Ever since coming back from Berlin I can’t stop thinking about German cake!

Maybe it’s the fault of the World Cup too, since I’m supporting the German team, and in my twisted mind I associate the German Fussball Elf with German cake. Don’t ask me why, but I do. Name Podolski, Klose or Müller to me and I see German crumble pastries, apple cakes and a famous brand of yoghurt in front of me.

If I could, I’d eat the whole team! In fact, if they win the World Cup I shall make 11 different German inspired dishes – all in honour of the boys. Oh dear, now I kinda wish they won’t make it.

In case you’re wondering, I’m writing this post whilst watching the Germany Spain match. So far, so boring. It’s 0:0. So I hope my cake talk will boost the German performance and distract the Spanish defense.

Daaaaamn!!!!! Now Spain just scored a goal! Damn! Think harder about cake!! Go boys, go, honour the country of the best cake!!! (sorry, but the Spanish really can’t compete with German pastries!)

Anyway, over to what this post is really about: a heavenly German Kuchen. It’s got a nice proper cake base, topped with some creamy vanilla pudding, juicy cherries, tangy rhubarb and buttery crumble. A match made in Fussball heaven – em sorry, Freudian slip – in cake heaven!

The cake was inspired by a Dr. Oetker baking book I bought on my Berlin trip. Fabulous book, full of yummy inspiration. One of the cakes in it had a pudding layer underneath the fruit topping, so I thought that sounds well nice.

The Germans make some great ready-made pudding powder. I’m normally not the ready-made kinda gal, but believe me, Müller, Mondamin and Dr. Oetker and co pull it off! You just mix hot milk into the powder mix and you get a great pudding.

If you can’t get ready-made pudding powder, I’d suggest going for custard powder, but using less milk so it’s not too runny. If you haven’t got custard powder, why not try Mowie’s’ grandma’s pudding. She’s German, so she must make a mean pudding! Plus Mowie told me it’s super easy to make, so I think it’s well worth a try!

For this recipe I actually only used one packet of pudding powder, but I’d strongly recommend using two, since most of the pudding had been absorbed by the dough once it was baked. So, unless you don’t like pudding on your cake, go for a double portion of pudding.

You can use any fruit for this cake. I was planning on making a pure cherry cake, but ended up throwing in some leftover rhubarb – which actually complimented the cherries beautifully.

Ahhhh, no, no, NO! Spain just won the half final!!! NOOOO!!! Oh well, instead of a celebratory cake, this is then going to be a ‘things-are-going-to-get-better’ and ‘well-done-boys’ cake.

Still, I think that Octopus Oracle deserves a slap up its tentacles! Bloody thing! Let’s hope it predicts a great cake season next! At least then we have something to celebrate!

Anyway, enough football for this season and for this blog. I hope you’re all enjoying the end of the World Cup, and may the best team win! ★