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5 from 3 votes

Authentic German Cheesecake Recipe - Käsekuchen

Käsekuchen is a traditional German cheesecake made with creamy quark cheese and a buttery crust. This delightful dessert is perfect for any occasion and pairs wonderfully with coffee or dessert wine.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Cooling Time2 hours
Total Time3 hours 30 minutes
Course: Baking, Dessert
Cuisine: German
Keyword: German Cheesecake, Käsekuchen, Traditional German Dessert
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 350kcal

Equipment

  • 1 10-inch springform pan

Ingredients

For the Crust:

  • 1½ cups All-Purpose Flour
  • ½ cup Sugar
  • ½ cup Unsalted Butter cold and cubed
  • 1 large Egg
  • ½ tsp. Baking Powder
  • 1 pinch Salt

For the Filling:

  • 2 lbs. Quark cheese or substitute with a mixture of ricotta and Greek yogurt
  • 1 cup Sugar
  • ½ cup Heavy Cream
  • 4 large Eggs
  • ¼ cup Cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp. Vanilla Extract
  • 1 Zest of Lemon
  • 1 tbsp. Lemon Juice
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Crust:

  • Prepare Dough: In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the egg and mix until a dough forms.
    1½ cups All-Purpose Flour, ½ cup Sugar, ½ cup Unsalted Butter, ½ tsp. Baking Powder, 1 pinch Salt, 1 large Egg
  • Chill Dough: Form the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  • Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  • Roll Out Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to fit a 10-inch (25cm) springform pan. Press the dough into the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Prick the bottom with a fork.

Filling:

  • Mix Filling: In a large bowl, beat the quark cheese until smooth. Add the sugar, heavy cream, eggs, cornstarch, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Mix until well combined and smooth.
    2 lbs. Quark cheese, 1 cup Sugar, ½ cup Heavy Cream, 4 large Eggs, ¼ cup Cornstarch, 1 tbsp. Vanilla Extract, 1 Zest of Lemon, 1 tbsp. Lemon Juice
  • Pour Filling: Pour the filling into the prepared crust and smooth the top.

Bake:

  • Bake Cheesecake: Bake in the preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until the center is set and the top is lightly golden. Turn off the oven and let the cheesecake cool in the oven with the door slightly ajar for 1 hour.
  • Cool Completely: Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 350kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 135mg | Potassium: 62mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 495IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg