Baumkuchen - King Of Cakes

I made a short documentary about the traditional German cake Baumkuchen (“tree cake”). Master Pastry Chef Paul Gauweiler (originally from Hanover, Germany), makes this extraordinary cake using his very own Baumkuchen machine. He works pastry magic at his charming bakery The Cake Box, in an unassuming Huntington Beach strip mall. I have been a massive fan of cake my entire life and have been particularly captivated with Baumkuchen since my childhood in Germany. Because it’s always been pricey/special and because it’s not a traditional birthday cake I didn’t have that many opportunities to enjoy it. When visiting Japan a couple of years ago, I remembered that Baumkuchen had developed its own parallel life there, having been elevated to whole new heights. I tried to sample as much as I could in the short time I spent there and was impressed - but hardly surprised - at the impeccable quality of the Baumkuchen in Japan and the dedication given to perfecting it. I started looking for freshly baked Baumkuchen in Los Angeles, and to my excitement, found a bakery making fresh Baumkuchen about an hour outside the city. It’s quite a stout “Gebäck”, and once cut, the visible layers reveal that it’s far more complex and labor-intensive than it might first appear. The baking of layer upon layer creates a complex flavor through the Maillard reaction of browning each ring of pastry. It’s not a cake that immediately wows you with flashy design, color, and taste like a Croquembouche, a Victoria Sponge Cake, or a Pineapple Upside Down Cake might. It’s subtle and a bit modest, and just right. In my opinion, it’s best served with a strong pour-over coffee like your granny used to make, a three-tine cake fork, and a napkin. Guten Appetit! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Credits: Directed and Produced by Florian Schura Shot and Edited by Mike Manzoori Music: Das Reingold - Entry of the Gods into Valhalla Darvin - Henrik Jensen's 'Followed by Thirteen' Affinity Babel Label Gentle Giant - Henrik Jensen's 'Followed by Thirteen' Affinity Babel Label Villa Helene - Henrik Jensen's 'Followed by Thirteen' Affinity Babel Label With Special Thanks to Chef Paul, Cynthia Rule, and the staff at The Cake Box in Huntington Beach CA