Cake tasting at Cusworth's Museums at Night

Visitors to Cusworth Hall's recent Museums at Night event had the chance to taste some of Queen Victoria’s favourite cakes including the cake named in her honour 

Victoria Sandwich

Lavender Shortbread Biscuits, 

Seed Cake

I baked some lesser known ones but popular at the time. I reminded visitors that Queen Victoria had a very European family including her husband, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg so it was quite natural to see the European links.

I adapted a recipe for Coburg Cake from one of Grandma’s old recipe books called The Best Way. It’s a simple cake made with golden syrup and flavoured with cinnamon and ginger spices. 

Coburg Cake

75g/3oz butter

75g/3 oz caster sugar

2 eggs (beaten)

3 dsps golden syrup

175g/6 oz plain flour

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ginger

½ oz/12 g baking powder

2 dsps milk to mix

Pre heat the oven to Mark 4, 350F, 180C. Cream the butter and caster sugar until pale and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs and syrup. Mix in the flour, spices and baking powder. Add a little milk to soften the mixture. Grease an 8 inch/21cms cake tin. Bake in a moderate oven for 45 minutes until risen and firm on top. 

Meryl says : Coburg cakes can also be baked as small cakes or buns. I’ll be adding more of the recipes I baked at the event soon so keep watching out for my next post.