FOOD NEWS
Baumkuchen Is The German Cake That Takes Three Hours To Prepare
By Haldan Kirsch
Baumkuchen, or "tree cake," is a little-known German cake that is almost impossible to make at home because it's three feet tall and requires a rotating spit oven.
It consists of multiple paper-thin layers of cake that grow outward and resemble the inner rings of a tree when cut into sections.
To achieve this effect, a simple batter made with a base of butter, flour, and eggs is applied to a spit oven repeatedly for three hours, allowing it to bake and caramelize.
The caramelization on each subsequent ring gives it a light and simple flavor with a depth that helps it stand apart. It can also be coated in a variety of glazes and icings.
Some bakers use a traditional apricot sugar glaze as a base coat before applying secondary dark or milk chocolate layers to provide more flavor and trap moisture.
You can still find shops in Germany that continue to make the traditional baumkuchen, but outside of Germany, your best bet is to order it online.