Home-Style Baumkuchen (Oven-Broiled Tree Cake)

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Cakes cupcakes Vanilla: Extract Medium

Home-Style Baumkuchen (Oven-Broiled Tree Cake)

Baumkuchen, the German tree cake, is built from thin browned layers so each slice shows rings. This is our home oven version, using the broiler in place of the rotating spit. Makes 1 8-inch cake in about 1 hr 55 min.

Prep 40 min

Cook 45 min

Cooling 30 min

Total 1 hr 55 min

Yield 1 8-inch cake

Ingredients

Adjust yield

8-inch cake

1 cup (200 g)unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup (150 g)granulated sugar, divided: 60 g with yolks, 90 g with whites
5 (90 g)egg yolks
5 (165 g)egg whites
1 cup (120 g)all-purpose flour
½ cup (60 g)cornstarch
2 tsp (10 ml)pure vanilla extract
1 tbsp (15 ml)dark rum
1 ½ tsp (3 g)lemon zest
1 pinch (1 g)fine salt
1 cup (120 g)powdered sugar
1 ½ tbsp (25 ml)lemon juice

Fresh ingredient guides

LemonsHow to pick, season & nutrition · 24 kcal per 84 g

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Instructions

Heat the broiler with the rack 8 inches (20 cm) below it. Line the base and sides of an 8-inch (20 cm) springform pan with parchment and grease the sides.
Beat the butter and 60 g of the sugar 5 minutes until very pale. Beat in the yolks one at a time, then the vanilla, rum, zest and salt.
In a clean bowl, whip the whites to soft peaks, then add the remaining 90 g sugar and whip to stiff glossy peaks.
Fold a third of the whites into the yolk mixture, then sift over the flour and cornstarch and fold in. Fold in the remaining whites.
Spread a scant 1/3 cup (about 55 g) of batter thinly over the base. Broil 2 to 3 minutes until deep golden brown; watch constantly.
Take out, spread the next 55 g of batter evenly over the browned layer and broil again. Repeat until batter is used, about 10 to 12 layers.
After the final layer, move the pan to the lower oven set to 350 F (175 C) for 5 minutes to set the center.
Cool 15 minutes in the pan, release and cool on a rack.
Stir the powdered sugar and lemon juice to a thin glaze, brush it over the cooled cake and let it set before slicing.

Tips

Spread each layer thin; thick layers do not brown evenly.
Do not walk away from the broiler.
Chill leftover batter in the bowl and fold gently before each layer.
Bake until set in the center; do not eat raw batter.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make home-style baumkuchen (oven-broiled tree cake)?

Plan on 40 minutes of prep and 45 minutes of cooking, plus 30 minutes to chill. The recipe makes 1 8-inch cake.

How should I store home-style baumkuchen (oven-broiled tree cake)?

Keep covered at room temperature for up to 4 days; freezes well for 2 months.

Can I make home-style baumkuchen (oven-broiled tree cake) ahead?

It is at its best the day it is made; prepare it a few hours before serving.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 2 tsp pure vanilla extract (10 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Serve it with coffee.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 1 serving this recipe makes.

299 Calories / serving

15.7g Fat

35.5g Carbs

3.9g Protein

22.8g Sugar

Whole recipe (1 serving): ~299 cal · 16g fat · 36g carbs · 4g protein · 23g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.