German-Russian Kuchen
A yeasted-dough tart with a rich custard filling poured over sliced fruit, most often plums, apples, or peaches. Kuchen is the signature dessert of North Dakota's German-Russian kitchens.
- Prep
- 45 min
- Cook
- 35 min
- Total
- 80 min
- Servings
- 12
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 320 kcal
Equipment
- •9x13-inch baking pan
- •Mixing bowls
Nutrition
Per serving, approximate
- Calories
- 320 kcal
- fat
- 16
- carbs
- 38
- protein
- 6
- calories
- 320
Instructions
- 1
Stir the yeast and a pinch of sugar into the warm milk. Let it sit for 10 minutes until foamy.
- 2
Add the flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, salt, 4 tablespoons butter, and 1 egg to the yeast mixture. Stir into a soft dough.
- 3
Knead the dough briefly. Cover it and let it rise for 45 minutes until puffy.
- 4
Press the dough into a greased 9x13-inch pan. Build a slight rim around the edges.
- 5
Arrange the sliced plums in an even layer over the dough.
- 6
Whisk the remaining eggs, remaining sugar, cream, and vanilla together until smooth.
- 7
Pour the custard evenly over the plums.
- 8
Scatter small pieces of the remaining butter over the top.
- 9
Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes. Bake until the custard is just set and the crust is golden.
- 10
Let it cool to room temperature before slicing and chilling.
Chef's tips
Press the dough only about a half-inch up the sides of the pan, and don't overbake — the custard should still jiggle slightly in the center when you pull it from the oven.
Storage
Refrigerate covered up to 4 days.
Reheating
Best served chilled or at room temperature; not typically reheated.
Common mistakes to avoid
- •Overbaking the custard until it turns rubbery
- •Rolling dough too thin so it can't hold the custard
Serving suggestions
Cooked German-Russian Kuchen?
Sign in to save this recipe to a collection. Bookmarking works without an account — it stays on this device.
Sign in for collectionsSimilar recipes
Dishes with the same spirit, spice level and course.
More from North Dakota
Cooking that shares the same kitchen and pantry.
Recipes using similar ingredients
Use what you already bought for this recipe.
