Tunis cake facts for kids
| Type | Madeira cake |
|---|---|
| Main ingredients | chocolate icing, marzipan |
A Tunis cake is a special kind of Madeira cake. It's famous for its thick layer of chocolate on top and pretty decorations made from marzipan fruits. People traditionally enjoy this delicious cake around Christmas time.
What is a Tunis Cake?
A Tunis cake is a sweet treat that looks as good as it tastes! Imagine a soft, light Madeira cake as its base. Then, it gets covered in a rich, dark chocolate layer. The most fun part is the decoration: small, colorful fruits made from marzipan. Marzipan is a sweet paste made from ground almonds, sugar, and egg whites. These little marzipan fruits make the cake look extra festive and appealing.
The History of Tunis Cake
The story of the Tunis cake began a long time ago, during the Edwardian era in the United Kingdom. This was a period in British history from 1901 to 1910.
In the 1930s, a Scottish bakery called Macfarlane Langs started making and selling Tunis cakes. They were one of the first companies to sell them widely. Later, in 1948, Macfarlane Langs joined with another company called McVitie & Price. Together, they formed a new company called United Biscuits. This company still owns the famous McVitie's brand today.
When the companies merged, the recipe for the Tunis cake became part of the new company's collection. McVitie's continued to produce and sell the Tunis cake for many years, right up until the mid-1980s.
Today, you might still find Tunis cakes in some supermarkets in the UK. They are usually sold only during the Christmas season, keeping up with their tradition as a festive holiday cake. Interestingly, some of the very first recipes for Tunis cake did not even include the chocolate and marzipan toppings we see today!
