Šakotis (Lithuanian Tree Cake), Oven Version

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Baking Cakes cupcakes Vanilla: Extract Medium

Šakotis (Lithuanian Tree Cake), Oven Version

A rich, buttery egg cake with a crisp golden spiked surface. This home-oven adaptation builds the cake in thin layers in a tube pan, so it has the same layered crumb but milder spikes than the spit version. Makes 14 slices in about 1 hr 10 min.

Prep 30 min

Cook 40 min

Total 1 hr 10 min

Yield 14 slices

Ingredients

Adjust yield

slices

1 cup (250 g)unsalted butter, softened
1 cup (200 g)granulated sugar
8 (144 g)egg yolks
4 (132 g)egg whites
2 cups (250 g)all-purpose flour
3 ½ tbsp (30 g)cornstarch
½ cup (120 ml)sour cream
2 tsp (10 ml)vanilla extract
1 tbsp (15 ml)rum
¼ tsp (2 g)salt

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Instructions

Heat the oven to 425 F (220 C) with a rack in the upper third. Grease a 9-inch (23 cm) tube or bundt pan and a baking sheet to set under it.
Beat butter and half the sugar for 4 minutes until pale, then beat in the yolks one at a time, followed by the sour cream, vanilla and rum.
Whisk flour, cornstarch and salt and mix into the butter mixture. Whip the whites with the remaining sugar to soft peaks and fold them in.
Spoon a thin layer of batter, about 1/2 cup, into the pan and spread to cover the sides. Bake 4 to 5 minutes until golden.
Add the next thin layer on the baked one and bake again. Repeat until the batter is used, about 8 layers, lowering the oven to 375 F (190 C) after the fourth layer so it does not overbrown.
Cool 15 minutes in the pan, then turn out. Dust with powdered sugar if you like.

Tips

Keep layers thin so each one browns before the next goes on.
Use a pan with a center tube so the heat reaches every layer.
This takes patience and about an hour at the oven.
Bake each layer until fully set and golden; egg dishes are safe at 160 F (71 C).

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make šakotis (lithuanian tree cake), oven version?

Plan on 30 minutes of prep and 40 minutes of cooking. The recipe makes 14 slices.

How should I store šakotis (lithuanian tree cake), oven version?

Keeps well wrapped at room temperature up to 5 days; it dries slowly and slices well later.

Can I make šakotis (lithuanian tree cake), oven version 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 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.

Šakotis is a Lithuanian celebration cake whose batter is poured in thin layers over a rotating spit, forming spikes like tree branches. Serve it with strong tea.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 14 servings this recipe makes.

315 Calories / serving

19.1g Fat

30.8g Carbs

4.8g Protein

14.9g Sugar

Whole recipe (14 servings): ~4410 cal · 267g fat · 431g carbs · 67g protein · 209g sugar

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