This poppy seed cake with cherries and streusel combines a thin shortcrust pastry base with a generous poppy seed filling and a delicate cherry layer. Chopped pistachios add texture, nutty flavor and a beautiful color contrast.
Digital kitchen scale (with tare function, up to 5 kg / 11 lb)
Hand whisk
Zutaten
Very thin shortcrust pastry base
100gFlour(about 3/4 cup plus 1 tbsp)
50gButter(about 3 1/2 tbsp; cold, cut into small cubes)
30gWhite sugar(about 2 1/2 tbsp)
1Egg(size L, separated)
1/2tspBaking powder
1pinch Salt
1tspCold water(only if needed)
1tbspRapeseed oil(for the pan)
Sour cherry layer
350gJarred Morello cherries(about 2 1/4 cups; very well drained)
130mlSour cherry juice(from the jar, about 1/2 cup)
20gWhite sugar(about 1 1/2 tbsp; depending on the tartness of the cherries)
15gCornstarch(about 2 tbsp)
1pinchCinnamon
Poppy seed filling
600gPoppy seeds(ground; about 4 cups)
670mlWhole milk(about 2 3/4 cups plus 1 tbsp)
75gButter(about 5 tbsp)
220gWhite sugar(about 1 cup plus 2 tbsp)
50gFine wheat semolina(about 1/3 cup)
3Eggs(size L)
1Egg white(reserved from the shortcrust pastry base)
2tspVanilla paste
1Organic lemon(finely grated zest)
1tspCinnamon
1pinchSalt
Streusel layer
125gFlour(about 1 cup)
60gWhite sugar(about 1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp)
65gButter(cold, cut into small cubes; about 4 1/2 tbsp)
1/2tspCinnamon
1pinchSalt
Pistachios
25gPistachios(chopped, unsalted and unroasted; about 3 tbsp)
Anleitungen
Prepare the very thin shortcrust pastry base
Line the base of the 26 cm / about 10-inch springform pan with parchment paper. Line the inside of the springform ring with a strip of parchment paper about 6 cm / 2 1/2 inches high. Lightly brushing the ring with rapeseed oil helps the parchment paper adhere securely. Preheat the oven to 175 °C / 350 °F top and bottom heat. Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Quickly work in the cold butter with your fingertips until fine crumbs form. Separate the egg. Add the egg yolk and briefly bring everything together into a smooth dough. Add up to 1 tsp cold water only if needed. Spread the dough evenly over the base of the pan and press it down to a thickness of 2.5–3 mm using the flat bottom of a glass. Do not form a raised edge. Prick the base several times with a fork and chill for 10 minutes. Pre-bake the base on the middle rack for 15 minutes. Then brush it very thinly with a little egg white and bake for another 2 minutes. Reserve the remaining egg white for the poppy seed filling. Reduce the oven temperature to 170 °C / 340 °F.
Prepare the sour cherries
Whisk about 30 ml cold sour cherry juice with the cornstarch until smooth. Bring the remaining juice to a boil with the sugar and cinnamon. Stir in the cornstarch mixture and cook for about 1 minute, until the juice thickens. Carefully fold in the cherries, bring briefly back to a boil and remove from the heat. If the mixture becomes very thick, stir in a little water. Allow the cherry mixture to cool for 15–20 minutes. It should be lukewarm, spreadable and clearly thickened.
Prepare the poppy seed filling and streusel
Heat the milk, butter, sugar, vanilla paste, lemon zest, cinnamon and salt in a large saucepan until the butter has completely melted. Stir in the ground poppy seeds and fine wheat semolina. Cook the mixture over low heat, stirring constantly, for about 3 minutes to allow it to thicken. Do not simmer any longer, or the mixture may become too firm. Transfer the poppy seed mixture to a large bowl and allow it to cool for about 20 minutes. It should be only lukewarm before the eggs are added. Add the three eggs one at a time, stirring each one in thoroughly. Then stir in the egg white reserved from the shortcrust pastry base. The finished poppy seed filling should be soft, creamy and easy to spread. Work the flour, sugar, cold butter, cinnamon and salt with your fingers or dough hooks until small, fine streusel forms. Do not knead for too long. If the streusel becomes soft, chill it for 10 minutes. Keep refrigerated until the cake is assembled.
Assemble the cake
For the cherry layer, spread the lukewarm cherry mixture over the sealed shortcrust pastry base. Lightly press down the cherries and mixture, then spread them into a thin, even and completely covered layer.
Spoon the lukewarm poppy seed filling over the cherry layer in several portions. Carefully smooth it all the way to the edge without disturbing the cherry layer.
Spread the fine streusel evenly and thinly over the entire poppy seed filling. Do not press it down.
Baking
Bake the cake at 170 °C / 340 °F top and bottom heat in the lower third of the oven for about 60–65 minutes. Check the browning after about 45 minutes. If the streusel becomes too dark, loosely cover the cake with parchment paper. Sprinkle the 25 g chopped pistachios loosely over the streusel only when the cake is expected to need about 5 more minutes of baking. Do not use the broiler function or any additional top heat. The cake is done when the streusel is light golden brown, the edges feel firm and a wooden skewer inserted into the center shows no liquid poppy seed filling. A few moist poppy seed crumbs are fine.
Notizen
Cooling and finishingRemove the cake from the oven after 60–65 minutes and allow it to cool in the pan at room temperature for about 60 minutes.Carefully remove the springform ring and the strip of parchment paper. Allow the cake to cool completely, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.Remove the cake from the refrigerator about 20 minutes before serving.NotesAdd the pistachios only during the last 5 minutes of baking so they stay green. Do not use the broiler function or any additional top heat.