Zwetschgenkuchen facts for kids
A piece of Zwetschgenkuchen
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| Alternative names | Quetschekuche, Zwetschgendatschi, Prummetaat |
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| Type | Sheet cake or fruit pie |
| Main ingredients | Yeast dough or shortcrust, zwetschgen |
Zwetschgenkuchen (say "TSVETSH-gen-koo-ken") is a yummy German cake. It is also called Pflaumenkuchen or Zwetschgendatschi. This cake is a type of sheet cake or fruit pie. It is made with a thin layer of dough. This dough can be either yeast dough or a crumbly shortcrust pastry.
The dough is spread onto a baking sheet. Then, it is covered with lots of pitted zwetschge plums. These are a special kind of plum. Zwetschgenkuchen is very popular in summer. People enjoy it in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Different Names and Places
This plum cake has many different names. The name often depends on where you are.
- In Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland, it is called Quetschekuche.
- In Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and parts of Austria, it is known as Zwetschgendatschi.
- In the Rhineland and Eifel regions, people call it Prummetaat.
The word "Datschi" might come from "detschen" or "datschen". These words mean "pinching" in a local dialect. This makes sense because the plums are often pressed or "pinched" into the dough.
Sometimes, Zwetschgenkuchen is served with Streusel. Streusel is a crumbly topping made from butter, sugar, and flour. But the original recipe for this cake does not have any toppings. It is served plain.
Where Did It Come From?
Some people believe this cake was first made in Augsburg, Germany. Augsburg is a city in Bavaria. The cake is seen as a special dish for this city.
People say the way the plums are placed on the cake looks like the "Zirbelnuss." This is a pine cone symbol. It is part of Augsburg's city coat of arms. Because of this, Augsburg is sometimes called "Datschiburg."
How People Enjoy It
In some parts of Germany, like the Palatinate and Rhenish Hesse, people eat Zwetschgenkuchen for lunch. They often have it with potato soup or vegetable soup. It is eaten as the main meal.
In Saarland, people eat it with bean soup. They even have a special name for this meal: "Bibbelschesbohnesup un Quetschekuche." This means "bean soup and plum cake."
