugar for topping
Preparing the spices
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk flour with baking soda and salt and set aside. Add in coconut.
In another bowl, cut butter into flour mixture. Blend until fluffy with an electric mixer. Add one egg at a time.
Use a rubber spatula to stir in the flour mixture and oat milk, alternating and starting with the flour first
Grease a round 8 or 9 inch cake pan. Pour the batter into the pan, and line with cut strawberries. Bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool for ten minutes before slicing like you would a pie.
Sprinkle more coconut on top with a little turbinado sugar. Serve with ice cream and some more fresh strawberries.
