- Kuchen
thumb|right|120px|Streuselkuchen
thumb|right|120px|Baumkuchen
thumb|right|120px|ErdbeerkuchenKuchen, (pronounced: IPA: /kʰuxɛn/phonics: /"coo-hen"/) the German word for "cake ," is used as the name for several different types of sweetdessert s, pastries, and gateaux. The term itself may cover as many distinct desserts as its English counterpart "cake."Kuchen desserts are presumably handed down from people of German heritage and as such are often popular in many areas of German settlement in the
United States , particularlyNorth Dakota ,South Dakota ,Indiana , andMinnesota . Kuchen was introduced into theChilean cuisine when German immigrants settled southern Chile in the 1850s. Kuchens in Chile do always have fruits, such as apples, strawberries or murtas. Now kuchens are found in nearly every Chilean supermarket. InBrazil , it is called "cuca" and it is found in areas of German settlement, likeRio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina states.Known forms of Kuchen
* A
pie -like pastry, with a thick, "cakey" crust and a sweetcustard based filling.
* A rolled-pastry, with a long spiral of dough filled, rolled, baked and then sliced to serve. (Sometimes known as anut roll ).
* Acoffee cake -like pastry, with veins and pockets ofcinnamon and sugar baked throughout. (Most popular in SouthernIndiana .)
* Acheese cake -like pastry, with ayeast raised crust, filled with fruit (cherry is most popular) and a creamycustard .
* Apie -like pastry, with a thick, "cakey" crust and an apple-pie like filling, often with sweet white icing on the top.Kuchen in the news
In 2000, a kuchen was designated the state
dessert ofSouth Dakota . [http://www.state.sd.us/state/sdsym.htm]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.