Spice up your inbox with FREE German recipes and a free recipe ebook!

Oma's Obstkuchen – German Fruit Flan Recipe (Obsttorte Rezept)

Oma Gerhild

by: Gerhild Fulson  / Oma Gerhild shares easy, authentic German recipes you can trust—rooted in family tradition and featured in her cookbooks.

This fruit flan recipe is so quick and easy. It takes just one hour from start to table, and it's so versatile, and so pretty, and so good! WUNDERBAR!

Yes, this Obstkuchen (aka Obsttorte) really only takes one hour to mix it up, bake it, cool it, and fill it. Ratze Fatze (easy peasy)!

Not only that, but you can change this up in uncountable ways. There are so many variations, so many possibilities, so much deliciousness! Such a yummy traditional German dessert!

All you need is one bowl to mix the cake and a flan pan to bake it. Then you become creative in making this German Fruit Flan recipe your very own.

What is the difference Between Fruit Flan and Fruit Tart?

A German fruit flan has a simple sponge cake base (similar to the sponge (Biskuit) flans that are available in grocery stores to buy) made with simple ingredients: 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 6 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and 3 large eggs. That's it!

It's baked in a special pan called a flan pan or flan tin. A flan pan is round and shallow with fluted sides to give the cake a decorative outside edge and may have a removable bottom. The pan has a raised bottom to give the cake a raised edge when turned out of the pan. Not only does it look pretty, it also helps to keep the filling contained.

The simple, yet delicious, sponge cake is often spread with a layer of melted chocolate and/or vanilla pudding and topped with a variety of fruit, such as fresh berries, kiwi, peaches, etc. The fruit is then brushed with a fruit glaze (see below for more details) to give it a shiny finish and extra flavor.

A fresh fruit tart, like the classic French fruit tart, has a sweet pastry crust (known as pâte sucrée) as its base. It is baked in a round tart pan with fluted sides and a flat bottom (which can also come with a removable bottom).

The tart shell is filled with a rich pastry cream made with whole milk, heavy cream, egg yolks, cold butter, sugar, cornstarch, and vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste. The vanilla pastry cream is then topped with seasonal fruit and a glaze made from either apple jelly or apricot preserves.

Another somewhat similar dessert is a fruit pizza. Its base is a large sugar cookie dough spread with a cream cheese frosting and topped with different kinds of fruit. Unlike the fruit flan and fruit tart, it does not have a lovely fluted edge.

The one thing that ties them all together is the beautiful abundance of fresh or canned fruit spread out in concentric circles or other pretty patterns.

Fruit Flan fillings

Strawberry Obsttorte topped with kiwi ... so Wunderbar!Strawberries, kiwi, and blueberries over vanilla pudding on the Obsttorte.

In the photo above, I used what I had on hand. Vanilla pudding (instant from a box), strawberries, some blueberries, and a sliced kiwi. You can use any of your favorite fruit, or even canned fruit, and cover with a glaze.

Or, you can spread Nutella over the base and cover with strawberries.

Spreading Nutella (or melted chocolate) or pudding (or both!) helps act as a moisture barrier and prevents the cake from getting soggy from the fruit topping.

What's awesome about this fruit flan recipe is the versatility to be as creative as you like with the fillings

From Oma's heart to your table

Complete your set today - order now!

Paperback books - Just Like Oma!

Here are Some Filling Ideas Sent in by Our Facebook fans:

  • "Mine would be filled with fresh strawberries and whipped cream!!
  • "I put banana pudding underneath that way it does not get all mushy."
  • "A little vanilla crème on the bottom, topped with strawberries and clear glaze."
  • "Canned peaches (save the juice, add gelatin and pour over the peaches) and whipped cream, dust with cinnamon."
  • "Strawberries, blueberries, and peaches and a glaze."
  • "Nutella and strawberries with lots of whipped cream."

The one below is piled high with fresh blueberries and a clear glaze. Don't forget to serve with whipped cream or ice cream!

Blueberry Obsttorte ... absolutely wunderbar!lots of blueberries and a clear glaze on this obsttorte

How to decorate for the 4th of July

Here's a cool way to easily decorate this Obsttorte for the 4th of July. Fill it with vanilla pudding and then use blueberries, raspberries, and whipped cream to add the Stars and Stripes.

