German Cheesecake (Käsekuchen)

Step 1

Set your oven to 350°F and wait for the indicator light or beep to show it has finished heating, about 10 minutes.

Step 2

In a small bowl, mix the flour and softened butter together with a fork until it looks like wet sand with pea-sized lumps.

Step 3

Press this mixture evenly across the bottom of a 9-inch round cake pan, going up the sides slightly to form a thin crust.

Step 4

In a medium bowl, stir the quark or ricotta, sugar, and vanilla extract together until smooth with no lumps, about 60 seconds.

Step 5

Crack the eggs into a separate small bowl and whisk them together with a fork until the yolks and whites are fully combined, about 30 seconds.

Step 6

Pour the beaten eggs into the quark mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until completely smooth and uniform, about 90 seconds.

Step 7

Pour the filling into the crust-lined pan, spreading it level with a spatula so the surface is even.

Step 8

Slide the pan into the preheated 350°F oven on the middle rack and bake for 35–40 minutes, until the top is light golden and the filling jiggles only slightly when you gently shake the pan.

Step 9

Remove the pan from the oven using an oven mitt and set it on a wire rack or clean kitchen towel to cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing.