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Baumkuchen
Baumkuchen: German 'tree cake' baked layer by layer under the grill
GermanBaumkuchen is the king of German cakes, and the little town of Salzwedel in Saxony-Anhalt has baked it on a turning spit over an open flame for two centuries; in December, Baumkuchenspitzen, chocolate-dipped triangles of it, fill the shelves before Christmas. Without a spit you can build it at home in a tin under the grill, one thin layer at a time, and each slice shows the golden rings of a tree. The mistake people make is spreading the batter too thickly, which gives fewer, stodgy layers that cook unevenly; aim for 2 tablespoons at a time. Chef's tip: stand by the oven; each layer turns from pale to burnt within a minute once it browns.
- Total time
- 110 min
- Difficulty
- hard
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
For the cake
For the coating
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Line the base of a 24 cm springform tin with baking paper and butter the sides. Set the oven grill to high with the shelf about 15 cm below it.
5 minStep 2: Beat the 7 oz soft unsalted butter, half the 3 ⅛ oz caster sugar, 1 tbsp vanilla sugar, 1 tsp lemon zest and 1 pinch salt for 5 minutes until pale and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolks from the 6 eggs one at a time, then the 2 ⅝ oz marzipan.
8 minStep 3: Sift the 3 ½ oz plain flour, 3 ½ oz cornflour and 1 tsp baking powder over and fold in. In a clean bowl whisk the egg whites to soft peaks, add the rest of the 3 ⅛ oz caster sugar and whisk to stiff, glossy peaks. Fold into the batter in three goes, keeping it airy.
10 minStep 4: Spread 2 heaped tablespoons of batter thinly over the base of the tin. Grill for 2–3 minutes until evenly golden brown.
3 minStep 5: Take the tin out, spread the next thin layer straight on top and grill again. Repeat until the batter is used up, about 18–20 layers; later layers brown faster, so check after 90 seconds. A skewer in the centre should come out clean at the end.
60 minStep 6: Cool in the tin for 15 minutes, release and cool fully on a rack. Brush the top and sides with the 3 tbsp apricot jam.
20 minStep 7: Melt the 7 oz dark chocolate with the 1 tbsp coconut oil over barely simmering water and pour it over the cake, smoothing it down the sides. Leave to set for 1 hour, then cut into thin wedges to show the rings.
10 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 420 kcal
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 40 g
- Fat
- 26 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does baumkuchen take?
- About 110 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 80 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of soft unsalted butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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