German Cheesecake

Our traditional German Cheesecake (Käsekuchen) has a crunchy crust and a rich, creamy filling that is full of sweet and tangy flavors and has a melt-in-your-mouth texture.

This recipe is a perfect example of how a few simple ingredients combined with a bit of time can take your baking to the next level.

Similar to the Cherry Crumb Cake (German: Kirschstreusel), this German recipe calls for basic ingredients like eggs, flour, butter, and sugar.

But wait, no cream cheese? That's right. Unlike American cheesecakes, this German cheesecake doesn't use any cream cheese. In Germany, we'd use an ingredient called quark. Sadly, this is an ingredient that's very hard to find in the US, but I have a simple solution that will guarantee the same taste you'd find in a German cheesecake. 

So, come along as I show you how to make this German delicacy in your own kitchen.

Why This Recipe Works

TRADITIONAL - This is a traditional, slightly modified for the American market with easy-to-find ingredients. 

TASTE AND TEXTURE - The crust has a buttery sweet flavor, and the filling is rich and creamy with sweet and tangy notes. 

MAKE AHEAD - You can easily make the cheesecake a day in advance. 

Ingredients

Please check the recipe card below for a detailed, printable ingredient list.

BUTTER - This is a classic German recipe, and that means we'll need butter. And quite a bit. All of the butter should be unsalted butter. For the shortcrust pastry, you need softened, room temperature butter. I recommend removing four sticks of butter from the fridge about an hour before you start baking.

EGGS - You'll need a total of seven eggs. However, you will only need the egg yolk for the crust. You can use the spare egg white for an omelet or save it for another dish. The remaining six eggs are for the filling. And you'll need to separate the egg yolks from the egg whites. 

VANILLA - You'll need vanilla extract for both the filling and the crust. In Germany, we'd use vanilla sugar, but unlike in my Vanillakipferl Cookie recipe, you don't need to make an extra trip to buy

SUGAR - For the crust, I prefer confectioner's sugar (powdered sugar) which I quickly sift through a small sieve. For the filling, I prefer granulated sugar. 

FLOUR - You'll need all-purpose flour for the crust and the filling. 

LEMON - One large lemon is perfect. I like to go with an organic lemon simply because we're going to use not just lemon juice but also lemon zest. But that's obviously optional. Conventional or organic, make sure you wash the lemon thoroughly before zesting. 

BAKING POWDER - Will give our cheesecake filling a nice rise. 

CORN STARCH - This helps to stabilize the filling. 

SALT - I add about one-quarter of a teaspoon to the crust as well as the filling. 

GREEK YOGURT - This is a key ingredient. Make sure to use 0% fat Greek Yogurt. I've linked to the brand I like best. I have a whole section further in the blog post where I go into more detail explaining why this is the best quark alternative.

But don't I need Quark? 

So, let's address the elephant in the room. Some readers have pointed out that this recipe isn't a traditional German cheesecake because I am not using quark. 

Yes, quark is an essential ingredient in German cheesecakes. That's true. It's an ingredient that's incredibly easy to find in Germany. Even the tiniest German supermarket will have several types of quark. 

But unfortunately, quark is almost impossible to find in regular US grocery stores. 

You can sometimes find it in very select supermarkets but at outrageous prices. I've made and eaten German cheesecakes for decades, and there are a few workarounds. 

Quark Substitutes

METHOD 1 - First, you can make your own quark. It's not particularly hard. But it's time-consuming, and most of us don't have this kind of time. 

METHOD 2 - Secondly, you could use sour cream, ricotta cheese, or cottage cheese. I've tried all of these in the past and have not been happy with the results. Some of them make very tasty cheesecakes. But they don't have the same taste/texture that you'll find in a traditional German Cheesecake. 

BEST METHOD - The third and best option for us Americans is to use Greek Yogurt. Specifically, 0% fat Greek Yogurt. The brand I link to is the best substitution you will find. The taste and texture come so close to a German Cheesecake made with quark that you'll be hard-pressed to spot a difference. 

Like milk in the US, quark comes in a lot of varieties full-fat, skim, 0% fat, and low-fat. In Germany, I'd use not just regular quark but something called "Magerquark" (0% quark); thus, I recommend choosing 0% fat Greek Yogurt. 

Tools 

To make this recipe, you will need to have the following tools on hand.

SPRINGFORM - You will need a springform for this cake recipe. I recommend a 10-inch springform. If you have a 9-inch springform, that's fine, too. But you might have a little bit of the filling left over. 

MIXER - You can use a hand mixer or a stand mixer to make the filling. But you can also make this recipe without any mixers. Just keep in mind that it will take a while to beat the egg whites until they stiffen. So although our grandmothers might have done it by hand, I do recommend an electric mixer. 

BOWLS - Set aside three bowls.

1. The first bowl is to make the crust.
2. Use the second bowl to beat the egg whites.
3. And the third bowl is to combine the remaining ingredients for the filling. This should be the largest bowl.  

ROLLING PIN - You will need this to roll out the dough for the crust.

How To Make A German Cheesecake

This is a summary overview of the recipe; for more detailed steps, please read the printable recipe card below. 

The cake consists of two components: a pastry crust and cream filling. 

Crust

1. BEAT powdered sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until creamy. Add the diced cold butter and flour and beat until crumbly. Transfer dough onto a work surface and knead with your hands into a dough ball. 
2. ROLL - Roll the dough out large enough to cover the bottom and sides of your springform cake pan. Transfer the rolled-out dough to the springform pan and raise the dough up the sides. Use a fork to poke multiple holes in the bottom of the crust.  

Filling

1. EGG WHITES - Separate egg whites and egg yolks into two large bowls. Beat the egg whites until stiff and set aside.
2. FILLING - Beat egg yolks, sugar, lemon juice, zest, vanilla extract, and melted butter until creamy. Stir in the cornstarch, baking powder, and flour. Once well combined, add the Greek yogurt. Carefully fold the stiffened egg whites into the flour mixture.
3. BAKE - Pour the filling into the crust-covered springform pan and bake for 60 minutes at 350° Fahrenheit. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes. Use a butter knife and gently run it between the crust and the springform. Open the clasp and remove the springform ring. Allow the German cheesecake to rest for at least 2 hours. 

Storage

FRIDGE - You can store freshly baked German Cheesecake for up to 4 days in the fridge. Make sure that you place the leftover pieces in an airtight container or a cake storage container. 

This is important because this cheesecake will easily take on the fragrance of other items you might store in your fridge, such as garlic or onions.

Two Classic Types of Käsekuchen

Käsekuchen, or German Cheesecake, is one of the most famous German cakes.

If you visit Germany, you'll get to experience German bakeries. They are everywhere.

You'll often find two types of Käsekuchen on display: a plain one and one with raisins.

If you like raisins, add a cup to the filling before pouring it into the springform.

TIP: Sprinkle the raisins with a bit of flour before adding them to the filling. This will prevent the raisins from sinking to the bottom of the dough.

How to pronounce Käsekuchen

But when you're in that German bakery, you won't have to point to Käsekuchen silently!

More Delicious German Desserts

Spekulatius Cookies - gently spiced cookies

Strawberry Cheesecake Bars - creamy and refreshing

Glühweinkuchen - German Mulled Wine Cake

Vanillekipferl - delicious almond crescent cookies

Sandkuchen - easy German Bundt Cake

Bienenstich - German Bee Sting Cake