Danube Waves Cake (or Donauwellen Kuchen) is a German cake flavored with chocolate, vanilla, and cherries. It’s a delicious way to celebrate Oktoberfest or just a regular Thursday!
Do I ever have a treat for you today!!! And also a whole lot of instructional photographs. . .but we’ll get to those in a bit.
Today we’re kicking off Oktoberfest in style with some delicious German recipes AND A GIVEAWAY! One lucky person (over the age of 21) in the contiguous 48 states will win a case of Oktoberfest beer from Prost Brewing.
When my friends Milena and Chris asked if I’d want to participate in their Oktoberfest Bash this year, I immediately said OF COURSE! Every year for Oktoberfest, they host a blog party where bloggers contribute German recipes; scroll down to find more awesome German food from a great group of bloggers.
Just weeks before they asked, I’d seen a picture of a German cake called Donauwellen Kuchen (or Danube Waves Cake) that I knew would be the perfect addition, if only I could get the beautiful layers right.
Did you happen to catch those layers? Silly question. They’re hard to miss. Donauwellen Kuchen is made with layers of chocolate and vanilla cake, tart cherries, German buttercream, and chocolate ganache. When the cake bakes, the batter forms beautiful waves, which apparently look like the waves on the Danube river. 🤷🏻♀️
Incidentally, another name for Donauwellen Kuchen is “Snow White Cake.” I honestly don’t get why. But it’s delicious and I don’t really need to understand the name–I just need an extra-large slice and a fork with which to eat it.
What is German buttercream?
Did you do a double take when I mentioned German buttercream above? When I was researching the Danube Waves Cake so I could replicate it, I was like WHAT? I’ve never heard of German buttercream before!
Now that I have, my life may never be the same. German buttercream is frosting made with PUDDING! Yes, first you make a pudding/pastry cream, then when it’s cool, you whip it with butter and powdered sugar. The result is the creamiest,most luscious frosting you’ve ever met. The Germans do their frosting right, I tell you.
How to make German buttercream
Now that I’ve tempted you with a description let’s talk about how to make it. Quick and easy, German buttercream is not. But it’s worth the extra effort!
Combine cornstarch and sugar in a bowl next to the stove. Set two eggs in a second bowl, also next to the stove. Combine whole milk and more sugar in a small saucepan and bring that to a simmer.
Once the milk has simmered, whisk the cornstarch-sugar mixture into the eggs.
Whisk a scant quarter cup of the hot milk into the egg mixture until combined, then drizzle the remaining milk into the eggs in a continuous stream (like in the first pic above). Whisk the mixture constantly during this process—whisking keeps the eggs from scrambling.
Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula. The mixture will start to clump up; that’s just fine! Once it starts to clump, turn the heat as low as it will go and stir vigorously with a whisk until the mixture is very smooth and lump-free.
Getting the lumps out takes some elbow grease but if you don’t get them out now, your frosting will turn out lumpy and unpleasant. (I speak from experience.) Remove from the heat and stir in butter (second pic above). At this point your pudding should be completely smooth, like in the third pic above.
Chill the pudding in the fridge for at least 90 minutes (or overnight). After it’s fully chilled, bring it back to room temperature.
It is key that both your pudding and your butter are at room temperature. If the pudding is too hot, it will melt the butter; if either is too cold they will not blend together nicely.
Transfer your room temp pudding to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat until thick and creamy (first pic up above). Add the butter 1/2 a tablespoon at a time until it’s all mixed in, then mix in powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt and beat until smooth. And finally you’re done! You end up with very smooth, very fluffy frosting like in that last pic.
How to make Donauwellen Kuchen
The frosting is covered—now onto the cake layer! AKA, the vehicle to deliver our German buttercream. The cake itself is actually very straightforward.
Beat butter in a large mixing bowl until smooth. Add sugar and vanilla and beat to combine—the mixture will be really crumbly, as in the second picture above. It will smooth out after you mix in the egg whites, as in the third pic above.
Next you’ll mix in your dry ingredients and buttermilk until incorporated.
Baker’s tip: If you don’t want to buy a whole carton of buttermilk for your Danube Waves Cake, you can substitute 1 1/3 cups whole milk mixed with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes before using it.
