Description
German Bee Sting Cake, or Bienenstich, is a classic German dessert featuring a fluffy sweet yeast cake, rich pastry cream filling, and a caramelized honey-almond topping. It’s an indulgent treat with a beautiful mix of textures and flavors.
Ingredients
- Dough:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
- 1/2 cup warm milk
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 tsp salt
- Almond Topping:
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
- Pastry Cream:
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 egg yolks
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract or paste
- Optional: 1/2 cup whipped cream (folded into cooled pastry cream)
Instructions
- Dissolve yeast in warm milk with a pinch of sugar. Let sit until frothy.
- Mix with flour, sugar, butter, egg, and salt until a dough forms. Knead 5–7 minutes.
- Cover and let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
- For topping, melt butter, sugar, honey, and cream in saucepan. Stir until smooth, then fold in almonds. Let cool slightly.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Press risen dough into greased 9-inch springform pan and spread almond topping evenly on top.
- Bake 25–30 minutes until golden. Cool completely in pan.
- For pastry cream, heat milk. Whisk yolks, sugar, and cornstarch in another bowl. Slowly add hot milk, then cook until thickened. Stir in butter and vanilla. Chill.
- Slice cooled cake horizontally. Spread pastry cream (optionally lightened with whipped cream) on bottom half, then top with almond-crusted half.
- Chill cake at least 1 hour before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Add a splash of almond extract to pastry cream for extra flavor.
- Use stabilized whipped cream if skipping pastry cream (not recommended).
- Make dough ahead and refrigerate overnight if needed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 170mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
