Holiday Cakes

All over Europe, the holiday season means special cakes. Each country or region has its own distinctive confection, eagerly awaited by one and all. At Gourmet Pantry, we carry a good selection of these wonderful treats.

Most Americans know only Stollen, an oval bread with candied fruit, as a traditional German holiday treat. However, Germans also enjoy luscious little cakes similar to pound cake. These light, buttery cakes come in a variety of flavors, with chocolate, marzipan and marble being the most popular. They are often served with cream and fresh fruits.

Tortes and Babas are made all over Europe, and the varieties are endless. The Baba is rumored to have been invented by the chef of an exiled Slavic king centuries ago. Naples is now considered the Italian center for Baba. The classic Baba au Rhum may simply have rum-flavored cream filling, or may be drenched in spirits. Even those soaked with rum, however, tend to dry out quickly, so you might want to buy small individual Babas and freeze any not immediately needed.

Tortes come in an incredible range of flavors, textures and ingredients. Walnut torte, chocolate torte and orange custard torte are among the most widely made, but they can be made with anise, hazelnuts, ricotta cheese, plums or just about anything your imagination can come up with. Tortes and Babas are traditionally made in tall copper molds, similar to that of a Bundt cake. They are often packaged with confectioner’s sugar or cocoa for you to sprinkle over the cake just before serving.

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