Pineapple Kasekuchen (German Cheesecake)

By Aemelia

A German version of cheesecake, absolutely scrumptiously delicious!

Ingredients

• SWEETENED CRUST (muerbeteig):
• 2/3 cup cold butter
• 2/3 cup sifted confectioners sugar
• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 small egg, lightly beaten
• 1 tablespoon milk
• FILLING:
• 1 can crushed pineapple in its own juice, very well drained
• 3 eggs, separated
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 3/4 cup well-softened butter
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 3 cups quark ( a soft, unaged fresh cheese, see story above for sources)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons sifted flour

Preparation

Step 1

Combine dry ingredients and sift. Cut butter in until it looks like fine meal. Add beaten egg and milk to form a medium-soft dough. Turn out onto lightly-floured board and gather together into a ball. Flatten; wrap with plastic and chill. Roll out and fit into a greased, 9-inch springform pan. Refrigerate.

Drain pineapple very well and chill. Beat egg yolks with sugar and vanilla until pale yellow and creamy. Add softened butter, whisking well; add heavy cream and whisk again. Add quark and stir until smooth.

Whisk egg whites with pinch of salt until peaks form. In and over/under motion with a spatula, carefully fold egg whites in to the batter, alternating with the addition of the sifted flour a little at a time. Spread chilled pineapple into bottom of crust; pour filling over, tapping sides of pan to make sure filling is smooth and even. Dough should be even at top, trimmed to about 1/2 inch above the level of the cheese filling.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. F. Place cake on center rack and bake 1 1/2 hours until golden brown on top and set. Turn off oven, leaving cake inside for 15 more minutes. Remove from oven; place on rack to cool to room temperature. Remove from springform pan to a platter. Refrigerate for 3 to 4 hours, covered, before serving very cold.