Tradition in the heart, innovation on the tongue – Our path to vegan Baumkuchen

Baumkuchen – classic, timeless, and unmistakable. At GROCH & ERBEN, we're proud of our tradition and love our classic Baumkuchen, just as the principles of fine baked goods dictate. But hey, tradition doesn't mean stagnation for us! For years, we've lived for the modern version of Baumkuchen and have breathed a breath of fresh air into the scene with creations like raspberry, matcha, and blossoms. The competition? Of course, they like to copy (keyword: summer tree)!

But now we're going a step further. We've received repeated inquiries: "When will we actually have a vegan Baumkuchen?" Good question, we thought – and took it to heart. After our participation in Berlin Food Week at Bikini Berlin 2023, it became clear: It's time to take Baumkuchen to the next level and try the vegan version. But don't worry: Our vegan Baumkuchen complements the classic version, not replaces it. #TraditionBleibt

The path to vegan Baumkuchen – Trial & Error

How do you approach a project like this? Of course, the first step was to talk, research, and experiment. We exchanged ideas with friends, colleagues, and vegan experts, and read a lot. In the end, the crucial question was: How can we replace butter and egg 1:1 without the Baumkuchen losing its flavor and consistency? The fact is: Butter provides the unmistakable flavor, and the egg? It's what keeps the dough on the roller so it bakes perfectly, layer by layer.

We tried everything: chickpea water, applesauce, potatoes—the baking table looked like a small alchemy workshop. In the end, we settled on a vegan margarine, palm oil-free, of course. Over 30 to 40 rounds of experimentation later (yes, a few Baumkuchen cakes fell off the roller...), we were slowly getting the hang of it. First, we tested it in the oven, then directly on the roller of our Baumkuchen machine. What was planned to take three months ended up being a year-long project—but hey, if you want to achieve great things, you have to accept setbacks!

Different, but good – Our vegan Baumkuchen

Of course, the vegan Baumkuchen tastes different from the classic Baumkuchen – simply because butter is responsible for its distinctive flavor. But that's okay! Our vegan Baumkuchen is meant to taste different. Comparisons between the two varieties are flawed, and we don't see our vegan Baumkuchen as a replacement, but rather as an exciting addition to our product range.

And the best part? We never stop refining it. A lot of love, brainpower, and baking skills have gone into the current version, but there's always room for improvement. That's why your opinion counts! On every package, you'll find a QR code that you can use to give us direct feedback. This is the only way we can continually improve our vegan Baumkuchen.

So, what are you waiting for? Try it, let us know what you think, and be part of the next Baumkuchen revolution!