Here's a video I found that shows the decorating part. She uses a different cake tart base, also yummy. However, I think you'll find that my Obsttorte base, given in the recipe below, is so much quicker and easier to make.


Oma Says:

YES, this recipe really only uses 6 tablespoons of flour!

Although it seems like an unlikely small amount, it really is all that is needed to make one tart

The sponge base for this fruit flan recipe is so easy… it uses only 4-5 ingredients (the vanilla sugar is optional)!

These are ingredients you probably already have on hand. 

Because the base is so easy to throw together, always keep some pudding and canned fruit in your cupboard so you can throw together this easy dessert recipe when you're in a hurry.

Traditionally, this recipe also has 6 tablespoons of oil added. However, I've found there's very little difference in the finished cake without the oil. In fact, we like the result better without the oil.

Strawberry and Banana Obsttorte ... absolutely Wunderbar! Try making this beautiful recipe just like Oma!Strawberry jam covered with strawberries and bananas. Right after this photo, I covered with a glaze.

Above is a version I made using halved strawberries and banana slices. I spread some strawberry jam over the cake and covered the fruit with a red gelatin glaze.

You can either use a Dr. Oetker fruit glaze for this or make your own (see instructions below). If you make your own, using a red berry juice is preferable.

Alternatively, putting a layer of vanilla pudding or banana pudding is equally delicious. With a pudding layer, I frequently don't bother with a gelatin glaze.

Strawberry and Blackberry Fruit Flan ... absolutely Wunderbar! Try making this beautiful recipe just like Oma!Strawberry and Blackberry Fruit Flan with a layer of vanilla pudding

Above is the version with the vanilla pudding (I use the instant kind). A homemade vanilla custard would be wonderful here as well. In this case, I've used strawberries and blackberries with slightly sweetened fresh whipped cream served on the side.

How to make Tortenguss (Fruit Glaze)

Make your own Tortenguss (glaze) easily. For a clear glaze, choose apple or white grape juice. For a red glaze, choose a dark red berry or grape juice. If you don’t have juice, then use water, adding lemon juice and sugar to taste.

  • Stir 1 tablespoon potato starch into ¼ cup juice until dissolved. 
  • Bring ¾ cup juice to a simmer. Stir in the starch mixture and simmer until thickened, about 30 seconds, stirring constantly. 
  • Spoon over fruit. 

You can substitute corn starch for the potato starch, but the glaze will look a bit cloudy. Still tasty though!

An easy and traditional alternative is to use apricot jam. Heat it in the microwave, adding a bit of water if it’s still too thick. Pass through a sieve, cool a bit and brush on fruit. 

Ready to bake this Obstkuchen?

Oma's Obstkuchen – German Fruit Flan Recipe (Obsttorte)

Obsttorte is both quick and easy to make. Taking just one hour from start to table, it’s a great dessert to throw together when you have unexpected company dropping by. It’s so versatile, so pretty, and so good!

This fruit flan recipe might even become your top choice for special occasions. Served with a dollop of whipped cream on the side, it is absolute perfection. 

Prep Time

15 minutes

Bake Time

18 minutes

Total Time

33 minutes

Servings:

Makes 8 servings

Ingredients:

Ingredients:

  • 6 tablespoons (48 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 6 tablespoons (78 grams) granulated sugar (or 5 tablespoons granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon vanilla sugar
  • 1 teaspoon (4 gram) baking powder
  • 3 large eggs
  • filling and glaze (see Notes/Hints below)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 360°F (182°C).
  2. Grease an 11-inch flan pan.
  3. Put flour, sugar(s), baking powder, and eggs in a large bowl and mix with an electric mixer till light and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes.
  4. Gently pour batter into the prepared tin.
  5. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
  6. Let cool on rack for about 5 minutes. Turn out onto wire rack and let cool completely before filling.

Notes/Hints:

How to Fill your Obsttorte as shown above:

  • Prepare 1 package of instant vanilla pudding (using only 1¾ cups milk instead of the required 2 cups). Let pudding thicken and then spread onto cold cake base. 
  • Cover with strawberry slices and fresh blueberries. You can spread them out in a circular pattern or any other pretty design.
  • Cover with Dr. Oetker's Tortenguss (glaze)

How to Make your own Glaze (Tortenguss):

  • For a clear glaze, choose apple or white grape juice. 
  • For a red glaze, choose a dark red berry or grape juice. If you don’t have juice, then use water, adding lemon juice and sugar to taste.
  • Stir 1 tablespoon potato starch into ¼ cup juice until dissolved. Bring ¾ cup juice to a simmer. Stir in the starch mixture and simmer until thickened, about 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Let cool slightly. Spoon over fruit and let sit until set. 
  • If you are using canned fruit, you can use the juice you get by draining the canned fruit. If it's too sweet and syrupy, then dilute with a bit of water.
  • Cornstarch can be substituted for the potato starch, but the resulting glaze will be cloudy.

Alternate Glaze:

  • An easy and traditional alternative is to spread a thin layer of apricot glaze. Heat some apricot jam in the microwave, adding a bit of water if it’s still too thick. Pass through a sieve, cool a bit, and brush on fruit glaze with a pastry brush.

Other German Fruit Flan Fillings:

  • Brush tart with jam, cover with prepared fruit or berries, and spoon glaze over top.
  • Spread a little vanilla crème on the bottom, topped with strawberries and glaze.
  • Use canned peaches (save the juice to make Tortenguss) and whipped cream; dust with cinnamon.
  • Spread melted dark or white chocolate over cake, then spread a layer of vanilla pudding topped with your favorite fruit and glaze.
  • Spread Nutella over the cake and cover with strawberries and lots of whipped cream.

What to do with Leftover Fruit:

By substituting any fruits for the peaches in this Streusel Cake, you'll have another easy and delicious treat.  

Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

02.09.2022 revision update

You might like these

Join Oma's Kaffeeklatsch
Come for coffee & cake (virtually!), & you’ll discover new things about German food, recipes, & all things German.
 
Get my “Top 10 Favorite German Recipes” ebook & more … all delivered free right to your inbox from me, Oma Gerhild 🥰
 
Thanks for joining!
Keep your eyes on your inbox for my email. 

Follow Oma on Social Media:

Buy Me Coffee - thank you!

Comments?  Questions?

You can leave a comment about this recipe or ask a question...

Pop right over to my private Facebook group, the Kaffeeklatschers. You'll find thousands of German foodies, all eager to help and to talk about all things German, especially these yummy foods. 

Meet with us around Oma's virtual table, pull up a chair, grab a coffee and a piece of Apfelstrudel, and enjoy the visit.

Recent Articles

  1. White Asparagus with Easy Hollandaise Sauce: Oma's Spargel mit Sosse.

    Apr 24, 25 09:22 AM

    how to cook asparagus and ham 500
    ​This white asparagus (Spargel) recipe is a traditional German favorite, served with easy Hollandaise sauce, boiled potatoes, and ham.​

    Read More

  2. German Apple Strudel Recipe – Oma's Apfelstrudel Rezept

    Apr 21, 25 08:05 PM

    german apple strudel 600 2020
    ​This German Apple Strudel (Apfelstrudel) is a quick and easy dessert made with frozen puff pastry, delivering classic flavor without the fuss.​

    Read More

  3. German Pretzel Recipe (without lye) – Omas Soft Bavarian Laugenbrezel

    Apr 20, 25 05:09 PM

    This German Pretzel (Laugenbrezel) recipe skips the lye but still brings that golden crust and soft, chewy bite with a BAKED baking soda trick.

    Read More

Strawberry & Blueberry Obsttorte ... so easy, so quick, and so wunderbar!

Words to the Wise

"Lazy people don't even cook the game they catch, but the diligent make use of everything they find."

Proverbs 12:27 (NLT)

Just Like Oma

Copyright © | Quick German Recipes (Just like Oma) | All Rights Reserved

Powered by: Make Your Knowledge Sell!

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Quick German Recipes participates in various affiliate advertising to provide a means to earn advertising fees by linking to retail websites. This website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites. I will not promote products I do not own or would not buy myself. My goal is to provide you with product information and my own personal opinions or ideas.  At times, I will showcase services, programs, and products. I aim to highlight ones that you might find interesting, and if you buy future items from those companies, I may get a small share of the revenue from the sale. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Throughout my site, you'll find mostly photos that I've taken in my kitchen. I also feature some reader-contributed images and curated stock IMAGES BY Deposit Photos and others, offering further perspectives on recipes and all things German.

YOU SHOULD ALWAYS PERFORM DUE DILIGENCE BEFORE BUYING GOODS OR SERVICES ONLINE.

Quick-German-recipes.com does not sell any personal information