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Afternoon Kaffee, Breakfast, Cake, Recipes  /  May 22, 2022

Cherry Coffee Cake (Kirschkuchen)

by Red Currant Bakery
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A moist and tender Cherry Coffee Cake, or cherry crumb cake – known in Germany as kirschkuchen, with a thick crumb topping and a combination of fresh and canned cherry filling.

Overhead view of a slice of kirschkuchen on a white plate with a drizzle of heavy cream.

Kirschkuchen can be made in many different ways but it almost always uses tart cherries. This version uses both tart and sweet cherries so that you get the flavor of the tart cherries with the bite and texture of the dark sweet cherries. The crumb/streusel layer makes this into a bit of a coffee cake even though it doesn’t have cinnamon in it – although it would be delicious to add a little cinnamon to the cherry filling and the streusel.

What is Cherry Coffee Cake?

Cherry Coffee Cake is a fun summer version of a classic coffee cake. It has a vanilla cake batter topped with tart and sweet cherries, and finished with buttery streusel. Plus because there’s fruit it definitely could be eaten for breakfast.

Can I use frozen cherries in a cake?

Yes! I prefer to use fresh cherries because they have amazing flavor and texture. But if you can’t find them simply substitute 150 grams of frozen cherries.

What is the crumb topping on a Cherry Crumb Cake made of?

The crumb is made of simply all purpose flour, granulated sugar, butter, and a splash of vanilla extract. It’s similar to a simple cookie dough!

Tips for making Kirschkuchen

  • Allow the cooked tart cherry filling to cool fully before starting on the cake, it’s best to add it at room temperature to the cake batter.
  • To pit the fresh cherries, either use a cherry pitter or I have found that a straw pushed through from top to bottom of the cherry works wonders!
  • Make sure all the ingredients are at room temperature – this will help get a smooth and fluffy cake batter.
  • To make sure the cake comes out of the pan cleanly – spray the pan with a baking spray that also has flour in it, or line the base of the springform pan with parchment paper/silicone baking mat.
  • Let the cake cool for 10 minutes before releasing the spring form so that it has a chance to set slightly.

Additional Breakfast Cakes to try!

  • Marmorkuchen | German Marble Bundt Cake
  • Cranberry Orange Gugelhupf
  • Zitronenkuchen | German Lemon Cake
Overhead view of all ingredients needed for Cherry Coffee Cake.

Ingredients for Cherry Coffee Cake

  • Cornstarch: Cornstarch helps thicken the cherry filling and keeps it from being too wet with the cake. Arrowroot starch can be used as a substitute.
  • Sugar: White granulated sugar is used in the cherry filling, streusel, and cake batter.
  • Lemon: Lemon juice highlights the tart cherry flavor in the filling.
  • Tart Cherries: Canned or jarred tart cherries can be used or this filling, ideally find cherries in water rather than in syrup.
  • All Purpose Flour: Any all purpose flour will work for this cherry crumb cake! I have not yet tried any other flours with this recipe – the flour is in both the vanilla cake base as well as the crumb topping.
  • Baking Powder: Baking Powder helps the cake rise so ensure that it is not expired.
  • Vanilla Extract: Vanilla adds flavor and enhances the sweetness of the cake.
  • Eggs: I use standard large eggs from the store.
  • Butter: Butter adds moisture and richness to this vanilla cake base as well as the streusel.
  • Fresh Cherries: Fresh dark sweet cherries are used in combination with the tart cherry filling, ideally use fresh cherries and pit them but alternatively frozen cherries can be used as well.
Cherry Coffee cake topped with vanilla custard sauce and powdered sugar.

How to make Cherry Crumb Cake?

Cherry Filling

  • In a small sauce pot whisk the corn starch and sugar together.
  • Whisk in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to create a paste and then add in the second tablespoon of lemon juice, followed by the two tablespoons of cherry water/juice.
  • Place the pot over medium heat and cook until it begins to thicken, stirring constantly.
  • Once thickened, add in the drained cherries and stir to combine. Switch to a rubber spatula to prevent the cherries from getting stuck inside the whisk.
  • Continue cooking and stirring until the mixture is thick, try not to smush the cherries too much.
  • Pour the tart cherry filling into a shallow bowl to allow it to cool quickly.
  • Rinse and pit the fresh cherries.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 F and place a rack in the center of the oven.
Process images showing how to make a tart cherry filling.

