German cuisine · Desserts & Sweets

Baumkuchen (Tree Cake)

Marzipan batter baked layer by layer under the grill, finished with a thick coating of dark chocolate.

Ingredients · for 8 servings

• 250 g soft butter
• 200 g sugar
• 200 g marzipan
• 6 eggs
• 150 g flour
• 120 g cornstarch
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 tbsp jam
• 200 g dark chocolate
• 30 g butter for the crust

Instructions

1. Line the bottom of a 24 cm springform pan with parchment paper, grease the sides and preheat the oven to the grill/broil setting at 220 °C; separate the eggs.
2. Coarsely grate the marzipan and beat with 250 g butter, 150 g of the sugar, salt and vanilla extract for 6 min. until very fluffy, then stir in the egg yolks one at a time.
3. Whip the egg whites with the remaining sugar until stiff, sift the flour and cornstarch over the butter mixture and fold both in alternately, gently, until a smooth, thick batter forms.
4. Spread about 3 tbsp of batter in a wafer-thin layer in the pan and grill on the middle rack for 2–3 min. until the layer is evenly golden brown.
5. Immediately spread the next thin layer on top and grill again for 2–3 min.; build up 15–18 layers this way, turning the pan occasionally so the browning stays even.
6. Let the cake cool, coat it thinly all over with warmed jam, cover with the chocolate melted over a bain-marie together with the 30 g butter, and let set.