Buttery, delicate pastry, a smooth cottage cheese filling, and a golden lattice on top. This homemade cake with sour cream is perfect for afternoon coffee, a family celebration, or as a sweet treat for guests. The preparation is simple. Just let the dough rest briefly in the fridge, fill it with the cottage cheese cream, and decorate with strips of dough. After baking, the cake holds its shape beautifully and slices easily.
What You’ll Need
For the dough:
- 2 eggs
- 100 g granulated sugar
- a pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla sugar
- 4 tablespoons sour cream
- 500 g plain flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 200 g cold butter
For the cottage cheese filling:
- 400 g block cottage cheese
- 2 eggs
- 200 g granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla sugar
- 1.5 tablespoons corn starch
For brushing and finishing:
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon milk
- icing sugar for dusting
Step-by-Step Preparation:
1) Crack the eggs into a small bowl, add the granulated sugar, a pinch of salt, and vanilla sugar. Whisk everything together. Add the sour cream, mix again, and set the mixture aside for now.
2) In a larger bowl, combine the plain flour and baking powder. Add the cold butter cut into small cubes and rub the ingredients together by hand until you get a crumbly mixture.
3) Add the prepared egg and sour cream mixture to the flour mixture. Knead everything into a firm, smooth dough.
4) Place the dough in a bag or wrap it in cling film. Let it rest in the fridge for 20–30 minutes.
5) Meanwhile, prepare the filling. In a bowl, combine the cottage cheese, eggs, sugar, vanilla sugar, and corn starch. Use a hand mixer to beat everything into a smooth cream.
6) Separate about one quarter of the chilled dough. Roll out the larger portion and spread it evenly on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Then spread the prepared cottage cheese filling evenly over it.
7) Roll out the reserved dough and cut it into thin strips. Lay these strips over the filling in both directions to create a regular lattice on top.
8) Mix the egg yolk with the milk and brush the dough strips with this mixture. Place the cake in an oven preheated to 180 °C and bake for about 30–40 minutes until golden brown.
9) Let the baked cake cool and dust with icing sugar before serving.
Tips for a Perfect Cottage Cheese Cake
- Use cold butter to keep the pastry pleasantly delicate after baking.
- Block cottage cheese is best. Tub cottage cheese can be too runny.
- Slice the cake only after it has cooled, so the filling sets properly.
- Store the finished cake in the fridge due to the cottage cheese filling.
Conclusion
The lattice cottage cheese cake combines a delicate buttery crust with a rich and smooth filling. It tastes great chilled, but you can also serve it slightly warm. Just dust with icing sugar before serving.
