Baba au rhum

Also known as rum baba, these small yeast dough sponge cakes are filled with raisins or currants, baked in a ring mold, and soaked in rum. The hole in the center of the cake is filled with either pastry cream, fresh fruit, or whipped cream. This dessert is believed to have been invented by pastry chef Nicolas Stohrer, who cooked for exiled Polish King Stanislas Lesczyńska when he came to France after his daughter’s marriage to Louis XV. Stohrer’s pâtisserie in Paris first began to sell baba cakes in 1730, while the addition of rum to the cakes has been noted in recipes since 1835. Some say that baba au rhum was named after Ali Baba, a hero from 1001 Nights and the favorite character of King Stanislas, while others say that the name stems from the Slavic word baba, which means “grandmother” or “old woman”. Baba au rhum are served on a plate with a traditional cherry garnish, ideally with a bit of whipped cream on top. Along with Poland and France, varieties of baba au rhum are also quite popular in Naples, Italy.