Baumkuchen: The German Dessert’s Long Japanese History
Read the intriguing history of how baumkuchen, the tree trunk-shaped German cake, grew in popularity in Japan.
Walking into the dessert section of a supermarket, bakery, or convenience store in Japan, your eye will likely be drawn by a collection of colorful round desserts. This is baumkuchen, a German cake popular for its unique shape and wide variety of flavors.
This humble pastry, which began its life in Europe, has risen to become one of the most popular desserts in Japan. The story of baumkuchen’s arrival in Japan is one of creativity and industry flourishing even during the darkest of times.
What Is Baumkuchen?
The German word “baumkuchen” literally translates to “tree cake.” It refers to the cake’s round shape and layered structure, which is visually similar to the rings of a tree.
Historians debate the origin of Baumkuchen, with several towns in Germany, Austria, and Hungary claiming to be its birthplace. Baumkuchen first definitively appeared in a cookbook in 1581. The text, “Ein neu Kochbuch” (“A New Cookbook”), was written as a manual for chefs-in-training…
