Baum Tortebaum Kuchen German Tree Cake Recipes

Steps:

• 1. There are 20 layers or more to this cake. The cake is refrigeratated overnight. Start early in the morning...this is a long process.
• 2. All the ingredients should be at room temp.
• 3. In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the almond paste with half and half, one tablespoon at a time. It will resemble mashed potatoes when you're done.
• 4. Next, beat in softened butter until fluffy, scraping the bowl to make sure its all mixed in.
• 5. Next, beat in the sugar. Scrape down the sides.
• 6. Next, incorporate the yolks, one at a time
• 7. Add the vanilla.
• 8. Next, sift in the flour and cornstarch in thirds. Beat until well incorporated, scraping the bowl as needed.
• 9. Next, beat the egg whites until they make stiff peaks, but aren't dry.
• 10. Fold the egg whites into the batter gently.
• 11. How to bake the cake: Turn on your BROILER. Yes, I said BROILER! Let is heat up a tad.
• 12. Brush with butter and line a 9″ springform pan with parchment paper. Use more of butter then you think you need.
• 13. Roll like a crepe around the pan with 1/4 cup of batter evenly in the bottom of the pan. I rolled the pan, like I do for crepes. Just make sure you are holding the cake pan with two pot holders.
• 14. Broil this layer until deep golden brown. Do not take out of pan. Add then another thin layer of batter on top. Roll again like for a crepe. Broil again till brown, but not burnt.
• 15. Then, add another 1/4 cup batter. Roll again like a crepe till it is even. Broil as before.
• 16. Each layer should be a little darker then the others. And each layer should be totally flat.
• 17. After repeating these steps a few times, spread a layer with a bit of jam with a little rum mixed in. Continue making a few layers of cake to every layer of jam, until half the jam is used up. I brushed dark rum on top off every 3rd layer before adding the batter.
• 18. Repeat same process until you have 20 layer or more.
• 19. Refrigerate overnight.
• 20. The next day. Spread the top and sides of cake with the jam. Set in refrigerator while making chocolate glaze.
• 21. TO MAKE THE CHOCOLATE GLAZE:
• 22. Melt butter in a saucepan. Add Lyles Golden syrup, vanilla extract and rum. Simmer a few minutes to let the ingredients merge well. Remove from heat and toss in the chocolate and let chocolate melt.
• 23. Stir the glaze until glossy and pour center of top and push down the sides of cake.
• 24. Press finely chopped slightly roasted almonds over the sides and outer edge of cake. Refrigerate to set.
• 25. Update: Adjust broiler rack so the top of pan is about 1 inch from broiler and the bottom of the pan is 5-6 inches from the heat. Each layer should be a different color...from a light golden brown to a dark brown (but not burnt). This is what gives it the look of rings of a tree, each time you broil a layer..the whole top will not be the same color. You will get spots some a little darker and some lighter. Here's another helpful hint. I don't use a brush to push the batter around. I pick up the pan and roll the dough making sure it gets to the edges like you do crepes in a pan. It also helps to make the batter evenly distributed so you have no doming. Another helpful hint. Heat your jam in a double boiler and keep it warm. It will spread so much easier. I hope this helps if you are going to make it.

Steps:

• Whip butter and sugar well until creamy. Gradually add egg yolks and the rum, zest, salt, almonds, flour and cornstarch to the butter-sugar mixture until a light, foamy batter forms.
• Beat egg whites until very stiff and fold gently into the batter.
• Pour about 2 tablespoons batter (a thin covering) into a 8-1/2" springform pan greased with butter.
• On the uppermost oven rack,
• or broil in a preheated for 2 minutes or until golden brown. Watch carefully, this browning can take place very quickly.
• Repeat until all the batter is gone -- you should have about 14 to 16 layers. When the cake is done, let it stand a few minutes before running a sharp knife along the sides of the pan. Remove the cake from the pan and glaze with melted apricot jam. Once the jam is set, you can add an additional glaze of thinned almond paste or immediately finish the cake with a thin icing made from powered sugar or the highest quality chocolate available (use your favorite chocolate).

Steps:

• Heat the grill to medium-high, or set it to 220C if you can. Butter and line the base of a 23cm springform cake tin. Put the marzipan and 2 tbsp of the cream into a bowl of a stand mixer and beat for 1-2 mins with a paddle attachment until it forms a paste. While beating, gradually add the rest of the cream. Tip the mixture into another bowl and set aside. You don't need to clean the mixer bowl.
• Put the butter, caster sugar, vanilla and a pinch of salt in the empty mixing bowl and beat for 3-4 mins until pale and fluffy. Gradually beat in the creamy marzipan mixture.
• Mix the egg yolks into the cake batter, one by one, then fold in the flour and cornflour.
• Using an electric whisk, beat the egg whites in a large bowl until it begins to form firm peaks, then fold it into the cake batter so you don't knock out too much air.
• Ladle just enough mixture into the cake tin to cover the base - you'll need about two-thirds of a ladle. Spread the mixture evenly over the base of the tin, then cook under the grill for 3 mins until set and golden, watching it carefully so it doesn't start to burn.
• Remove from the grill and ladle the same amount of batter on top. Spread it out in the same way, making sure that all the cake below is covered in a thin layer. Cook again for 3 mins. Continue until all the batter is used. It should make about 10 layers, depending on the thickness.
• When it's finished cooking, run a small paring knife around the edge of the tin to stop it from sticking, and leave to cool completely. Remove the cooled cake from the pan and invert onto a cooling rack.
• To make the glaze, heat the chocolate, cream, syrup and butter together in a saucepan until melted together into a smooth, glossy sauce, about 1-2 mins. Pour over the top of the cake and down the sides, then leave to set fir 1 hr before serving.