Baumkuchen or tree-cake - also known as "Schichttorte" is a traditional Christmas cake you can find in every bakery in Germany during Advent and Christmas. The original version is baked layer by layer on a rotating log in front of a fire. Check out the Youtube video here. 

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I do not have a rotating log in front of a fire. I bake my cake layer by layer on top each other underneath the grill of my oven. Each layer is baked for only 2 - 3 minutes. I put the tin right underneath the broiler, as high as possible. 

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My recipe adds marzipan, rum and orange liquor to the batter. This makes it wonderfully moist and flavorful. I do have a large baking tin and double the recipe below. 

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What you need

6 eggs / separated

A little less than 1 cup of sugar / 250gr

2 sticks +1 tbsp. of butter / 250gr

1 cup + 1 tbsp. of flour / 150gr

1/2 cup + 1 tbsp. of cornstarch / 100gr

3 tsp baking powder

3.5 oz / 1/2 roll of Marzipan / 100 gr

1 tbsp. vanilla extract

3 tbsp. of orange liquor

3 tbsp. of rum

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Decoration

1.5 cups chocolate chips, melted

 

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Step by step:

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Spray your baking tin with cooking spray. Line the bottom of the baking tin with parchment paper. Spray the parchment paper with cooking spray. 

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Start the broiler of your oven, set to 450F / 250C.

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Break the marzipan into small pieces. Over a double boiler warm the marzipan and orange liquor together until melted. 

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, egg yolks and sugar together until fluffy.

Add the rum and vanilla extract. Beat until well combined. Add the melted marzipan and beat until well incorporated. The dough will be semi liquid.

 

In a separate mixing bowl mix the flour, cornstarch and baking powder. While beating the batter add the flour mix spoon by spoon. Beat until well incorporated.

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In a separate bowl beat the egg whites until stiff. With a spoon carefully incorporate the egg whites into the dough. 

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With a spoon pour a little bit of the dough into the baking tin. Just enough to cover the bottom of the tin. Place right underneath the broiler of your oven. Bake for about 2 - 3 minutes. Do not walk away and closely watch the cake. It can burn easily.

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Take the tin out of your pour another layer on top of the already baked one. Put it back in the oven and bake for another 2 - 3 minutes. 

Depending on your oven the baking time may vary. I watch my cake closely and do not walk away. It sometimes only takes 1 minutes for the layer to be golden brown and set. 

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Repeat with the remaining batter until completely used. Let the cake cool for about 10 minutes in the baking tin. Then place on a cooling rack to let cool completely. Handle the cake with care. The dough will be very soft and can easily break.

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Once the cake has cooled down completely, melt the chocolate over a double boiler and spread on top and around the cake. Let the chocolate set and then

 

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Enjoy!

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