One-bowl Cheese Cake

When people first taste this Kuchen, they are often unable to account for the flavor. It is Quark which provides the unusually tangy taste and velvety texture.

Preheat oven to 375˚F.

Butter and flour a 9-inch springform pan.

Batter:

1 cup raisins

½ cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 cup sugar

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

grated peel of 1 lemon

1 cup Quark

2 cups sifted flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 cup blanched almonds, medium ground

1. Plump raisins in boiling water for one or two minutes. Drain, dry and set aside.

2. Cream butter, sugar and eggs, using one of the methods here.

3. Add vanilla and lemon peel.

4. Slowly add the Quark, one spoonful at a time.

5. Fold in flour and baking powder.

6. Dust raisins lightly with flour and fold in last, together with the nuts.

7. Pour immediately into the prepared pan and bake on the lowest rack of a preheated 375˚F oven for 50 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean.

8. Check after 30 minutes, for this cake may brown prematurely. If needed, place a piece of aluminium foil lightly on top of the cake to prevent burning.

9. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before turning out onto a cake rack to cool thoroughly.

Serving suggestions. Dust generously with confectioners sugar.