The word Bundt refers to type of pan the cake is baked in. The pan creates a ring shaped cake because of the tube in the middle. The pan was designed and trademarked by David Dalquist in the 1940's but the Bundt cake sky rocketed into popularity when Ella Helfrich entered a Pillsbury cake baking contest in 1966 and won 2nd place with her Tunnel of Fudge Cake recipe.