Talk:Bundt cake

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I removed the translation of "bund" as "a gathering of people" as that meaning of the word is not commonly used in German-speaking countries and certainly doesn't have anything to do with the origins of the word "Bundkuchen". It has more to do with the way the cake is wrapped around the center hole.

Also, "bundkuchen (sometimes called kugelhopf or Gugelhupf)" should probably be the other way around; that type of cake is called "Napfkuchen" or "Gugelhupf" in Germany and mostly "Gugelhupf" in other German-speaking countries, but note that the different names usually describe slightly different shapes. "Bundkuchen" is a regional term and is not widely used elsewhere. 85.124.36.244 11:26, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

Somebody picked up a dictionary and translated "Bund" as "federation" and "union". This is not wrong per se but the word has lots of meanings. The above translation just doesn't make sense in this case so I removed it. The name really has to do with the shape which is reminiscent of objects like trouser waistbands (one of the possible meanings of "Bund") or other things that are shaped like that. 85.127.112.24 22:48, 9 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Difference between a bundt cake and a regular cake?

Can someone please tell me what tghe difference is? Is it the amount of oil used? the temperature for baking? Please help me! —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 74.229.129.18 (talk) 03:30, 12 March 2007 (UTC).

It's the shape: the fact that it's got that big hole in the middle. I think the shape actually alters the chemistry. Michael Hardy 19:54, 9 July 2007 (UTC)

It's all about the translation! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.119.218.100 (talk) 13:31, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Factual errors

The OED (Oxford English Dictionary) lists the name Bundt (in reference to the cake and with that spelling) as early as 1903, so Dalquist couldn't have invented that name. Please check that.

[edit] Lousy photograph

The photograph on this page is terrible. You're supposed to be able to see the shape. But the hole in the middle is inconspicuous. Someone who didn't know it's supposed to be there might fail to see it at all. Michael Hardy 19:55, 9 July 2007 (UTC)

I switched it for two images of a frosted and unfrosted Bundt cake, which more clearly show the shape. Jonathunder 00:33, 17 July 2007 (UTC)

Definitely better than the first one. But more color contrast between the cake and the plate would be better still. Michael Hardy 01:26, 17 July 2007 (UTC)

I would like to clear up some misconceptions regarding this style of cake. It is important to know that after World War 2, Mr. Dalquist returned to the United States, from service in Europe, and started his own company called Nordic Ware, manufacturing pans. He was approched by a lady, who inherited a round ceramic pan from her mother, who immagrated to the United States from Europe. The lady did not know the history behind the pan or the cake baked in it. She asked Mr. Dalquist if he could manufacture something similar to be used. Perhaps Mr. Dalquist may have even seen the pan in Europe or in this lady's kitchen. He did not know the name of the pan so he used the word "bund", meaning gathering in German, added a "t" to the end of the word and patented the name for Nordic Ware. The Dictionary now refers to this name as a cake. Americans have been calling this item by this name ever since Pillsbury had the contest, after their not so popular bundt cake mixes hit the market. The marketing ploy was a success for both companies.

I first became interested in this tradition while in Germany in May 2001. I noticed several of these brightly painted, beautiful ceramic pans decorating the outside area above peoples doors. I saw many in Alsace, as well as Strasbourg, which is a town that has been passed between Germany and France many times in history, after major wars and treaties affected the rule of the area. I purchased a small version of the ceramic pan while there, came home and started looking for answers to my questions. Nordic Ware did not have the entire history. I found the name and recipe of the cake called a kugelhopf and the pan used to bake it. Naturally, over the years, the cake may have popped up every where in Europe as merchants traveled. I also found a short history of this cake which is baked on a particular day in villages in Alsace, to comemortate the 12th century victory over the invading Turks at that time, who just happened to wear turbans. The cake is huge and looks like a turban, on purpose. It would have fed an entire village for celebration. While in Solvang, I spoke with a Danish woman who remembers her immagrant mother had baked this cake in a double boiler method on top of the stove, which is a large pan of water placed under this type of ceramic cake pan, on top of a stove with a cover over both. The hole in the middle of the pan allows heat to rise so that the pan doesn't flip over into the water. It also allows the cake to cook entirely, without a raw middle. The woman I spoke to, didn't know the name, just the shape of the pan. I realized how twisted history can become, passed by word of mouth, or marketed under the wrong name for profit. Again, I don't know if this is complete, I am just reporting what I have found.

I really enjoy the study of these simple basic human items. I have quite a collection of these pans now, made in Alsace to Portugal or imported from Europe to Solvang, but I haven't purchased a bundt pan, yet. I'm glad that Wikipedia gives us the opportunity to pass this information on, as this may not be of enough interest to be recorded by a historian. Too bad. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.8.247.231 (talk) 20:41, 31 August 2007 (UTC)