Quark Mini Cheesecakes with Fresh Blackberries (German Käsekuchen)
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These Quark Mini Cheesecakes or German Käsekuchen are delightful and surprisingly easy desserts. Perfect for brunch, afternoon tea, or dinner guests. Topped with fresh seasonal berries, they are incredibly delicious.
My niece, who is living and teaching in Germany with her husband, recently asked me if I’d ever tried Quark. She had made and posted to Instagram a beautiful cheesecake she’d just made in her southern Germany kitchen. Armed with a raving review of Luisa Weiss’ Russischer Zupfkuchen, I was on a mission to find Quark.
It was a surprisingly easy mission. My neighborhood Seattle based Metropolitan Market was well stocked with quark. I also understand Whole Foods and Trader Joes carry it as well.
What is Quark?
Luisa Weiss explains, “Quark, a sour, fresh cheese that is often compared—erroneously, in my opinion—to ricotta, is essential to the German kitchen. Quark is sourer than ricotta and lighter, too, unless you are lucky enough to find a source for [the super thick] Sahnequark (cream Quark), in which case you should simply drizzle it with a little honey or fold in fresh berries, and dig in for a decadent treat.”
It’s also been described as, “a spoonable cheese from Germany that’s poised to be the next high-protein, low-calorie hotshot in US dairy aisles.”
Health Note
Prevention Magazine says, “Like Greek yogurt, quark is ridiculously high in protein, packing up to 17 g or more per 6 ounces. It’s also just as high in good-for-you probiotics as the Greek stuff.”
Food Intolerance Network reports that quark is a great substitute cheese for those with lactose intolerance.
Quark Mini Cheesecakes with Fresh Blackberries (German Käsekuchen)
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 Mini Cheesecakes 1x
Description
These Quark Mini Cheesecakes or German Käsekuchen are delightful and surprisingly easy desserts. Perfect for brunch, afternoon tea, or dinner guests. Topped with fresh seasonal berries, they are incredibly delicious.
Ingredients
crust:
1 cup crushed graham cracker crumbs
2 tablespoons butter melted
1 tablespoon sugar
filling:
1/2 cup butter, melted (1 stick)
2 cups Quark
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 tablespoon cornstarch
topping:
1 cup fresh berries
mint sprigs
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
Combine the graham crackers, melted butter and sugar. Spoon evenly into the 12 lined muffin cups and using a 1/4 cup measure, tap down the crumbs. Set aside.
In a large bowl, beat together the melted butter, quark, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and cornstarch until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Portion the batter into the 12 muffin cups.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the center is mostly set. Turn the oven off and cool in the oven with the door ajar for 10 minutes. Remove to a metal rack to cool completely. The center will deflate slightly as it cools making it perfect for the berry topping you’ll add just before serving. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.
To serve, remove paper liners, top with fresh berries of choice and fresh mint sprigs.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: German