Make the Streusel

  • In a medium bowl whisk together the flour and sugar. Then add in the butter and vanilla.
  • Rub the butter into the dry ingredients using a fork until all of the butter has been fully mixed in.
Process images showing how to make buttery streusel.

Vanilla cake batter

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and sugar. Then add in the remaining ingredients. Using a paddle attachment beat the ingredients first on medium and then turn it up to high for about 15 seconds.
  • Spray a spring form pan with baking spray or line it with parchment paper/silicone baking mat.
Process images showing how to make the vanilla cake batter base.

Assemble and Bake the Kirschkuchen

  • Pour the vanilla cake batter into the lined springform pan. Use a rubber spatula to level out the surface of the cake.
  • Spread the tart cherry filling over the vanilla cake. It’s easiest to dollop it in a few spots on the surface and then try to spread it out.
  • Evenly distribute the fresh cherries over the surface of the cake.
  • Clump the streusel and sprinkle it over the cherry layers.
  • Place the cake into the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes. Rotate the cake 180 degrees and bake for 30 more minutes.
  • Once baked, remove from the oven and leave to cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack, then remove the spring form ring.
  • Ideally allow the cake to cool for at least 20 more minutes before cutting into and serving.
  • To serve, optionally top with powdered sugar and a drizzle of heavy cream.
Process images showing how to assemble and bake the kirschkuchen.
Image that requests readers to rate and review the recipe.
Overhead view of a slice of kirschkuchen on a white plate with a drizzle of heavy cream.
Print Recipe
4.75 from 4 votes

Cherry Coffee Cake | Kirschkuchen

A moist and tender Cherry Coffee Cake, or Kirschkuchen, with a thick crumb topping and a combination of fresh and canned cherry filling.
Prep Time45 mins
Cook Time1 hr
Total Time1 hr 45 mins
Course: Afternoon Kaffee, Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American, German
Keyword: cake, cherries, Streusel
Servings: 12
Calories: 374kcal

Equipment

  • Spring Form Pan

Ingredients

Cherry Filling

  • 14 grams corn starch can also use arrowroot starch
  • 25 grams granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons cherry juice reserved liquid from the can
  • 300 grams drained tart cherries about 1 can, liquid reserved
  • 200 grams dark sweet cherries stems removed, pits removed after weighing

Streusel

  • 175 grams ap flour
  • 125 grams granulated sugar
  • 125 grams butter soft
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Vanilla Cake

  • 150 grams ap flour
  • 150 grams granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 eggs room temperature
  • 125 grams butter soft
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Cherry Filling

  • In a small sauce pot whisk the corn starch and sugar together. 
  • Whisk in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to create a paste and then add in the second tablespoon of lemon juice, followed by the two tablespoons of cherry water/juice. 
  • Place the pot over medium heat and cook until it begins to thicken, stirring constantly.
  • Once thickened, add in the drained cherries and stir to combine. Switch to a rubber spatula to prevent the cherries from getting stuck inside the whisk.
  • Continue cooking and stirring until the mixture is thick, try not to smush the cherries too much. 
  • Pour the tart cherry filling into a shallow bowl to allow it to cool quickly.
  • Rinse and pit the fresh cherries.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 F and place a rack in the center of the oven. 

Streusel

  • In a medium bowl whisk together the flour and sugar. Then add in the butter and vanilla.
  • Rub the butter into the dry ingredients using a fork until all of the butter has been fully mixed in.

Vanilla Cake Batter

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and sugar.
  • Add in the remaining ingredients.
  • Using a paddle attachment beat the ingredients first on medium and then turn it up to high for about 15 seconds.
  • Spray a spring form pan with baking spray or line it with parchment paper/silicone baking mat.

Assemble and Bake

  • Pour the vanilla cake batter into the lined springform pan.
  • Use a rubber spatula to level out the surface of the cake.
  • Spread the tart cherry filling over the vanilla cake. It's easiest to dollop it in a few spots on the surface and then try to spread it out. 
  • Evenly distribute the fresh cherries over the surface of the cake.
  • Clump the streusel and sprinkle it over the cherry layers. 
  • Place the cake into the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes. Rotate the cake 180 degrees and bake for 30 more minutes.
  • Once baked, remove from the oven and leave to cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack, then remove the spring form ring. 
  • Ideally allow the cake to cool for at least 20 more minutes before cutting into and serving.
  • To serve, optionally top with powdered sugar and a drizzle of heavy cream. 

Notes

This cake is pretty easy just make sure the cherry filling is room temperature and the oven is preheated before starting on the cake batter. Once baked it will be hard to resist cutting into the cake immediately but it will hold together best if you can let it cool for a total of 30 minutes. It can also be prepared the night before, stored in an airtight container and then enjoyed in the morning!
 
This cake stays moist for a long time because of the cherries but I recommend eating it within 3-4 days to prevent mold from growing.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 374kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 181mg | Potassium: 89mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 571IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 2mg

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18 comments

  • Josephine
    May 27, 2022

    need ingredients in us cups,tablespoons etc.

    Reply
    • Red Currant Bakery
      June 7, 2022

      Hi Josephine, thank you for your note. I don’t include imperial measurements in my recipes because I find metric measurements and using a scale to be much more accurate and less messy. If you have the ability I highly recommend switching over to use a scale when measuring for baking!

      Reply
  • Isobel
    June 22, 2022

    4 stars
    Pretty good! I agree that having to convert everything is tough. Especially since they all convert exactly to almost exactly to cups and tablespoons…. Overall I enjoyed this cake. Next time I would use more vanilla and add extra cherries. I think almond flavor would be delicious as well!

    Reply
    • Red Currant Bakery
      June 26, 2022

      Hi Isobel, thank you so much for your review! I can imagine that converting would be difficult – I definitely recommend if possible to get a scale. It will help make things more accurate, easier, and you will have less dishes to do! I love the idea of adding almond flavor to this cake!

      Reply
  • Mary
    June 25, 2022

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious! Everyone loved it! One question, the center came out a little gooey. Does the toothpick doneness test work on this type of cake?

    Reply
    • Red Currant Bakery
      June 26, 2022

      Hi Mary, I’m so happy to hear that everyone loved it! Unfortunately the toothpick test won’t work well on this cake because it has to pass through the cherry layer. One thing you can check for is to see if the streusel in the middle has started to become golden brown and dry out or if it still looks very wet. I hope that helps!

      Reply
      • Mary
        June 27, 2022

        5 stars
        What size springform pan should I use?

        Reply
  • cherie
    July 4, 2022

    5 stars
    Everyone loveed this cherry cofee cake… i did not have any cannned cherry on hand so just made cherry compote with fresh cherries
    Mine baked at 45 mins and it was the most perfect crumb and topping
    Delicious.. would be definitely making ot once more
    Thanks for this lovely receipe

    Reply
    • Red Currant Bakery
      July 5, 2022

      Hi Cherie, Oh I’m so happy to hear that you all loved it and I love the idea of only using fresh cherries! Thank you so much for your review!

      Reply
  • Linda
    September 22, 2022

    What size springform pan did you use? I went back and reread but did not see the size. Can’t wait to hear back, so I can make your Cherry Coffee Cake. I have just recently started to use a scale and yes, you are correct, the recipe is more accurate and easier. I was hesitant at first, but it does work. Love your recipes.

    Reply
    • Red Currant Bakery
      September 23, 2022

      Hi Linda! I used a 9″ spring form pan but you could also use a cake pan. I hope you enjoy and I’d love to hear what you think!

      Reply
  • Linda
    September 23, 2022

    What size springform pan is used for this recipe.

    Thanks

    Reply
    • Red Currant Bakery
      September 23, 2022

      Hi! Sorry about that, I used a 9″ spring form pan!

      Reply
  • Lola
    February 8, 2023

    What is the yellow sauce in the picture? (On too of the cake) and where is the recipe for it?

    Reply
    • Lola
      February 8, 2023

      **top

      Reply
    • Red Currant Bakery
      February 10, 2023

      Hi Lola! It’s a German Vanilla Custard sauce called Vanilla Soße and I have a recipe for it on the blog! Just search for Vanilla Sauce in the search bar.

      Reply
  • Nancy
    February 24, 2023

    I love seeing and looking at ALL your recipes.
    Love the Reels you post as well. The recipe is easy to find and thank you for having a link to print it.
    I am saving this for my future daughter in laws Bridal shower in April.. Can’t wait .

    Reply
    • Red Currant Bakery
      February 27, 2023

      Aww thank you so much Nancy! I hope you all love it!

      Reply

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Audrey Leonard - Owner of Red Currant Bakery

Hi my name is Audrey! I am a
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