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Fresh Peach Kuchen Recipe (Video)

Indulge in the essence of summer with our mouthwatering Fresh Peach Kuchen recipe. Dive into layers of velvety peaches nestled in a tender, sweet buttery crust and topped with creamy custard. You’ll love this easy fruit dessert.

Using those fresh summer peaches right off the tree when they are ripe and full of flavor makes this particular kuchen hard to beat. With a delicious smooth custard on top, you won’t even need ice cream!

Top down photo of a Peach Kuchen Dessert in a pie tin.

I mean, not that you aren’t allowed to have ice cream with kuchen, but it’s not a requirement. With multiple layers of goodness, this dessert is a treat that is perfect on its own.

This recipe previously featured with an affiliated product called Raisenne which appears in the video but isn’t available at this time.

What is Kuchen?

When you say, “Oh, I just put a kuchen in the oven for dessert.” Your kids and friends are all going to say “What in the world is that?” Hardly anyone makes kuchen anymore, which is what makes it incredibly special.

Kuchen is the German word for a cake topped with a cream or custard filling. According to Wikipedia, Kuchen is often served to friends with coffee.

Kuchen (pronounced “koo-ken”) is the German word for “cake,” (because the recipe came from Germany) but a real kuchen is so much more than that!

Traditional kuchen is like a delicious mash-up of cake and pie, topped with creamy custard. The word may be pronounced kugan or koo-ken or ku-gen depending on heritage.

To make our kuchen recipe, you will need a pan with a rim. Roll the dough very thinly for the pan.

The crust for kuchen is non-fussy, sweetened dough. It’s easier than pie crust and creates a unique and delicious dessert.

Why Make Peach Kuchen

Whether you are baking for family or baking for company, our peach kuchen recipe is a winner. We love the play on cake versus pie, and the custard honestly just takes it over the top.

One thing we love about kuchen is that you just don’t see them very often. Which is a shame, because they are so delightful to eat!

This recipe makes 4 9-inch pie plate kuchen. We love making them and putting them in the freezer for an easy fresh peach dessert. You can use any container with a rim or even a 9×13 cake pan for a larger crowd.

Another great reason to make any kuchen recipe is simplicity. You don’t have to mess with a fussy pie crust, and you don’t have to worry about tidy frosting either.

Once it comes out of the oven, it’s ready to go! Unlike a fruit pie, kuchen is unlikely to be runny or refuse to set.

Tableview of a wedge of Peach Kuchen Dessert.

Ingredients for Peach Kuchen

  • Fresh Peaches.
  • Eggs. Room Temperature eggs are necessary for this recipe, so set them out a couple of hours before you are ready to bake. If you forget, you can put them in a bowl and cover them with room temperature water for 5 minutes.
  • Sugar. Just ordinary granulated white sugar.
  • Cinnamon.
  • Yeast. Rapid Rise Yeast in the packets.
  • Whole Milk. The milk needs to be at room temperature as well so set the measured amount out with your eggs. You can also just warm it up a bit in the microwave.
  • Heavy Cream. We used Heavy Whipping Cream. Measure it and let it come to room temperature as you did with the milk and eggs.
  • Butter. Softened butter. Place the butter on the counter when you put out your milk, cream, and eggs.
  • All-Purpose Flour.

How to Make The Peach Kuchen Dessert Recipe

Make the dough first so that it can rise. Our kuchen dough recipe is simple, sweet, and comes together so easily! That’s one of the beauties of kuchen actually. Just mix a few ingredients and knead it until smooth, and let it rise!

While the dough is rising, you can make the custard.

Cook the ingredients in the kuchen custard recipe over low heat, whisking constantly until the mixture starts to thicken.

Remove the custard from the heat.

When the dough is ready, preheat your oven to 350º.

Roll out the dough large enough to cover the bottom and 1/2 to 3/4 up the sides of your pie plate.

