Home / Austrian Kitchen / Wachauer Marillenkuchen

Wachauer Marillenkuchen

A tender yeast cake topped with halved apricots from the Wachau valley, baked until the fruit caramelizes at the edges — late summer on a baking sheet.

⏱ 20 minPrep time
🔥 45 minCook time
🍽 8Servings
🏷 Austrian KitchenCategory
☆☆☆☆☆No ratings yet

A tender yeast cake topped with halved apricots from the Wachau valley, baked until the fruit caramelizes at the edges — late summer on a baking sheet.

Apricots from the terraced orchards

The Wachau valley along the Danube grows Austria’s most prized apricots — Marillen with a protected origin label since 1996. When they ripen in July, the region bakes them into this simple yeast cake, the dessert of every Wachau garden tavern.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Stir the yeast and 1 teaspoon of the sugar into the warm milk and let it foam 10 minutes.
  2. Mix the flour, remaining sugar, and salt; add the yeast mixture, melted butter, egg, and lemon zest. Knead 8 minutes into a soft dough.
  3. Cover and let rise 1 hour until doubled.
  4. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Press the dough into a buttered 10x15-inch baking sheet, building up a small rim.
  5. Arrange the apricot halves cut-side up over the dough, sprinkle with the sugar and almonds, and drizzle with the melted butter.
  6. Let rise 15 minutes, then bake 25-30 minutes until the dough is golden and the apricots are caramelized. Brush with the warm apricot jam, cool slightly, dust with powdered sugar, and serve warm.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Use ripe but firm apricots — very soft ones turn to mush in the oven. The warm jam glaze gives the cake that beautiful, glossy shine.

Rate this recipe

☆☆☆☆☆No ratings yet
Sign in to rate this recipe.

Recipe details

Prep20 min
Cook45 min
Servings8
CategoryAustrian Kitchen
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →