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Perfect Bee Sting Cake Recipe from Germany

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The German Bee Sting Cake, or Bienenstich, is a classic dessert featuring a soft yeast dough topped with a caramelized honey-almond layer. This cake is perfect for family gatherings, coffee breaks, or special occasions. Its balance of textures—tender dough and crunchy topping—makes it both elegant and comforting.

  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 10 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 packet (7g) active dry yeast
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup warm milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ½ cup honey
  • 1 cup sliced almonds
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening)

Instructions

  1. Warm the milk until comfortably warm, then add sugar and yeast. Let it sit 5–10 minutes until frothy.
  2. In a bowl, combine flour and salt. Add butter, eggs, and vanilla extract. Pour in the yeast mixture and mix until sticky dough forms.
  3. Knead the dough on a floured surface for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
  4. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise 1–1.5 hours until doubled in size.
  5. In a saucepan, melt honey and butter over low heat. Add sliced almonds and cook 2–3 minutes, then cool slightly.
  6. Punch down the risen dough and roll it out to fit a greased or parchment-lined baking pan.
  7. (Optional) Pre-bake dough at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes.
  8. Pour almond-honey topping evenly over the dough.
  9. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 25–30 minutes until golden and cooked through.
  10. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

Notes

Use fresh yeast for best results.

Toast nuts lightly for extra crunch.

Optional: Add a thin layer of vanilla pastry cream before the topping for added richness.

  • Author: Emily
  • Prep Time: 25
  • Cook Time: 30