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Raspberry Crumb Cake

A buttery and tender crumb tops a layer of raspberry jam filling to make each bite of this Raspberry Crumb Cake wonderful!

Cut into small squares or rectangles and this crumb cake is a perfect dessert to share with a crowd. Also known as German Crumb Cake this is a classic treat that our family enjoys!

Close up piece of delicious raspberry crumb cake with a fork in a piece ready to eat.

If you like this recipe you may also enjoy Raspberry Cream Cheese Croissant Bake and Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake with raspberry sauce.

German Crumb Cake Recipe

My husband has German roots and loves truly enjoys looking for German-inspired recipes. I think these raspberry filled crumb cake bars would go great with many meals, but with every bite he listed another one of his favorite meals that he wants to eat with these bars. His list included Pork and Sauerkraut Roll-Ups, Instant Pot Sausage & Sauerkraut and  Instant Pot Sausage, Potatoes and Green Beans.

These Raspberry Jam Cake bars look most attractive when cut into smaller bars that are easy to pick up with your fingers as opposed to serving in the jelly roll pan. This makes snagging a sample of the sweet pastry like cake filled with fruity goodness so much easier!

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Spatula lifting a piece of raspberry jam cake out of the sheet pan full of cake.

Raspberry Crumb Cake is the perfect treat for a wedding shower, baby shower or another party where finger foods are served. Our crumb cake bars pair perfectly with Lemon Bars, O’Henry Bars, or Cinnamon Cream Cheese Bars. Serve with a Fruit Tray, Vegetable Tray and some Pink Slush Punch for a wonderful selection of party food.

Ingredients Needed:

  • Butter
  • Granulated Sugar
  • Baking Powder
  • Salt
  • Egg
  • All-Purpose Flour
  • Milk
  • Raspberry Jam
  • Cinnamon

Step By Step Instructions

How to Make German Crumb Cake Bars

Grease an 11 inch by 17 inch jelly roll pan and preheat your oven to 400°F.

The Crumb Cake Base

Using an electric mixer cream the softened butter. Then add granulated sugar and mix well.

Creamed butter, sugar, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl.

Add egg and milk then stir again.

Butter and sugar beaten together in a mixing bowl with an egg and milk added.

Mix together all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt together; stir again.

Thick crumb cake batter with egg, flour and milk added stirred together in a mixing bowl on a wooden counter top.

Use your fingers to press dough into a jelly roll pan. The dough doesn’t have to look perfectly smooth across the top, but the thickness should be roughly the same across the entire baking sheet.

Thick and shinny crumble cake batter with finger prints being spread out in a full size sheet pan.

The Raspberry Jam Filling

Use a butter knife to spread the full jar of raspberry jam across the dough.

Jar of raspberry jam spread over top of a layer of cake batter.

Making The Streusel

Using another stick of softened butter mix all streusel ingredients together and crumble into fine crumbs.

Silver mixing bowl with streusel or crumbs made of flour, sugar, cinnamon and butter.

Sprinkle the fine crumbs as evenly as possible across the raspberry jam.

Bake for 15 – 20 minutes until the crumbs on top become lightly golden brown.

Gold brown crumb cake baked with a thick layer of raspberry jam in the center on a colorful pastel napkin.

Allow to cool slightly and cut into small squares or rectangles. The bars taste absolutely wonderful served warm or at room temperature.

Store in an airtight container on the counter for 3 to 5 days.

Tips for Making Crumb Cake Bars

  • Makes about 45 bars that are 2 to 3 bites each.
  • Raspberry jam must be used for maximum flavor, raspberry spread or raspberry preserves typically aren’t quite as sweet as jam.
  • We might recommend using a little more jam for a special sweet tooth.
  • The bottom crust will not pour or roll out, it will take some time to press into the bottom of the baking sheet using your fingers.
  • Crumble streusel finely over the top so that it can bake evenly.
  • Be sure to use real butter that’s been softened to create the tender crumbs that are so amazing.

This buttery dessert is also a great sweet treat for breakfast or brunch just like our Buttermilk Coffee Cake or Sticky Bun Swirl Cake. The world needs more sweet pastries, just in small portions of course!

Serving tray with several pieces of soft German crumb cake with jam on a pastel napkin.

When we’re not in the kitchen we enjoy traveling and growing in our faith. Check out these pages to learn more!

Other Easy Dessert Recipes:

Stack of 3 raspberry pastries

Raspberry Crumb Cake

Servings 30 bars
Author: Jennifer
A buttery and tender crumb tops a layer of raspberry jam filling to make each bite of this Raspberry Crumb Cake wonderful!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup butter softened
  • 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • dash salt
  • 1 egg
  • 3 cups flour
  • 4 tablespoons milk
  • 18 ounces Raspberry jam

Streusel

  • 1-1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup butter softened

Instructions
 

  • Grease an 11 x 17 jelly roll pan.
  • Cream butter and sugar.
  • Add egg and milk mix well.
  • Mix together flour, baking powder and salt together; then stir into butter mixture.
  • Press dough into jelly roll pan.
  • Spread raspberry jam across dough.

Streusel

  • Mix and crumble all ingredients for streusel into fine crumbs.
  • Sprinkle streusel over pan.
  • Bake in a preheated at 400°F for 15-20 minutes until the crumbles on top are starting to turn golden brown.
  • Let cool and then cut into small squares or rectangles.

Notes

  • Raspberry jam must be used for maximum flavor, raspberry spread or raspberry preserves typically aren’t quite as sweet as jam
  • The bottom crust will not pour or roll out, it will take some time to press into the bottom of the baking sheet using your fingers
  • Crumble streusel finely so that it can bake evenly
  • Be sure to use real butter that’s been softened to create the tender crumbs that are so amazing

Nutrition

Calories: 217kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 2gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 90mgPotassium: 61mgFiber: 1gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 295IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

“Plowing Through Life” is not a dietitian or nutrition professional. Any nutritional information shared is an estimate and can vary greatly depending on specific products are used. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator of your choice.

Tried this recipe?Mention @PlowingThroughLife or tag #PlowingThroughLife!

Recipe originally shared on March 18, 2020 with updates made on August 16, 2024.

One Comment

  1. That raspberry and the crumbs are really calling my name! I keep thinking I should make more German recipes and these look like a great place to start.

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