Rote Grütze is the German dessert that combines red berries with a thickened fruit sauce or pudding.
The name literally means “red groats” or “red grits,” referring to the dish’s traditionally grain-thickened texture. Recipes commonly contain redcurrants, raspberries, strawberries, cherries or a mixture of red fruits. Potato starch, cornstarch or another thickener is used to produce a spoonable consistency.
Rote Grütze is especially associated with northern Germany and Denmark, where related berry desserts are also popular. It is usually served cold with vanilla sauce, milk, cream or ice cream. The exact fruit mixture is not fixed, so a recipe containing only one red fruit may still resemble the dessert, but the defining idea is a red-fruit preparation with a thickened consistency rather than a baked pie or pastry.