Šakotis is the Lithuanian spit-roasted tree cake: layered dough cooked over an open flame on a turning spit, with spiky branches and a dramatic dome shape.
Where to eat it: 3 restaurants across 1 city.
Šakotis (sometimes spit-cake) shares roots with the Polish sękacz and the German Baumkuchen. Lithuanian wedding tradition makes šakotis the centrepiece dessert at any major celebration, and the cake holds special status at Christmas markets. At Pinavija in Vilnius the šakotis is baked traditionally and sold by the slice or whole. The largest known šakotis was baked in Druskininkai in 2015 at 3.6 metres tall.
Common allergens: Gluten, Eggs, Dairy
Tip from the editors. This recipe is best attempted as a professional bakery demonstration; the home version requires a custom rotating spit and steady heat. Buy a Pinavija šakotis instead for a first taste.
Pinavija on Vilniaus is a family-run Lithuanian bakery cafe known for hot kibinai pastries, šakotis tree cake and brunch in a softly-French Old Town corner.
Tip: Indoor seating fills early on weekends. A šakotis to-go travels home well in checked luggage.
Worth the queue: Mutton kibinai
Pinavija on Vilniaus is a family-owned bakery cafe known for hot kibinai pastries, šakotis tree cake and brunch in a softly-French Old Town corner.
Signature: Kibinai, Šakotis tree cake, Brunch plate
Order: A mutton kibinai with mustard, then a slice of šakotis.
Tip: Indoor seating fills early on weekends. Bench seating runs along Vilniaus in summer.
Etno Dvaras on Aušros Vartų cooks dishes certified by the Lithuanian Culinary Heritage Fund in a cavernous cellar with street-level windows on the strip.
Signature: Cepelinai, Bulvių blynai potato pancakes, Šaltibarščiai
Order: Cepelinai with bacon-mushroom sauce; pair with a bowl of šaltibarščiai cold beet soup.
Tip: Heritage Fund certification means every dish must be 100 years old by recipe. Touristy but real.
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