Oma's Königskuchen: German King's Cake (Fruit Cake) Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the most famous German cake? ›

Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (known as Black Forest gâteau or Black Forest cake in other parts of the world) is something for which we can never thank the Germans enough.

One of the most of the traditional holiday baking recipes made in Germany is Königskuchen, aka "King's Cake." It's a non-yeast raisin and currant-filled fruit cake baked in its own traditional loaf pan.

The Roman fruitcake was a mash of barley, honey, wine and dried fruit, often pomegranate seeds. What you might recognize as a modern-style fruitcake – a moist, leavened dessert studded with fruits and nuts – was probably first baked in the early Middle Ages in Europe.

Baumkuchen (German pronunciation: [ˈbaʊ̯mˌkuːxn̩]) is a kind of spit cake from German cuisine. It is also a popular dessert in Japan. The characteristic rings that appear in its slices resemble tree rings, and give the cake its German name, Baumkuchen, which literally translates to "tree cake" or "log cake".

A common misconception is that German Chocolate Cake comes from Germany. In fact, the name comes from American baker, Samuel German, who developed a type of dark baking chocolate in 1852.

The world's most famous cake, the Original Sacher-Torte, is the consequence of several lucky twists of fate. The first was in 1832, when the Austrian State Chancellor, Prince Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, tasked his kitchen staff with concocting an extraordinary dessert to impress his special guests.

A Rosca de Reyes, Kings Cake, from Mercado Little Spain. In Spain, the cream-filled pastry -- which is similar to a sweet bread -- is referred to as "roscón de reyes," a confection that chef and humanitarian José Andrés is very familiar with for Día de Reyes, or Three Kings Day.

Learn the origins of this traditional German dessert and how to make it! Kuchen (pronounced “koo-ken”) is the German word for “cake,” but a real kuchen is so much more than that!

The name “king cake” comes from the Biblical story of the three kings who bring gifts to Baby Jesus. A blend of coffee cake and cinnamon roll, king cake is usually iced in yellow, green and purple – the colors of Mardi Gras -- and is frequently packed with fruit fillings and decadent cream cheeses.

Sugar helps to stabilize the amount of water in the fruits, which helps to prevent bacterial growth. Another added benefit to using sugar to preserve fruits? It prevents oxidation and helps fruit keep its firm texture, instead of getting mushy. #2: The Density of fruitcake.

Does fruitcake go bad? ›

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, these seemingly indestructible pastries typically stay fresh for six months in the pantry and up to a year when refrigerated. But anecdotally we know that they can last for decades; some of the oldest have been preserved for more than a century.

Fruitcakes were so rich, they were considered sinful and were outlawed in Europe in the early 18th century. Restrictions eased later in the century.

The high price is mainly due to the way the cake is made – it really is an elaborate craft. This is another reason why Baumkuchen is served as the “king of all cakes” on special occasions such as at Christmas.

There are two possible explanations of the origin of the name “Baumkuchen”, which translates as “tree cake”. One is that the cake is baked on a wooden stick (tree). The second, much more popular explanation, is that if you cut the cake into rings, you can see all the layers, which look like the annual rings of a tree.”

Another story tells of a dim sum chef's wife creating a pastry with wintermelon paste influenced by a recipe from her mother's family. The new pastry was found to taste better than the dim sums that were being sold in teahouses, and the chef proudly told everyone it was made by his wife, hence it was named "Wife Cake".

Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte is Germany's most famous dessert. It's also known as Black Forrest Cake.

Here are some of the most popular German cakes and desserts: Black Forest cake (Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte): This famous cake consists of several layers of chocolate sponge cake, whipped cream, and cherries soaked in kirsch, a cherry liqueur.

German Fruitcake

Stollen: Flattened with a chewy crust, Stollen is often baked more like a traditional loaf of sourdough bread. Stollen also forgoes the usual candied cherries and pineapple in exchange for citrus zest, candied citrus peels, raisins, and almonds.