A moist sponge cake with a crispy almond topping.
Butterkuchen is a coffee cake that has a beautiful moist texture and is topped with a mixture of buttery almond slices.
How is Butter Cake called in German?
Butter cake is called either "Butterkuchen".
How to pronounce "Butterkuchen"?
Listen to this audio file to hear how to say "Butterkuchen" in German.
How to make German Butter Cake Video Tutorial
Authentic German Butter Cake Recipe
German Butter Cake - Butterkuchen
This German butter cake has a moist cake layer covered with a crispy almond layer and tastes just like it came straight from a German bakery.
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 2 cups flour
- 4 tsp. baking powder
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice
- 1 tsp. lemon extract
For the topping:
- 4 tbsp. milk
- 9 tbsp. butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 cups sliced almonds
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 400 F. (If you use a dark baking pan, reduce the heat to 375 F)
- Add all ingredient for the dough to a large bowl and mix until just combined. Make sure to don´t incorporated too much air. The air could cause a collapse during baking.
- Grease a baking pan or casserole dish. I use a clear casserole dish 9x13.
- Pour the dough into the pan and spread out evenly.
- Add butter and milk into a small sauce pan and melt on low heat.
- Add the sugar and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Add the vanilla extract and the almond slices to the sauce pan and combine well.
- Spread the almond mixture evenly over the dough.
- Bake for about 20 - 25 min. at 400 F. (If you use a dark baking pan, reduce the heat to 375 F)
- Remove the cake from the oven and allow to cool completely in the pan.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar. (optional)
Notes
TIPS:
- Ensure that your baking pan or casserole dish is at least 2 inches deep to prevent the cake from overflowing.
- To further prevent spillage, place a baking pan underneath the casserole dish before placing it in the oven.
Nutrition
Yield: 1sliceCalories: 489kcalCarbohydrates: 54gProtein: 9gFat: 27gFiber: 2gSugar: 35gNet Carbohydrates: 52g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Tip
Try variations of this recipe with your favorite nuts or a streusel topping.
Angie says
This looks really good... Think I could freeze this ? Minus the powder sugar on top. I love anything with heavy cream and almonds !!!
Angela Schofield says
Thank you. You can freeze it. Best would be in single portions and then let them thaw at room temperature and give them a 15 sec. boost in the microwave. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and it tastes like freshly baked 🙂
susan says
what size pan
Angela Schofield says
I used a 9x13 casserole pan in this video. But the measurements are very forgiving. You can adjust the size of the pan depending on how high you would like the cake.
Kathy says
I have found a butterkuchen recipe with yeast from Dr. Oetker..It's different. Which one is more popular?
Angela Schofield says
I think that depends on personal preferences. I like both, but the yeast variations is a little dry. Especially when you want to keep the cake for a few days. In the East of Germany the yeast variations like "Schlesischer Butterkuchen" are more popular in the South more the "Mürbteig" variation of this recipe.
Angela Schofield says
I used a 9x13 pan in this video. But the measurements are very forgiving. You can adjust the size of the pan depending on how high you would like the cake.
Shellie says
What size pan did you use?
Angela Schofield says
I used a 9x13 casserole pan. The recipe is very forgiving, you could use any size pan you have on hand, depending on the height you would like the cake.
Kathy Barth says
Baked this today following the recipe exactly. I greased my pan well but during the baking process the topping sunk to the bottom making it hard to cut a nice clean piece out of the pan/cake. I am a good at baking. Not sure what happened.
Angela Schofield says
Hey Kathy, I am sorry to hear that. Did you use baking powder? I had a lady with the same problem writing me and we found out she used baking soda instead of baking powder. I am pretty sure you pre-heated the oven, but other than that I am not sure what could have happened. I used a 9x13 casserole dish, what size did you use?
Liz G says
Sank in the middle. Maybe 400° is too hot for baking this cake or my pan was too small. Any siggestions?
Angela Schofield says
Hi Liz, sorry to hear that. I use a clear 9x13 casserole pan for the cake, if you use a dark pan 375 F is probably a better temperature. Overmixing the dough could be another reason why the cake sunk or the sugar was not fully dissolved in the preparation of the topping.
James Hanley says
How does this recipe resemble Entemanns German Butter Cake. Entemanns does not sell that cake anymore nor will hey give out the recipe. I loved that cake growing up and miss it to this day. I am 68! Anyway, just curious. I just made it and will see in about 20 minutes. Thank you Angela!!!
Angela Schofield says
I am sorry, James, I am not familiar with Entemanns German Butter cake, but I hope you will like the cake and you will let us know how it turned out for you. Thank you for giving the recipe a try.
Paulina says
Hi what kind of flour do i use? Will all purpose work fine? Thank you
Angela Schofield says
Hi Paulina, yes, all-purpose flour works fine.