When in doubt, assume walnuts.
Custom cakes are the stock in trade of this "Russian-European style bakery." But "Baku" points to the inspiration for the display case of ready-made treasures: the capital of Azerbaijan, a country in the Caucasus that borders Russian, Georgia, Armenia, and Iran as well as the Caspian Sea. A sheker bura (above, about $2) might be filled with ground, sugared almonds or hazelnuts, but walnuts seem to be the default. Since sheker buralar (that's my best shot at the plural) are associated with Novruz, a holiday that celebrates the arrival of spring and is also referred to as the Persian New Year, perhaps the advent of warmer weather will herald a choice of fillings, too.
Also shown: Mutaki ($7.50 per pound), which had a similar filling and a firmer shell, are handier to carry out and to share. Baku Bakery packages these pastries commercially for sale in local markets; the label, I noted, mentions almond flour and cardamom, as well as sour cream and eggs, among the ingredients.
Baku Bakery
1972 86th St., Bath Beach, Brooklyn
718-996-5414
www.BakuBakery.com
You should check out some of the "adult" cakes on the Baku Bakery website....
Posted by: brooklynboy | November 10, 2011 at 10:28 AM
I must have that mutaki again! I will have to venture out there. GREAT dessert.
Posted by: Ike | December 03, 2011 at 12:58 PM