Käsetorte

Käsetorte is a cake from German-speaking regions whose filling is based on soft cheese such as Quark, a fresh curd cheese, or cream cheese, combined with sugar, eggs, and flavorings such as vanilla or lemon zest. The filling is usually placed on a biscuit crust or a light sponge base. Depending on the recipe, the cake is baked or prepared as a chilled, no-bake dessert.

Traditional Käsetorten often have a mild, creamy texture with a gentle tang from the cheese. In baked versions the batter becomes semifirm through gentle heat, while no-bake versions depend on a gelling agent such as gelatin or whipped cream to hold the filling together. Some versions are layered, with cheese cream between sponge layers or within a biscuit crust.

Quark is widely used in German-speaking countries and is preferred for a lighter texture, whereas cream cheese is common in many modern or international recipes. The crust can vary from a butter-based shortcrust to a crumbly biscuit base, sometimes with a thin jam layer between crust and filling.

Käsetorte is typically served chilled and cut into slices. It is often garnished with fresh berries, fruit compote, or a light glaze and is a common dessert in homes, bakeries, and cafés across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.