Arrange peaches over the bottom. We recommend laying the sliced peaches on their side so the ends don’t poke through the custard.

Spoon the custard over the fruit and sprinkle the custard with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar.

Bake, cool, and serve! With coffee of course.

More complete instructions for the Peach Kuchen Recipe are included on the printable recipe card!

If baking scares or confuses you, check out our Baking Basics Techniques, Tools, and Ingredients article.

Tableview of a wedge of peach kuchen.

Tips for Making the Kuchen Recipe

  1. Place your dough in a warmer area covered and without drafts. (This is not a sponsored post but I am a Raisenne Affiliate).
  2. Don’t forget to gently turn the pan during baking in the oven halfway through to ensure an even bake.
  3. We use fresh peaches. You can use frozen peaches but thaw them first, remove the ice crystals, and drain off any extra liquid.
  4. Don’t let the custard boil. Use patience and once the mixture starts to steam, drizzle the egg in slowly, and remove the custard from the heat as soon as it starts to thicken.

Storing the Kuchen Dessert

You can keep leftover kuchen in the refrigerator for up to three days. Use an airtight container.

If you wish, you can freeze individual servings of kuchen in freezer-quality zipper bags for up to three months, and thaw to serve. Do not heat to serve because this will make a mess of the custard.

Baking Tools You May Need

Hostess At Heart participates in affiliate programs. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Please refer to my disclosure page for more information about these affiliate programs.

Beautiful Blue Rimmed Pie Plate. A deep pie plate in a gorgeous color. Remember we made 4 pies with this recipe.

Mixing Bowls – We use this set of bowls for mixing, serving, and storing, and transporting food. The pretty lids guarantee no spilling too!

Rolling Pin – I’m old school what can I say? I have three rolling pins and keep going back to my tried and true classic rolling pin.

Another Kuchen Recipe You Will Love

Strawberry Kuchen. When strawberries are in season, nothing beats this delicious Strawberry Kuchen Dessert for taste and comfort.

Top down view of slices of strawberry kuchen. One slice is on a cake stand and another slice is on a maroon plate. A corner shows a partial pie tin filled with kuchen. Strawberries are scattered about the photo.

Peach Recipes to Try

Yes, our Peach Kuchen is an easy fruit dessert, but we always like to offer plenty of options to tempt your tastebuds. Here are a few other peach desserts to consider.

Peach Crisp Recipe. Another easy but tasty peach dessert.

Upside-down Peach Cake with Hot Rum Sauce. I mean, who wouldn’t want to eat this? It’s heavenly.

Quick Streusel Peach Bread. A beautiful and unique quick bread perfect for coffee.

Peach Crumble Dessert. Easy dessert loaded with velvety peaches under a crunchy oat topping.

Peach Cake. A show stopper that’s tender, moist, and absolutely delicious!

Top down photo of a Fresh Peach Dessert in a pie tin.

If you like this recipe, we would appreciate your comment and a 5-star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review!

A wedge of dessert with layers of peaches

Fresh Peach Kuchen Recipe

Author: Julie Menghini
Peach Kuchen Recipe has a sweet buttery dough layered with fresh peaches and topped with a smooth and creamy custard.
4.89 from 17 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Proof time 35 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Breakfast and Brunch, Dessert
Cuisine American, German
Keyword: Kuchen Recipe, Peach Kuchen
Servings: 24

Ingredients
 
 

Kuchen Dough

  • 2 eggs room temperature, whisked
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon sliced
  • tsp instant yeast (2 packets of rapid rise yeast)
  • cups whole milk room temperature or warmed to 98°F
  • 1/2 cup butter softened
  • 6 cups all-purpose flour 4 to 6 cups

Kuchen Custard

  • 6 eggs whisked, room temperature
  • 3 cups cream
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp salt

Fruit

  • 4 cups peaches fresh, sliced

Equal amounts of cinnamon and sugar for garnishing.

