Baumkuchen in Berlin: Konditorei Buchwald -- stilinberlin

Berlin might be ever changing, but some spots are here to stay. Konditorei Buchwald has been baking its well-known specialty, Baumkuchen, since 1852—not only for Berliners, but lovers of all things sweet worldwide, seeing as they regularly ship these cakes to Japan and the US. Shaped like circles or parentheses, the staff refers to their Baumkuchen as a pyramid cake. The dough is rolled onto a spit of sorts that slowly turns over an open flame, creating fine layers upon layers baked in turn and forming a beautiful tree-ring texture that’s then sealed with apricot marmalade.

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Ordering can become a bit difficult, though, as they also serve many additional treats, such as rum truffles or cream tart. Our recommendation is to go for the Baumkuchen and try both their variations: the simple one with just sugar icing or the one version covered in crispy dark chocolate. I decided on the latter and enjoyed it with a cup of coffee, sitting outside on one of the very first days that felt like spring this year.

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Tasting this refined treat, it’s no surprise that the bakery received a royal warrant of appointment to make Baumkuchen for the king around the turn of the previous century. And even now, the seat of power is just a short walk away, with the Schloss Bellevue, once home to Friedrich the Great’s youngest brother, Prince Ferdinand of Prussia, and now the official residence to the German president, just a walk away in the north end of the Tiergarten.