DURHAM (WRAL) -- The growth of the Triangle means people from all over the world are moving here. And many are bringing a taste of home with them.

Move over sweet potato pie... guglhupf has arrived! This German cake was invented in the Middle Ages and is the namesake of the new Guglhupf Bakery in Durham. The bakery specializes in European breads and pasteries and so far, local folks are loving it.

Co-owner Claudia Cooper says the biggest differences between European baked goods and those made in the United States are that old world recipes tend to be lighter and less sweet. She also claims they have less fat!

Guglhupf serves up an array of fresh breads, some of which are unique. One favorite is muesli bread, which is loaded with fruit, raisins and almonds.

You can find baguettes and French croissants compliments of master baker Christophe Gaumet. Gaumet grew up in France, near the German border and spent more than six years in Germany's rigorous apprentice program.

But what about the bakery's funny name? Cooper says she and co-owner Hartmut Jahn chose the name because of the German guglhupf cake. It's an old-world favorite that's been around since the 1200s.

Cooper says there are several stories about the history of the cake, but one of the most popular is that it was named for the Capuchin monks who first baked it. It was supposedly shaped to resemble the hood (gugl) that the monks wore and it tasted so good that one monk jumped (hupf) for joy.

Cooper and Jahn are sharing the story and the cake with folks in our part of the world.

The two are enjoying success, despite being new to the world of breads and pasteries. Both worked in corporate jobs in Munich and no longer wanted the stresses that went with their work. They decided to start a bakery, did some research, and Cooper did a two-year apprenticeship in Germany.

They chose the United States because they thought their baked goods would appeal to people here. They narrowed their choice to the Triangle because it best fit their business and personal criteria.

Some of the other specialties that you'll find at Guglhupf Bakery include nusschnecke, a pastry shaped like a double curl with hazelnut filling, apfeltaschen, a German apple turnover and nusskipferl, a croissant filled with marzipan and hazelnuts.

The bakery is located at 2706 Chapel Hill Boulevard in Durham. You can contact them by calling 919-401-2600.

Reporter: Tracy Wilson
Photographer: Keith Baker
OnLine Producer: Michelle Singer