Baumkuchen? Tree Cake? That can’t be right! What is German Baumkuchen? This special cake didn’t get its name from the ingredients; the name came from the resemblance to the rings in a tree when you cut into it. And once you bite into this soft and flavorful cake, you will understand why everyone who tries it loves this “König der Kuchen, Kuchen der Könige.” Sadly, unlike most cake recipes, a real German Baumkuchen, made in the traditional style and form on a spit, is almost impossible to replicate at home. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy delicious Baumkuchen or Baumkuchen Spitzen at home!
What is German Baumkuchen?
Baumkuchen in a Straubing, Germany shop window
Baumkuchen is a very special kind of cake. Simply put, a German Baumkuchen is a cake baked on a spit. Bakers spoon thin layers of cake batter onto a rotating spit, or the spit gets dipped into a trough of batter), and then it’s baked over heat or fire. As the spit constantly rotates, the layer bakes. Then, new layers of batter are spread over the baked ones and baked. Traditional Baumkuchen can have 21 layers! When the cake is thick enough, bakers remove the spit and cut the Baumkuchen to show off the brown rings from the caramelization from baking sugar.
The concept of baking on a stick over flame has existed since the time of the Greeks and is still used on Girl Scout campouts. Ever wrap a crescent roll dough around a stick and hold it over a campfire? It’s the same concept. But of course, it was probably the Germans who made it special.
The name Baumkuchen first appeared in 1682 in Brandenburg. By the 18th century, bakers began using the recipe for the soft and sweet cake we know today. They started adding more sugar and other flavorings and even dipping the finished product in chocolate.
In 1841, King Friedrich Wilhelm IV visited Altmark (in Saxony Anhalt) and was served his first Salzwedeler Baumkuchen. He loved it so much that he took the rest of the cake in a to-go container. (Who could blame him?)
Today, Salzwedel has “geschützte geografische Angabe” or ” protected geographical indication” for Baumkuchen (a bit like Nürnberger Rostbratwürste)… although you can commonly find it in Dresden and Cottbus.
See Baumkuchen Baking
Where to Buy Baumkuchen
Even in Germany, Baumkuchen is a specialty item made only by a few confectioners. (The most famous is Baumkuchen Salzwedel The spit/rotisserie oven requires a different kind of baking than your ordinary Torte. And finding a baker with this special oven in the United States is almost impossible. BUT… that doesn’t mean you can’t get them!
GermanShop24 imports authentic Baumkuchen , and they are DELICIOUS! I opened one box , and Tech Guy couldn’t stop eating (he’d never had them before, and couldn’t believe what he had been missing). Fortunately, he let me have some.
Order them here (just get a few extra… in case there is a Baumkuchen monster in your home too).
Milk Chocolate BaumkuchenGermanShop24Dark Chocolate BaumkuchenGermanShop24
Baumkuchen in Japan?
One of the stories about Baumkuchen that I found quite amazing is the cake’s incredible popularity in Japan! 1919, the Japanese even celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Baumkuchen’s arrival in their country. Some say the cake may even be more popular there than in Germany! How did that happen?
German Karl Juchheim lived with his wife during WWI in Tsingtao, China. They were captured and taken to a POW camp in Osaka, Japan. When that camp closed, the couple was sent to Ninoshima. References say that he baked a Baumkuchen for an exhibition in 1919, which was so popular that he opened his own shop in Yokohama when he was released.
I did a little digging about this exhibition. The POW camp for Germans in Ninoshima was quite different from what you would expect. The Japanese wanted to be perceived as a First World country, so they went out of their way to abide by international treaties. The camp held concerts and had facilities for Baking and Sausage Making. They knew how to appeal to Germans! Read more here- Ninoshima Exhibition.
Baumkuchen grew in popularity, and today, the Juchein Company is still a popular Baumkuchen Maker in Japan. Because of the many layers, it’s considered lucky, and you may find it at weddings or given as a gift.
I found some in a Japanese market in Seattle, and they were pretty delicious.
【iWe & iYou】Japanese Marukin Chocolate Baumkuchen
【RYUGETSU】Sanpouroku Baumkuchen (Plain) (2)Uheim Baumkuchen Ring Deemeister Baumkuchen
How to Bake a Baumkuchen at Home
Baking a Baumkuchen at home in a standard cake tin is possible. When baked using this method, it’s usually referred to as a Schichttorte (Layered Cake). Instead of pouring the batter into a prepared pan, the batter is added just a bit at a time and “baked” under the grill flame of the broiler.
This cake was a fun Semi-Final Technical Challenge in the Britsh Bake-off, so I thought it appropriate that I share Paul Hollywood’s recipe- Schichttorte, Baumkuchen’s Horizontal Cousin
I had to share Colin’s video. You’ll know why when you hear him.
Now there is fresh Hawaiian Baumkuchen available in 3 flavors: Pineapple, Macadamia and Coffee.