What is "butterkuchen"

Butterkuchen or Zuckerkuchen is a simple German cake baked on a tray. Flakes of butter are distributed on the dough which, after baking, form the characteristic holes. The whole cake is sprinkled with sugar. After further kneading the Butterkuchen is baked. As a variation the dough can be sprinkled with roasted almond flakes.

Butterkuchen is a favourite element of Westphalian and North German coffee tables. It is also served at wedding and funerals and, as a result, is sometimes called Freud-und-Leid-Kuchen ("joy and sorrow cake") or Beerdigungskuchen ("funeral cake").

A regional variation is to sprinkle the Butterkuchen with a sugar- cinnamon mixture rather than with sugar alone.

In Germany in the trade, at least 30 parts butter, clarified butter or butterfat must be used to 100 parts of flour.