Gyeongbokgung café for matcha custard baumkuchen: The Baum

A baumkuchen café near Gyeongbokgung Station

I stopped by The Baum Gyeongbokgung Branch (더바움 경복궁점) for dessert while I was near Gyeongbokgung. It is a café specializing in baumkuchen, a traditional German layered cake, and since it is not a dessert I eat all the time, I had been curious about it haha. It is close to Exit 2 of Gyeongbokgung Station, so it is in a great spot to visit after looking around Gyeongbokgung Palace or Seochon.

As soon as you enter, there is a long display case full of baumkuchen. The café has two floors; the first floor has both the ordering area and seating. Its hanok-inspired ceiling and wood-toned interior suited the atmosphere around Gyeongbokgung really well.

So many baumkuchen to choose from

There were honestly way more kinds of baumkuchen than I expected. Along with classic baumkuchen, there were versions in flavors like chocolate, matcha, and custard, all in different sizes and shapes, so it was fun just looking around haha. The Baum sells baumkuchen made with quality ingredients alongside specialty coffee, and it also has plenty of products packaged for gifts.

Baumkuchen is a German dessert made by baking batter layer by layer, like the rings of a tree, and I spent ages deciding because each variety looked so different lol. The Chocolate Eiffel Baum especially stood out with its bumpy, rising shape, while the brûléed top on the Matcha Custard Baum looked delicious, so I picked it right away.

With so many options, it was also nice to choose several small ones to try.

There were not only coffees but also ades and teas, so it was easy to pair a drink with dessert based on what you like.

• Signature Baked Baum: ₩4,000
• Brûléed Matcha Custard Baum: ₩7,800
• Chocolate Eiffel Baum: ₩7,500
• Bergamot Rose Garden: ₩6,800

The texture and flavor vary by baumkuchen, so if it is your first visit, I recommend taking a lap around the display case before choosing. The gift baumkuchen also looked like a good option to take away.

Relaxed second-floor seating with a hanok feel

After ordering, I went upstairs. The second floor had more generously spaced tables than the first, and the wooden hanok-style ceiling was still there, making for a really nice atmosphere. The tables were not cramped either, so it was a great place to take a little break and have dessert during a Gyeongbokgung date!

Putting the Chocolate Eiffel Baum, Brûléed Matcha Custard Baum, Signature Baked Baum, and Bergamot Rose Garden together was so pretty because they all looked different. I was especially curious how the three baumkuchen would differ not only in flavor but in texture too.

By the way, because baumkuchen is built up in layers like tree rings, it is also known as a dessert symbolizing success, prosperity, celebration, and longevity. That is why The Baum has separate gift packages like these. It seemed like a nice choice when you want to give a slightly different dessert instead of the usual cookies or cake.

The packaging inside the box was neat too. Baumkuchen is pretty on its own, so it would be great when looking for a small dessert gift for a birthday or anniversary!

Chocolate Eiffel Baum taste

It was not the round baumkuchen I had imagined, but one with sharp peaks rising up, so it had the most unique look of the three.

The deep chocolate color had me so curious before I even tried it. It looked a little brownie-like too, which made me look forward to it even more!

Unlike its exterior, the inside was quite dense and easy to cut into bite-size pieces. The chocolate was not overly sweet; it came through together with the flavor of the baum itself, and it was so good ㅠㅠㅠ It was not completely fudgy like a brownie, but it had just the right amount of fudginess for me, so I liked it even more.

Pairing it with Bergamot Rose Garden

It was so pretty with its pink-pink color haha. It also had lemon and mint in it, making it nice to sip between sweet desserts like the chocolate and custard ones.

It had a tea base with a subtle bergamot fragrance, which went well with the baumkuchen. Above all, since I ordered three kinds of dessert, I thought choosing a refreshing drink like this instead of coffee was a good call.

Brûléed Matcha Custard Baum

The top was golden and baked like a brûlée, while the sides really showed off the matcha color. This one was quite plump too! From the outside, I thought it might just be matcha baumkuchen, but once you cut into it, it was completely different.

It was full of cream inside ㅠㅠ The matcha baum was packed with cream, so it definitely felt different from eating baumkuchen on its own. The distinctive matcha flavor came with milky cream, plus the brûléed top, so this one felt the most like a proper dessert of the three. I love matcha, so I really enjoyed this one haha.

Strawberry Signature Baked Baum

It was round and small, making it easy to add one alongside other menu items. The topping comes in different colors and flavors, and I chose strawberry!

The outside was baked golden, and the round topping gave it a bit of a miniature tart-like look.

Turns out this place is amazing at cream too,, Just like the Brûléed Matcha Custard Baum earlier, the cream in this one was seriously so delicious ㅠㅠㅠ It was pretty too, so I think it would make such a great gift haha.

You can choose and try many kinds of baumkuchen in one place, and with two floors of seating, it is a great dessert stop during a date around Gyeongbokgung or Seochon. If you want a slightly different dessert from the cakes you normally eat, or are looking for giftable baumkuchen, I recommend The Baum Gyeongbokgung Branch :)