Pour three-quarters of the batter into a 13-by-9-inch pan.
Mix cocoa powder and milk into the remaining batter. Dollop the chocolate batter over the top of the vanilla batter and smooth with an offset spatula. Don’t swirl the two batters together! They’ll form waves on their own.
Top with drained tart cherries and bake for about 35 minutes, then cool completely before frosting your cake. Don’t try frosting the cake while it’s still hot or you’ll melt the frosting you just worked so hard on.
Spread the buttercream over the cooled cake, then refrigerate to set the frosting. Top with chocolate ganache, chill to set that, and you’re done!
OK, I’ve just bombarded you with about a million pictures and thousands of words and for that I apologize.
But I don’t apologize for this cake. You’ve GOT TO TRY Donauwellen Kuchen for yourself. A taste is worth a thousand words. I think that’s how the saying goes 🙂
More Oktoberfest recipes!
As promised, here are recipes from my blogger friends so you can celebrate your tastiest Oktoberfest yet. Check out last year’s Oktoberfest post for even more!
Aromatic Currywurst from What to Cook Today
Hot Cheese Dip with Onions and Gruyere from Cooks with Cocktails
Bratkartoffeln (German-Style Pan Fried Potatoes with Bacon) from Ciao Chow Bambina
Bratwurst Burger from Beyond the Bayou
German Pan Fried Trout from Burrata and Bubbles
Schnitzel Platter from Craft Beering
Cinnamon Streusel Muffins with Hefeweizen Drizzle from Kelly Lynn’s Sweets and Treats
Gebrannte Mandeln (Roasted Candied Almonds) from Dawn the Gourmand
Did you make this Donauwellen Kuchen? That’s great! Let me know what you think with a comment and a rating below. And post a pic on Instagram too! Tag @theitsybitsykitchen so I can see your creations!
Danube Waves Cake is a delicious German dessert flavored with chocolate, vanilla, and cherries.
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar divided
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup + 3 tablespoons whole milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 large egg whites at room temperature
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 1/3 cups buttermilk*
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon whole milk
- 1 15-ounce can tart cherries in water, drained well
- 5 ounces dark chocolate finely chopped
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- Stir 1/4 cup of the sugar together with the cornstarch in a small mixing bowl and set aside.
- Crack the eggs into a medium heat-proof bowl. Whisk the eggs together and and set the bowl next to the stove.
- Combine the milk and remaining 1/4 cup of sugar in a small saucepan set over medium heat and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.
- Once the milk has come to a simmer, whisk the sugar-cornstarch mixture into the eggs until smooth.
- Whisking the eggs constantly, add a scant 1/4 cup of the hot milk to the eggs. Still whisking constantly, pour the remaining milk into the eggs in a slow stream.
- Return the mixture to the saucepan and set pan over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula, until the mixture thickens a bit—it will start to get lumpy.
- Turn the heat to low and switch to stirring with a whisk. Whisk vigorously until the mixture is very thick and smooth—if you don’t get your pudding completely smooth, you’ll have lumps in your frosting.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the 2 tablespoons of butter.
Scrape the pudding into a shallow mixing bowl and press plastic wrap directly on the top of the pudding. Chill in the fridge for 90 minutes to 2 hours (or until thoroughly chilled). You'll finish the frosting later. While the pudding is chilling, make the cake.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13- by 9-inch baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together in a small mixing bowl and set aside.
- Beat the butter in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer set to medium until very smooth. Beat in the sugar and vanilla until well combined (mixture will be crumbly). Add the egg whites one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- With mixer on low, beat in half of the flour mixture followed by half of the buttermilk and beat to combine. Add the remaining flour mixture, then the remaining buttermilk and beat until just incorporated.
- Spread three-quarters of the batter into the prepared pan. Sift the cocoa powder over the remaining batter and add the milk; stir until fully combined.
- Dollop the chocolate batter over the vanilla batter and carefully spread into an even layer with an offset spatula (don’t swirl them together, just spread the chocolate batter over the vanilla). Sprinkle the drained cherries over the cake batter.
- Bake 35 to 40 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Remove cake from the oven and cool completely on a wire rack before adding the frosting.
- Once the pudding and the cake are both cooled, finish the buttercream. Remove the chilled pudding from the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature.
- Transfer the room temp pudding to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on medium for several minutes, until it’s very light and creamy.
- With mixer still on medium speed, add the butter half a tablespoon at a time, stopping mixer to scrape with a rubber spatula every so often.
- Once the butter is fully incorporated, add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt, and beat until smooth. Spread over the fully cooled cake. Refrigerate for 1 hour to set the buttercream before adding the chocolate topping.
- Place the chocolate in a small heat-proof bowl. Heat the cream in a medium saucepan set over medium heat until it just begins to steam. Pour over the chocolate and allow to sit for 3 minutes.
- Add the corn syrup, then whisk the chocolate and heavy cream together until the chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
- Remove cake from the fridge and spread the chocolate into an even layer over the buttercream. Refrigerate to set the ganache, then serve.
- Because this is a complicated cake I strongly suggest that you read through the entire recipe before beginning. There are step-by-step photos in the post to help you with visuals.
- BE SURE when you make your buttercream that both the pudding and the butter are at room temperature. If the pudding is too hot it will melt the butter; if either is too cold they won't whip together nicely.
- If you don’t want to buy a whole carton of buttermilk for this cake, you can substitute 1 1/3 cups whole milk mixed with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes before using.
- Store the cake loosely covered with plastic wrap in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
German buttercream adapted from Food 52
Cake adapted from Better Homes and Gardens Baking
Sarah says
This was so so good! My husband is from Bavaria and he loved this cake along with our whole family. Initially I was intimidated by the recipe but I’m happy I started the process at noon the day before I needed the cake. It provided enough time to complete all the steps without feeling rushed.
Kelsie says
I’m so glad you didn’t let the recipe scare you off! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Piedmont Petite says
Every year my now-30+ year- old son finds a usual cake for his birthday to challenge my baking skills. The Danube Waves Cake was his pick this year. The cake is delicious but should be made at least a day ahead of your event. We found the chocolate cake and sour cherry flavors intensified after 24 hours which better balanced with the rich ganache topping. The first time I made it, I served the cake the same day as it was made (very early start) and the lovely ganache somewhat overpowered the mild cake flavors including the sour cherries. It was good but definitely the leftover cake on the second day was much better.
Very good instructions too. Thank you!
Kelsie says
Awwww I love this! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
Madalene says
Best. Dessert. Ever. Ever since I discovered the frozen Donauwelle from Aldi, I have wanted to make my own. This recipe was time-consuming and difficult (though the directions were very clear) for me, but I have never eaten anything better. Everyone at Christmas dinner loved it! Thank you so much for this gift of a recipe.
Kelsie says
Oh yay! You’ve made my day, Madalene!
Janie says
Oh my goodness. Today my local ALDI (in USA) has frozen Donauwellen Kuchen and of course I came home with one. Four big pieces for $3.99. I ate a whole piece and called it lunch. Best thing I’ve had lately. If I had freezer space I would buy out their entire stock of this lovely cake with cherries, chocolate, creamy filling, and cake. What a winner.
Gina says
This is a beautiful cake with a delicious flavor. I made this for a wine party back in 2020 and everyone loved it. I see why its made in colder months . I made it closer to summer . I used a 9×13 springform pan but the one with push up bottom. I was in love with how beautiful this cake looked. Im making this again for Easter .
Kelsie says
I’m so glad you liked it, Gina!
Colleen says
I made this last night for our German exchange student. I used a round springform pan and it turned out perfectly. I have to admit that it was intimidating but your excellent instructions , (including the one to read all of the instructions beforehand) made it easy to be successful. Thank you for a new favorite special cake.
Kelsie says
You’ve made my whole weekend, Colleen! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Matthew C says
I have a group of friends that meets for dinner every week and I always make the dessert. I made this for our Oktoberfest dinner tonight, and it was absolutely delicious! I followed the recipe exactly and got phenomenal results. This dessert garnered some of the highest praise I’ve gotten for a dessert in three years!
Kelsie says
It’s one of my favorites; I’m so glad you liked it too!
Fanay says
Hi, I just found your recipe and it looks delicious! I’m eager to try it for the holidays! I’m new to baking, so I have a couple of what might seem like silly questions. Could I use your exact recipe to make a round cake, or would I need more cake batter? Also, would I need to double the buttercream? Thank you for your time.
Kelsie says
Hi Fanay. This isn’t really a cake I would recommend in round pans. It would take three 8- or 9-inch pans I think (there’s a LOT of batter), but I’m not sure how you’d tweak the frosting to cover it. Sorry I can’t be of more help!
Johanna says
This recipe looks great. I am Austrian we have this recipe at home too. I am going to try your version soon 🙂 The reason it’s also named Snow White cake is because of the colours (white, black and red) that resemble Snow White from the fairytale. I love this creme. In Austria we also have a very similar recipe with a light sponge, a good quality of not too sweet apricot jam, the same vanilla-butter creme, fresh sliced bananas and chocolate on top. It’s called Bananenschnitte. The most amazing cake ever.
Kelsie says
Ooohhhh, that totally makes sense about Snow White! Thank you for the info! And I just googled bananenschnitte–I’m definitely going to try making one! Let me know what you think of the Danube Waves Cake and have a great week, Johanna!
Kate T. says
Love this cake! Made for our German themed Christmas dinner 12/25/19! Very pretty and delicious! Everyone loved it and requested it for future events. Turned out it was our German friend’s favorite cake for his birthday!
Thank you for the pics and great detailed instructions.
Kelsie says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Kate! You’ve made my day!
Zoe says
I just made this for the first time and it turned out perfectly. Your directions are very clear and easy to follow. Everyone loved it. I had never encountered German Buttercream but I now like it even better than Swiss Meringue Buttercream, it’s hard to beat a frosting that’s base is comprised of a vanilla crème pat! Thank you for the recipe!
Kelsie says
Hi Zoe! Thank you so much for the feedback! I’m glad you liked it and I’m with you on German buttercream. It’s SOOOO good!
Mary says
I have bookmarked this cake and plan to bake this for my son’s birthday. Will it be alright if I make the german buttercream beforehand and set in fridge. While assembling, the buttercream has to be at room temperature?Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Kelsie says
Hi Mary! You should be fine making the buttercream beforehand, I’d say up to a day or so in advance. You’ll want it to be room temp so it’s spreadable. The fastest way to get it there is just to beat the cold frosting with a mixer on medium speed for a few minutes. You might even need to thin it out with a little milk or cream, but I rarely have to do that with frosting; beating with a mixer for a bit should be sufficient. Don’t hesitate to be in touch if you have more questions!
Penni Benkler says
I’m excited to try this, but curious about high altitude adjustments. Has anyone tried this at altitude and do you have any suggestions? Thank you!
Penni
Kelsie says
Hi Penni! Unfortunately I don’t have any experience with baking at altitudes, nor am I aware of anyone who has tried this recipe at altitudes and made adjustments. Here’s a guide from Betty Crocker but I’m not sure how much help it will provide. I wish I could be of more help!
Cheryl says
I made this cake for Christmas following this recipe. It was a lot of work but really good. I was scared that I did something wrong because it was so heavy. The cake is like pound cake. Very delicious and not too sweet. I had some trouble with the pudding (I might’ve messed up) it seemed too thin and like it wasn’t enough & was a bit lumpy. I made the pudding /custard for the Bee Sting cake without any problems so I just used that instead for my buttercream. I used a different ganache recipe. The recipe is very well written and easy to follow. 5 stars! I might just use instant pudding next time. Do you know how much pudding I should use if I substitute instant in the buttercream recipe?
Kelsie says
Hi Cheryl! I’m so glad that you liked the cake! It is definitely a lot of work :). I’m sorry you had trouble with the pudding though; it does tend to be lumpy but I’m not sure why it would turn out thin–very strange! Great tip using the Bee Sting Cake filling since it’s essentially the same thing. I’m not sure how instant pudding would work but I imagine using about a cup of pudding would be a good starting point. I can’t remember exactly how much the pudding in this recipe makes but starting with a cup and adding more if necessary is probably your best bet. Let me know how it works, if you don’t mind, so I can add a note to the recipe. Shortcuts are always helpful! Have a happy New Year!