    Instructions
     

    • Make the dough by stirring the milk, sugar, yeast, cinnamon, and eggs together. Add the softened butter and break it up into pieces with a spatula.
    • Add 3 cups of flour and stir together with a spatula. Add additional flour until the dough comes together. Continue adding flour until the dough is soft but not sticky.
    • Place the dough in an oiled boil. Cover and let rise until increased in volume 30% to 50%. Please see the recipe notes.
    • While the dough is rising, make the custard.

    Custard

    • Over low heat, combine the cream, milk, cinnamon, sugar, and salt. Heat until steaming. Slowly drizzle in the eggs, whisking continuously until mixture has started to thicken. Remove from the heat and set aside.

    Assembly

    • Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Spray 4 pie plates with non-stick cooking spray.
    • Roll out pieces of dough large enough to cover the bottom of a pie plate and 1/2 to 3/4 up the sides of the plate.
    • Layer the fruit on the dough. Don't layer above the sides of the dough.
    • Spoon the custard over the top of the strawberry layer.
    • Sprinkle the top of the custard with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar.
    • Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, turning the pan half-way through.
    • Cool before serving. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.

    Notes

    The recipe makes 4 9-inch Kuchens. This recipe can be adapted to any baking dish with a rim (sides) such as a cake pan.
    Place your dough in a warmer area covered and without drafts. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 333kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 7gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 108mgSodium: 91mgPotassium: 169mgFiber: 2gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 764IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 68mgIron: 2mg

    Nutritional Disclaimer

    This recipe was calculated using the exact brands and measurements I used to make this recipe. If you are following a strict diet please note changing anything will cause the nutritional info to change. My calculations are intended as a guide only.

    Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

    Here’s more Farmer’s Market Week Recipes

    Starters and Drinks Recipes

    Side Dishes Recipes

    Main Dish Recipes

    Dessert Recipes

    Farmer’s Market Week is always the first week in August. Whether you have a great local farm stand or market, are a member of a CSA or purchase your fruits and vegetables at the supermarket, follow our Pinterest board, for great recipes including those for appetizers, drinks, breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and more.

    Pin this amazing Peach Dessert!

    Two photo collage for Pinterest. Top photo is a wedge of a peach dessert. The bottom photo is a top down photo of the uncut whole peach dessert in a pie tin.
    Recipe Rating




    Rose Ell

    Tuesday 1st of August 2023

    Very yummy! I was excited to try the peach kuchen since I've made the Better Homes & Garden recipe for Rhubarb Kuchen for years.Confused tho because my recipe does not have any custard topping.Also thank you for clarifying the pronunciation of the word "kuchen". I've always pronounced it as "cooshen". LOL.

    Julie Menghini

    Friday 4th of August 2023

    I love the idea of Rhubarb Kuchen, Rose! Thank you. I'm so glad that you enjoyed this recipe. It looks daunting but isn't difficult.

    Shelby Walker

    Sunday 15th of August 2021

    This recipe should make clear right up front that this makes FOUR kuchen.

    Julie Menghini

    Monday 16th of August 2021

    It actually can be 2, 4, 6...depending on the size of the dish you use. We'll clarify in our post and appreciate your feedback.

    Ashley Marie Lecker

    Saturday 7th of August 2021

    I have not made a kuchen before and this sounds delicious. My husband's family is German, but not bakers, and I will give this a try!

    Julie Menghini

    Saturday 7th of August 2021

    Thank you, Ashley! We really enjoy this dessert.

    ally

    Wednesday 4th of August 2021

    Wow, this sounds delicious, Julie! I love the rustic look of it, and know those fresh peaches just oooooze with more flavor!

    Julie Menghini

    Thursday 5th of August 2021

    Thank you, Ally! I love that rustic look with those old-school recipes.

    Amee

    Wednesday 4th of August 2021

    This is a fantastic summer dessert! A favorite way to use fresh peaches!

    Julie Menghini

    Wednesday 4th of August 2021

    Thank you, Amee!

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