Baum Tortebaum Kuchen German Tree Cake Food

BAUMKUCHEN -- THE KING OF CAKES!

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).

BAUM TORTE/BAUM KUCHEN (GERMAN TREE CAKE )

Steps:

• Sift cake flour and cornstarch together set aside.In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a food processor, beat the almond paste with half and half, one tablespoon at a time. It will resemble mashed potatoes when you're done.
• Add butter mixing till well incorporated.
• Add sugar mixing in well and scarping side to incorporate.
• Add yolks one at a time while machine is running.
• Add vanilla.
• Incorporate the flour mixture 1/3 at a time till well mixed.
• Place the whites in a large mixing bowl and whip them up to stiff peaks.
• Fold whipped whites into the almond batter.
• Turn on the broiler and let it warm up for a few minutes.
• Meanwhile, butter bottom and side of a 10x3 inch spring form pan. Dust with flour, shake out excess. Line bottom of pan with double thickness of baking parchment.
• Next, spread 1/4 cup of batter in the bottom of the pan. Being sure to go right to the edges keeping center thin.
• Broil this layer until deep golden brown.
• Then, add another 1/4 cup batter. Spread it out with a brush and broil, as before.
• The first layers will take longer to brown.
• After repeating this step a few times, spread a layer with a bit of apricot and raspberry preserves jam. Alternating jam and preserves. Giving more contrast of layers. Continue making a few layers of cake to every layer of jam, until half the jam is used up and all the raspberry is used up.
• Be sure to push the batter evenly around so the cake remains flat.
• Doming cakes are bound to happen. You can correct as you go.
• Refrigerate over night.
• Spread the top and sides of cake with the remaining half of apricot jam.
• Set in refrigerator while making chocolate glaze.
• Melt butter in a small saucepan. Add corn syrup or alternate choices,.
• vanilla extract and rum.
• Remove from heat add in the chocolate chips.
• Cover five minutes, or until the chocolate is completely softened.
• Stir the glaze until glossy and pour evenly over top and sides of cake.
• Press crushed almonds over the sides and outer edge of cake. Refrigerate to set the glaze.
• Optional:.
• If the cake does dome you can keep as is or remove sides from spring form pan. Center an 8" template on top of torte. Holding blade of thin sharp knife downward at a 30 degree angle, slice away the sides of the torte from the template to outer rim of base. Torte will now have 8" top and 10" base with slanted sides. Trim sides until smooth. Invert torte; remove spring form base and peel off parchment. Place wire rack over torte and invert again.
• Do enjoy the trimmings.

GERMAN PRINZREGENTEN TORTE ( EIGHT LAYER CAKE )

Steps:

• Cut 8 (8-inch) rounds from wax or parchment paper, grease, and place on greased baking sheets.
• TO MAKE THE CAKE: Cream together the 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter and 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar.
• Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and stir in the vanilla extract.
• Sift together twice the flour, cornstarch, and baking powder and fold into the mixture.
• Divide the mixture into 8 equal portions and spread thinly into circles, as evenly as possible, on the wax paper rounds, to within 1 1/2 inches of the edges.
• Bake at 375ºF for about 7 minutes or until just lightly tinted.
• Carefully remove each batch as it is done and spread out on a board to cool while the rest are cooking.
• When all are cold, join together with the filling.
• Chill well and cover with the chocolate which has been melted over hot water.
• Decorate with rosettes of whipped cream and flaked chocolate.
• TO MAKE THE FILLING: Put the cocoa, cornstarch, and sugar into a mixing bowl and blend to a paste with some of the milk.
• Bring the remaining milk to the boiling point, add the cornstarch mixture, and stir over moderate heat until thickened.
• Put aside until lukewarm.
• Have the BUTTERS softened, mix them together, and beat until creamy.
• Gradually whip into the cornstarch cream.
• Allow to cool before using.
• Cooking for Family and Friends.