German Names of the 50 Most Common Cakes

Germany is famous for its rich and diverse cake culture, with each region boasting its own specialities. From classic sponge cakes to nutty delights and fruit-filled pastries, German cakes (Kuchen and Torten) offer something for every sweet tooth. In this post, we’ll explore 50 of the most common cakes in Germany, their German names, and a brief description of each.

1–10: Classic German Cakes

1. Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte – Black Forest Cake (chocolate sponge, cherries, whipped cream, Kirschwasser)

2. Sachertorte – Dense chocolate cake with apricot jam (origin: Austria, but popular in Germany)

3. Frankfurter Kranz – Buttercream and caramelized hazelnut-covered ring cake

4. Donauwelle – Chocolate and vanilla layered cake with cherries and buttercream

5. Bienenstich – “Bee Sting Cake” with yeast dough, cream filling, and caramelized almond topping

6. Baumkuchen – “Tree Cake,” a layered spit cake often coated in chocolate

7. Marmorkuchen – Marble Cake (vanilla and chocolate swirled pound cake)

8. Butterkuchen – Flat yeast cake topped with butter and sugar

9. Kalter Hund – No-bake chocolate biscuit cake (also called “Kalte Schnauze”)

10. Streuselkuchen – Crumb Cake with a sweet streusel topping

11–20: Nutty and Spicy Cakes

11. Nusskuchen – Nut Cake, often with hazelnuts or walnuts

12. Haselnuss-Sahnetorte – Hazelnut Cream Cake

13. Mandelkuchen – Almond Cake, sometimes with marzipan

14. Zimtsterntorte – Cinnamon Star Cake (inspired by the Zimtstern cookies)

15. Gewürzkuchen – Spiced Cake, usually with cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom

16. Lebkuchentorte – Gingerbread Cake (Lebkuchen-flavored sponge)

17. Spekulatiuskuchen – Speculoos Cake, using the famous spiced cookie flavor

18. Linzer Torte – Shortcrust pastry with raspberry jam (Austrian but common in Germany)

19. Engadiner Nusstorte – Caramelized walnut tart from Switzerland, popular in Germany

20. Basler Leckerli Kuchen – Swiss-style spiced honey cake with nuts

21–30: Cheesecakes and Cream Cakes

21. Käsekuchen – German-style cheesecake, often made with quark

22. Russischer Zupfkuchen – “Russian Pluck Cake,” a cheesecake with chocolate dough pieces

23. Quarkkuchen – Quark-based cheesecake, similar to Käsekuchen

24. Eierschecke – Layered cheesecake with a custard topping (common in Saxony)

25. Rahmkuchen – Cream Cake, similar to a custard tart

26. Sahnetorte – Generic term for cream cakes

27. Erdbeer-Sahnetorte – Strawberry Cream Cake

28. Himbeer-Sahnetorte – Raspberry Cream Cake

29. Zitronen-Sahnetorte – Lemon Cream Cake

30. Schokoladen-Sahnetorte – Chocolate Cream Cake

31–40: Fruity Delights

31. Apfelkuchen – Apple Cake (simple sponge cake with apples)

32. Versunkener Apfelkuchen – “Sunken” Apple Cake (apples pressed into the batter)

33. Rhabarberkuchen – Rhubarb Cake

34. Zwetschgenkuchen – Plum Cake (often baked with yeast dough)

35. Kirschtorte – Cherry Cake (without the layers of Black Forest Cake)

36. Erdbeerkuchen – Strawberry Cake (with a sponge or shortcrust base)

37. Himbeerkuchen – Raspberry Cake

38. Johannisbeerkuchen – Red Currant Cake

39. Stachelbeerkuchen – Gooseberry Cake

40. Pflaumenkuchen – Prune or Plum Cake

41–50: Unique and Regional Cakes

41. Berliner Luft Torte – Airy meringue cake with fruit and cream

42. Schmandkuchen – Sour cream cake, often with fruit

43. Grießkuchen – Semolina Cake

44. Maulwurfkuchen – “Mole Cake,” chocolate cake filled with bananas and cream

45. Kardinalschnitte – Light meringue and sponge layer cake (Austrian influence)

46. Topfenstrudel – Quark-filled strudel (Austrian but loved in Germany)

47. Gugelhupf – Traditional Bundt cake, often with raisins

48. Kartoffelkuchen – Potato Cake (made with mashed potatoes in the batter!)

49. Schoko-Bananen-Kuchen – Chocolate Banana Cake

50. Schwarzer Peter Kuchen – Dark chocolate cake with nuts

Final Thoughts

German cakes come in many varieties, from simple fruit cakes to rich, cream-filled tortes. Whether you enjoy the classic Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte or a hearty Streuselkuchen, there’s something for everyone in German bakeries.

What’s your favourite German cake? Let us know in the comments!