Pain de Gênes facts for kids
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| Alternative names | Genoa bread |
|---|---|
| Type | cake |
| Place of origin | Italy |
| Region or state | Genoa |
| Main ingredients | almond paste, eggs, butter |
Pain de Gênes (which means "bread of Genoa") is a special kind of cake. It's mostly made from almond paste, eggs, and melted butter, with only a tiny bit of flour.
One interesting thing about this cake is that it doesn't use baking powder or baking soda to rise. Instead, it gets its fluffy texture from whisking the butter and eggs together really well.
Contents
What is Pain de Gênes?
Pain de Gênes is a rich and moist cake. Its main ingredient is almond paste, which gives it a unique flavor and texture. It's a bit like a dense, flavorful sponge cake.
Key Ingredients
The most important ingredients for Pain de Gênes are:
- Almond paste: This gives the cake its distinct almond flavor.
- Eggs: These help the cake rise and give it structure.
- Melted butter: This makes the cake moist and rich.
- A very small amount of flour: Unlike most cakes, flour isn't the main ingredient here.
The Story Behind the Cake
There's a cool story about how Pain de Gênes might have been invented.
The Genoa Siege Legend
Some people say this cake was created to remember a tough time in Genoa, Italy. In 1800, French soldiers surrounded the city. This event was called the 1800 siege. During this time, the people of Genoa had to eat mostly almonds to survive. The story goes that the cake was made to celebrate their survival.
The Real French Origin
However, even though it's called "bread of Genoa," this cake isn't actually from Italy! It's French. It was invented in the 1840s by a talented pastry chef named Fauvel. Chef Fauvel worked at a famous pastry shop in Paris called Chiboust. He first called his new creation gateau d'ambroise, which means "ambrosia cake." "Ambrosia" was the food of the gods in ancient myths, so he must have thought his cake was truly delicious!
