Baumkuchen

Baumkuchen

Known as the "King of Cakes" the Baumkuchen is a German layered cake, usually enjoyed at Christmas time. Usually encased in a delicate chocolate shell, the cake has a light but firm texture and is almond flavored. When cut, the cake reveals the characteristic golden rings that give it it's name, Baumkuchen or translated literally, "Tree Cake". To get the ring effect, a thin layer of batter is brushed evenly onto a spit and allowed to bake until golden. The most skilled baker will repeat this process numerous times. Some bakers have been known to create 3 foot long Baumkuchens consisting of 25 layers and weighing over 100 pounds (45 kg).

The cake requires some level of skill to bake and can get messy if made in the traditional way (on a spit); however, modified recipes using pans do exist.

Baumkuchen seems to be even more popular in Japan than in Germany, though in Germany it is usually covered with chocolate less sweet than the Japanese variant.