Air Fryer German Crumb Cake Recipe – Luftfritteuse Streuselkuchen

by: Lydia Fulson  /  Writer, Artist, Traveler, Granddaughter & Ever-Learning German Cook

Use your air fryer to make this German crumb cake recipe. You'll find that it tastes just like the ones your Oma used to make, but it's quicker and easier to make.

This cake is so versatile, perfectly sized, and that lecker streusel topping will make you feel like you're back home in Germany as you savor every bite. Making this cake in the air fryer saves you time and energy, and it comes out just as if you made it in the actual oven!

I've made this cake many times before with Oma, but in the picture above, you can see my first one made in the Vortex Plus air fryer! 

In this German streusel cake, I made it with poppyseed filling inside, which made for such a decadent flavor and a delicious pair for a hot cup of coffee.

Oma and I may have used poppyseed filling, but the possibilities are endless, such as rhubarb, cherries, plums, apple slices, peaches, jams, and the list can go on and on. Speaking of peaches ... keep on scrolling to see my wunderbar peach streusel cake! 

If you can't quite understand something in the recipe, you can check out my video where I'm showing you step-by-step how to make a successful and wunderbar German streusel crumb cake!

What If I Don't Have Vanilla Sugar?

If you don't have homemade or store-bought vanilla sugar on hand, don't worry, there's a simple substitute. I used 1 to 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract and added it in with the liquids.

My Mutti's way of making it is made easily by adding vanilla extract right into the granulated sugar and mixing in a small bowl. This is a great substitute because it can be made with ingredients that we always have on hand.

So, if you're like me and forget to double-check your ingredients list ... no need to panic. There's always a solution!

If you'd like to make your own for your peach streusel cake, you can use my Oma's recipe for homemade vanilla sugar.

Grab your copy of Oma's favorites in her Special Occasion German Cakes & Tortes e-Cookbook.

Take a peek at all Oma's eCookbooks. They make sharing your German heritage a delicious adventure!

The History of Streuselkuchen

Did you know that streusel was originally from Poland?

But of course, one can't keep something so yummy to oneself. Eventually, it became popular in other European countries, like your lovely home, Germany.

The English translation of Streuselkuchen translates to crumb cake, which is exactly as it sounds. Streusel are crumbs made up of butter, sugar, and flour, that you scatter on top of something, and my, is it ever good.

Kuchen is a cake that is often made using yeast dough. Traditionally, this kuchen would be served with some kind of nuts baked within or a popular fruit. Pecans would often be the nut of choice for this cake.

Streuselkuchen is such a well-known dessert in Germany. If you stumble upon a cafe, it's almost a guarantee that you can find this tasty treat inside! It is served in so many different ways nowadays, but the ones made by my Oma are my favorites. Now she's passed the recipes onto me so that I can share them with you!

Tada! Here is my refreshing and yummy-beyond-belief peach streusel cake. This recipe is so easy. There are no complicated ingredients or steps to take along the way.

My only challenge while making this cake was trying not to snack on the bits of streusel as I was crumbling them over the peaches ... but what's a good baker if they don't taste test first, right? :) 

This one was such a delight to make and even more delightful in taste. My peach streusel cake was also made in the Vortex Plus Air Fryer. There are so many great advantages to making this cake in the air fryer rather than in the oven. 

By making it in the air fryer, you save 10 minutes just on baking time alone. You also don't have to wait so long for your big oven to preheat because the air fryer does it in 5 minutes ... now that's a time saver for sure.

I know that my least favorite part of cooking/baking was waiting 20 long minutes for my oven to preheat while my tummy is grumbling. Now, I can be ready in minutes! 

Intrigued yet? Keep on scrolling to find my recipe! :)

Ready to bake this streusel cake?

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Print Recipe

Air Fryer German Crumb Cake Recipe – Luftfritteuse Streuselkuchen

Use your air fryer to make this German crumb cake recipe. You'll find that it tastes just like the ones your Oma used to make, but it's quicker and easier to make.

This cake is so versatile, perfectly sized, and that lecker streusel topping will make you feel like you're back home in Germany as you savor every bite. I based this recipe on my Oma's plum cake.

I used the Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven to make this delicious cake. If you have something different, no problem. Simply adjust settings and cook time accordingly. 

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Servings:

Makes 9 slices

Ingredients:

Cake Ingredients:

• 1 cup & 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1½ teaspoons baking powder
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla sugar
• pinch salt
• ¼ cup Greek yogurt
  
• 2½ tablespoons milk
• 2½ tablespoons light olive oil
• 1 can peach slices, well drained or other filling (See hints)

Streusel Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup granulated sugar
  
• ½ cup cold butter
  

Instructions:

1. Preheat air fryer to 325°F on bake. Grease a 8x8-inch baking pan with a removable bottom and line with parchment paper.
2. Into a large mixing bowl, mix flour, baking powder, sugar, vanilla sugar, and salt. 
3. Add yogurt, milk, and oil and using dough hook, mix for a minute or so until dough holds together (do not over-beat!) ... if you wish, you can just use a wooden spoon to mix and then knead lightly with hands.
4. Press dough into pan and place peach slices in rows on top of the dough.
5. Mix together the flour, sugar, and cold butter to make streusel dough. Crumble over top of the peaches.
6. Bake at 325°F on middle shelf for 40 minutes or until top is lightly browned. 

Notes/Hints:

• When choosing a filling for your cake, avoid pie fillings. They have too much liquid and don't hold together as nicely.
• Alternate fillings can be cherries, plums, sliced apples, or jams. Poppy seed filling, either homemade or canned filling is super yummy!
• If your pan doesn't have a bottom that comes off for easy access, make yourself a parchment paper sling. The sling will allow you to carefully lift it out of the pan!
• Don't place your pan right on the bottom inside the air fryer to bake. Your heat source comes from the top, so having it too low would extend the bake time. Place one of your trays on the middle shelf and set your pan on the tray. This way, your cake is right in the middle and has enough heat circulating around to give a nice even bake.

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Air Fryer German Crumb Cake Recipe ~ Luftfritteuse Streuselkuchen

By Lydia Fulson

Use your air fryer to make this German crumb cake recipe, Luftfritteuse Streuselkuchen. You'll find that it tastes just like the ones your Oma used to make, but it's quicker and easier to make.

Ingredients: flour, baking powder, sugar, vanilla sugar, salt, Greek yogurt, milk, oil, canned peaches,

For the full recipe, scroll up ...

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Bake & Cook Just Like Oma

Grab all four paperback cookbooks for under your tree!

More about me >

Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.