Easy German Strawberry Cake (Erdbeerkuchen)

This German strawberry cake is the perfect recipe to celebrate the strawberry season. This cake recipe is so simple, yet impressive – it is a real crowd pleaser.  Juicy strawberries are sinking into a creamy vanilla pudding layer which sits on a delicious sponge base. Sold yet?

I always loved German fruit cakes, because they tend to be full of freshness but not too sweet. Simply refreshing. This simple strawberry cake recipe is no exception. It is one of the first recipes that springs to my mind when we are getting close to strawberry season in German.

What is Strawberry in German?

Strawberry in German is “Erdbeere” literally translated as “earth berry”. The term Erdbeerkuchen is strawberry cake in German.

Strawberries are available to buy in the supermarket all year round in Germany. However, you can taste the difference when buying them out of season, they just don’t have the same sweetness. 

Strawberry Season in Germany starts at the end of May and ends in August. 

Strawberries are also very easy to grow at home. Depending on which variety you buy, you could harvest your own homegrown strawberries all year long. Check out this post on how to grow strawberries at home.

About this German Strawberry Cake Recipe

This is a wonderfully moist German cake recipe that is perfect for hot summer days. Vanilla and strawberries are a wonderful combination of complimenting flavours. The recipe is quite simple, but required a bit of time. It is not a cake where you throw all the ingredients into one bowl. You create each delicious layer individually.

The term to describe these cakes, which are not made in a round cake form are described as "Blechkuchen" (Traycakes).

Vanilla Pudding in German Baking

Vanilla pudding is used a lot in German cooking. It can stand as a dessert by itself, and is used to fill pastries and cakes. 

I have posted in detail how to make German Vanilla Pudding from Scratch. It is not as hard as you think. All you need is milk, sugar, a vanilla pod (or vanilla essence, vanilla sugar), egg yolks and cornstarch.

In Germany, people use ready-made packs. They are not as easy to find in the UK or US unless you buy it online. (affiliate links) 

In the UK you can replace these with Angel delight, although I don’t think they have the same vanilla flavour. You can also try the thick creamy custard.

German Strawberry Cake Ingredients

German sponge cake base ingredients

• 250 g (9 oz) butter at room temperature 
• 200 g (7 oz) sugar
• 2 tsp (1 packet) vanilla sugar or alternatively 1 tsp vanilla essence. 
• 1 pinch of salt
• 6 medium-sized eggs
• 100 gr (3.5 gr) single cream
• 250 g (9 oz) flour (Germany type 405, UK plain flour, US Pastry flour) 
• 1 tsp baking powder

Strawberry Vanilla topping ingredients

• 1 pack Dr Oetker vanilla pudding mix or use my homemade Pudding recipe
• 500 ml of milk
• 40 gr (1.4 oz) sugar
• 1 kg (35 oz) fresh strawberries 
• Fresh mint to garnish (optional)

Cake Recipe Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 180 Fahrenheit
2. Using a stand or hand mixer, whisk the butter and sugar until creamy. Add the vanilla sugar and salt and mix. 
3. Now add in the eggs one by one while mixing continuously. Now pour in the cream. Lastly sieve in the flour and baking powder. Mix until you achieve a soft fluffy batter. 
4. Pour or spread the cake into a greased cake tin. Mine was 30 x 40 cm. 
5. Bake in the oven for around 30 minutes. To check if the cake is done, stick a skewer in the middle. If it comes out clean, it is done. Leave to cool. 
6. Prepare the vanilla pudding mix according to instructions. Set aside to cool. 
7. Wash and remove the stems from the strawberries. Quarter or half them as you like. 
8. With a pallet knife, spread the vanilla pudding over the cake. Now place the strawberries on top and garnish with some mint leaves (optional). 
9. Leave to cool until serving. 

How to serve German Strawberry Cake?

In Germans you would typically enjoy this cake for “Kaffee and Kuchen”. (German cake time, which typically takes place in the afternoon.) It is also a great cake to serve at children’s birthday parties or as a light refreshing dessert after a BBQ (Grillfest).

For the extra treat, why not serve this cake with some freshly made whipped cream? 

Can I use frozen strawberries for this cake?

I do not advise you to use frozen fruit for this recipe, fresh will guarantee the wow factor. Frozen strawberries may be too mushy for this cake. However if you have some frozen strawberries to use up, then I suggest this almond strawberry cake.

This post was originally published in June 2014 and updated in February 2021.

If you like this recipe you might enjoy these cake recipes:

• Blueberry Almond Cake
• German Waffles
• German Poppyseed Cake
• Hazelnut Cake
• German Red Wine Cake
• Fanta Cake

German Strawberry Cake (Erdbeerkuchen)

Marita Sinden

A delicious German sheet cake made with a sponge base, vanilla pudding topping and fresh strawberries

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 30 mins

Total Time 50 mins

Course Cakes, Dessert

Cuisine German

Servings 8 people

Equipment

• baking tray (form) mine was 40 x 30 cm, (12 x 16 inch)

Ingredients

  

German sponge cake base

• 250 g butter 9 oz, at room temperature
• 200 g sugar 7 oz
• 2 tsp vanilla sugar 1 packet or alternatively 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 1 pinch salt
• 6 eggs medium size, at room temperature
• 100 gr single cream 3.5 oz
• 250 gr flour 9 oz, Germany type 405, UK plain flour, US pastry flour
• 1 tsp baking powder

Strawberry & Vanilla Pudding Topping

• 1 pack Dr Oetker Vanilla Pudding mix or 1 portion of my homemade German Vanilla Pudding
• 500 ml milk 16 fl oz
• 40 gr sugar 1.4 oz
• 1 kg fresh strawberries 35 oz
• fresh mint to garnish optional

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 180°C  or 356°F
• Whisk the butter until creamy, using a hand mixer. Slowly start adding sugar, the flavoring and salt. While mixing at high speed add the eggs in one by one.
• Now add in the eggs one by one while mixing continuously. Now pour in the cream. Lastly sieve in the flour and baking powder. Mix until you achieve a soft fluffy batter. 
• Pour or spread the cake into a greased cake tin. Mine was 30 x 40 cm. (12 inch x 16 inch)
• Bake in the oven for around 30 minutes. To check if the cake is done, stick a skewer in the middle. If it comes out clean, it is done. Leave to cool. 
• Prepare the vanilla pudding mix according to instructions. Set aside to cool. 
• Wash and remove the stems from the strawberries. Quarter or half them as you like. 
• With a pallet knife, spread the vanilla pudding over the cake. Now place the strawberries on top and garnish with some mint leaves (optional). 
• Leave to cool until serving. 

Keyword authentic german recipe, german fruit cake, traditional german strawberry cake