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    Home » Recipes » German Recipes

    German Fruit Flan - Easy and Fast Obsttorte Recipe

    Published: May 6, 2022 · Modified: May 6, 2022 by Angela Schofield · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    If you're a fan of desserts with cake and fruit, then you'll love this German fruit flan. This simple and easy-to-make cake combines an airy sponge cake layer with a light buttercream and a fresh fruit topping. It's perfect for a special occasion or just for enjoying on a lazy day.

    German fruit flan also known as Obsttorte or Obstkuchen in Germany is a delicious easy to prep cake that can be made from start to serving in less than one hour! That is why this quick dessert is the go-to recipe in Germany when unannounced visitors ring the doorbell in the afternoon.

    If you have visited Germany, you probably have noticed that cake is a must for many people at the famous German coffee hour at 4 pm. when people enjoy to visit friends or meet in one of the cozy cafes to chat and enjoy the famous German Gemütlichkeit with a cup of coffee and a slice of cake.

    What is a German Flan?

    A German flan is a sponge cake based cake that is topped with a layer of buttercream or vanilla custard and fresh or canned fruit. The cake is glazed with a clear or red fruit glaze to preserve the cake.

    This recipe is the quick and easy version of a German fruit flan but you can find the recipe for a Konditorei (German patisserie) version of a German strawberry torte here. The torte is the richer and fancier version of this sponge cake. It combines a sponge cake and a shortcrust layer that are filled with a luxurious amount of creamy vanilla custard and topped with fresh strawberries and a flavorful glaze.

    If you want to take advantage of the speed and easiness of this recipe but don´t want to miss out on a rich vanilla buttercream flavour, then top the cake layer of this recipe with the creamy vanilla pudding buttercream and canned fruit.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Top Tip
    • How to Serve
    • Video Tutorial
    • Recipe

    Ingredients

    The ingredients for the Tortenboden aka Obstboden can be made from just a few ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry.

    What is a Tortenboden also known as Obstboden?

    A Tortenboden also known as Obstboden is a simple sponge cake layer that is usually baked in a tart pan. You can buy premade Tortenboden at bakeries and in supermarkets in Germany. But with this recipe you can make your Obstboden with just a few ingredients in way less time than a run to the shops.

    What is Tortenguss?

    Tortenguss is a cake glaze powder. It is conveniently sold in small pouches in Europe. Water or fruit juice is added to the powder and cooked to a glaze in only a few minutes. The glaze is used to preserve fruit on flan cakes and tarts.

    How to Pronounce Obsttorte in German?

    Click on the play button to hear how to say Obsttorte in German.

    Ingredients for German Flan cake: eggs, sugar, oil, flower, baking powder

    Ingredients for the Tortenboden aka Obstboden (cake base) and the toppings:

    • 4 eggs
    • ⅔ cups sugar
    • ⅔ cups flour
    • 9 tbsp. neutral vegetable oil
    • 1 ¾ tsp. baking powder
    • 1 tsp. vanilla extract (optional)
    • 1 stick butter
    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 1 tsp. almond extract or vanilla extract
    • 16 oz. strawberries
    • 8 oz. blueberries
    • 1 pouch Tortenguss or homemade fruit flan glaze

    See recipe card for quantities.

    Instructions

    Use this section for process shots, alternating between the step and image showing the step. Users don't like seeing process shots cluttering up the recipe card, so include your process shots here.

    whisking egg with sugar

    Start by adding room temperature eggs and sugar to a mixing bowl.

    whisking eggs to a light and fluffy texture

    Beat until light and fluffy.

    adding oil to the micing bowl

    Add oil and mix well.

    sifting flour to the mixing bowl

    Sift flour to the mixture.

    folding flour into egg mixture

    Fold flour into the batter.

    spraying tart pan with oil

    Spray a fruit flan pan lightly with oil.

    pouring cake batter into a baking pan

    Pour batter into the pan. Bake for 25-30 min. at 350°F in a pre-heated oven.

    cutting strawberries

    In the meantime clean berries and cut strawberries into halves.

    mixing powdered sugar with soft butter in a white bowl

    Whisk soft butter and powdered sugar.

    spreading buttercream on a cake that lays on a glass cake plate

    Spread buttercream on the completely cooled cake.

    preparing cake glaze in saucepan

    Prepare fruit glaze. Set aside to cool slightly.

    adding glaze to fruit cake

    Place berries onto the cake and glaze.

    Hint: You can prepare the sponge cake layer the day before and add the buttercream and the fruit the next day.

    Substitutions

    • Low Carb - use almond flour instead of all-purpose flour and a keto friendly sweetener to enjoy this cake with less carbs.
    • Butter - use melted butter instead of oil to give this cake a delightful buttery flavor.
    • Native Coconut Oil - swap the neutral vegetable oil for native coconut oil to give this cake a tropical touch.
    German fruit flan cake with slices of kiwi, orange mandarins, strawberries and grapes. Decorated with dollops of whipped cream and chocolates.

    Variations

    Try these additions and swaps to enjoy different variations of this wonderful cake.

    • Tropical - use mango, pineapples, bananas and other tropical fruit instead of strawberries.
    • Vanilla Custard - prepare a box of instant vanilla pudding and use it instead of buttercream.
    • Chocolate - Sprinkle some chocolate shavings over the cake or add some heavy cream dollops with a chocolate as garnish.

    You prefer plums? Try this authentic German plum cake recipe on my website!

    Equipment

    I like to beat my eggs in a stand mixer. It takes about 5 minutes to beat the eggs with the sugar to a fluffy, light texture. But you can also us a hand mixer to achieve a great result. Please keep in mind that this will take a few minutes longer.

    Storage

    German fruit flan tastes best fresh but you can store it for several days covered in the fridge.

    The sponge layer freezes well, just make sure to thaw it at room temperature.

    Top Tip

    Use a common round cake pan if you don´t have a fruit tart pan.

    How to Serve

    Traditionally German fruit flan is served with a generous dollop of heavy cream and a freshly brewed cup of coffee.

    Video Tutorial

    Recipe

    German fruit flan cake with strawberries and blueberries on a glass cake plate.

    German Fruit Flan - Obsttorte

    German fruit tarts are a delicious way to enjoy the season and taste best with ripe, fresh fruit.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 24 mins
    Course Cake
    Cuisine German
    Servings 14 pieces
    Calories 189 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Tortenboden - Cake Base

    • 4 eggs
    • ⅔ cups sugar
    • ⅔ cups flour
    • 9 tbsp. neutral vegetable oil
    • 1 ¾ tsp. baking powder
    • 1 tsp. vanilla extract optional

    Buttercream

    • 1 stick butter
    • 1 cup powdered sugar
    • 1 tsp. almond extract or vanilla extract

    Topping

    • 16 oz. strawberries fresh
    • 8 oz. blueberries fresh

    Glaze

    • 1 pouch cake glaze or recipe

    Instructions
     

    • Add room temperature eggs and sugar to a mixing bowl and beat until light and fluffy.
    • Add oil and mix well.
    • Sift flour to the mixture and fold in.
    • Spray a fruit flan pan lightly with oil and add cake batter.
    • Bake for 25-30 min. at 350°F in a preheated oven.
    • Allow to cool completely in the pan.
    • In the meantime, wash berries and tap dry. Remove stems and cut strawberries into halves.
    • Add soft butter to a bowl and mix to a creamy texture.
    • Sift powdered sugar to the bowl and mix until smooth.
    • Spread evenly on the completely cooled cake layer.
    • Place berries onto the buttercream.
    • Prepare glaze according to the package instructions or prepare a homemade fruit flan glaze.
    • Carefully cover all fruit with the lukewarm glaze and allow to cool completely.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1pieceCalories: 189kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 3gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 64mgSodium: 71mgPotassium: 151mgFiber: 1gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 282IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 43mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword easy, quick
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Slice of German fruit tart on a white plate with mint and strawberry decoration.
    « Homemade Strawberry Liqueur - Strawberry Limes

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    Angela Recipe Developer at All Tastes German.

    Guten Tag, I'm Angela,
    Herzlich willkommen to our German food lovers family. I am so happy you are here! I love share my favorite authentic German recipes with you and tell you about some about my homeland Germany.

    More about me →

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