"Torte" is just a German word for cake. Probably comes from the Latin verb "tortere", meaning 1) to toast 2) to bake and 3) to burn and 4) to ardently love, all of which may apply to cakes or to tortes. Another possible origin might be "torquere", meaning (1) to spin (a torte is usually round), 2) to throw, and also some other things which make it the root of the word "torture". This might aslo apply to some cakes as well as tortes. A "torte" is generally compacter than an American cake. The varieties are endless: Sacher torte (chocholate), Linzer torte (made with almonds, more like cookie dough), Topfentorte (Austrian cheesecake), and so on... Hope this helps, A. Bucsics in torte-infested Vienna