Are you looking for a savory bread for a side dish or appetizer? Maybe you want to explore some German cuisine. Zwiebelkuchen is a simple, easy to make tart.
Consisting of a soft bread-like crust topped with a onions, spices and a little bacon, this German Onion Cake pairs with a variety of dishes. Or cut it up smaller and serve it as an appetizer at your next party.
Ready to get started? Read on to learn more.
Zwiebelkuchen directly translates to Onion Cake But, it is a savory tart or pie, not an actual cake like you'd think of for dessert. The crust is a soft quick bread like a biscuit dough, though some use a yeast dough. And then a creamy oniony bacon topping is baked on top making for a delicious side dish or appetizer.
This recipe may be different than your Oma's recipe. A quick internet search trying to find the German name for the recipe showed me a few dozen variations of the same basic dish.
I based this one on a recipe in Cooking from Quilt Country a companion cookbook for the late 1980's PBS cooking series about Amish and Mennonite cooking. But, I didn't have the 10 inch round pan she used so it became 9x13. And I decided to add a little bacon because... BACON!
Ingredients for German Onion Cake
Like most of the recipes on this site, the ingredients are easily available at your local grocery store. You probably have them in your kitchen right now:
- all-purpose flour (gluten free should work, but I have not tried it)
- cornstarch (or arrowroot)
- baking powder
- bacon (pork, beef, turkey, vegetarian)
- yellow onions
- vegetable shortening
- sour cream (plain Greek yogurt is okay, may need to adjust milk)
- milk (dairy or non-dairy)
- egg (or substitute)
- marjoram (oregano or thyme would be good substitutes)
- salt and black pepper
All About Onions
This week we are celebrating onions! Check out these delicious recipes featuring the humble but pungent bulb.
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Recipe
Ingredients
- 2-3 slices bacon
- 2-3 large yellow onions
- ¼ teaspoon marjoram
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch (or arrowroot)
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 5 tablespoons vegetable shortening
- ¾+ cup milk
- 1 large egg
- ¾ cup sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 ℉. Lightly grease a 9 x 13 baking pan.
- Chop bacon into small pieces and cook in a large skillet over medium heat until cooked, but not crispy, about 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the cooked bacon and set on paper towels to drain.2-3 slices bacon
- While bacon is cooking, thinly slice onions. Add sliced onions to the bacon grease after removing the cooked bacon pieces. Cook until just turning brown, about 10 minutes. Add marjoram and pepper. Remove from heat.2-3 large yellow onions, ¼ teaspoon marjoram, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt. Cut in shortening with a pastry blender or two knives until it is the texture of soft crumbs.2 cups all-purpose flour, ¼ cup cornstarch (or arrowroot), 1 tablespoon baking powder, ¾ teaspoon salt, 5 tablespoons vegetable shortening
- Add the milk and mix together into a soft dough. Add additional milk if the dough seems dry.¾+ cup milk
- Spread dough into the pan, pressing a little up the sides. Top with cooked onions. Quickly beat together egg and sour cream and spread on top of onions. Finally sprinkle with cooked bacon pieces.1 large egg, ¾ cup sour cream
- Bake at 450℉ until the center is set, about 15-20 minutes. Let cool 5-10 minutes then cut in slices and serve.
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Hezzi-D
It sounds delicious, especially with onions and bacon in it!
Inger @ Art of Natural Liivng
This is such a unique and delicious sounding dish. And yes on the bacon add!
April
This sounds super tasty and would make a a unique appetizer. Bacon was the perfect finishing touch!
Ashley Marie Lecker
What a yummy dish! I have not had this before and am thinking it would be delicious served with soup or grilled sausages!
Christie Campbell
I'm drooling over all the flaves in this. The onion and the bacon in that delicious batter. I will be adding this to the menu soon.