Radio Days Cherry Custard Kuchen

This is an old-fashioned fruit kuchen, a rich, buttery based dough, a layer of tart cherries mixed with an egg custard, and a streusel topping. This is a cherished family recipe originating from a friend of the family before WWII. Enjoy!

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 25 mins
• Total Time: 55 mins
• Calories: 204 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup white sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup white sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup milk
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 ½ cups sifted all-purpose flour
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 pinch ground cinnamon (Optional)
• ¾ cup unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon milk, or as needed
• 1 pinch ground nutmeg (Optional)
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• 3 eggs at room temperature
• 2 (16 ounce) cans pitted sour cherries, drained

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking dish. Whisk together 1 1/2 cup of sifted flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.

Step 2

With a pastry cutter, chop the unsalted butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs; mix in 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of milk, creating a dough; if dough seems dry and crumbly, mix in additional milk, a teaspoon at a time. Pat the dough into the prepared baking dish, and sprinkle the cherries evenly over the dough.

Step 3

In a bowl, sift 3/4 cup of sugar with 2 tablespoons of flour; whisk in the 3 eggs and 3/4 cup of milk until smooth. Mix in cinnamon and nutmeg if desired; pour the mixture over the cherries. In a small bowl, using a pastry cutter, chop 2 tablespoons of butter with 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/2 cup flour until crumbly; sprinkle the streusel over the custard mixture.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven until the custard is set and the streusel is lightly browned, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve warm or cold; refrigerate leftovers.