Bundt cake

Bundt Cake

A Bundt cake is a cake that is baked in a Bundt pan, shaping it into a distinctive ring shape. The shape is inspired by a traditional European cake known as Gugelhupf, but Bundt cakes are not generally associated with any single recipe. The style of mold in North America was popularized in the 1950s and 1960s, after cookware manufacturer Nordic Ware trademarked the name "Bundt" and began producing Bundt pans from cast aluminum. Publicity from Pillsbury saw the cakes gain widespread popularity.

History

The Bundt cake derives in part from a European brioche-like cake called Gugelhupf which was particularly popular among Jewish communities in parts of Germany, Austria and Poland. In the north of Germany Gugelhupf is traditionally known as Bundkuchen, a name formed by joining the two words Bund and Kuchen (cake).

Nordic Ware trademarked the name Bundt, and it began to gain popularity in the 1950s and 1960s. The Bundt cake achieved fame when a recipe called the "Tunnel of Fudge", baked in a Bundt pan, won second place in a Pillsbury-sponsored baking contest in the 1960s.

Design

The design of a Bundt cake is made to be ornate and detailed, to make the cake a centerpiece of a dessert table. The Bundt pan allows for a more even distribution of heat, reducing the risk of overcooking the outer edges while the middle remains raw.

Varieties

There are many varieties of Bundt cake, with flavors ranging from chocolate and lemon to almond and apple. Some popular variations include the Lemon Bundt Cake, Chocolate Bundt Cake, and the Pumpkin Bundt Cake. Each variation has its own unique flavor profile and ingredients.

See Also

• Cake
• Baking
• Dessert