Arctic Roll

Arctic Roll is a British dessert made of vanilla ice cream wrapped in a thin layer of sponge cake to form a roll, with a layer of raspberry flavoured sauce between the sponge and the ice cream.

History

The Arctic Roll was invented by Dr. Ernest Velden, an immigrant from Czechoslovakia, in the 1950s. Velden came to Britain after World War II and set up a factory in Eastbourne, East Sussex. The dessert quickly became a popular treat in the United Kingdom, particularly during the 1970s and 1980s. It was discontinued in the 1990s due to declining sales, but was reintroduced in 2008 by Birds Eye, a British multinational food processing company.

Preparation

The traditional Arctic Roll is made by first baking a thin sponge cake in a large, flat baking tray. The cake is then spread with raspberry sauce and a block of vanilla ice cream is placed at one end. The cake is carefully rolled up around the ice cream, ensuring the ice cream is completely encased in the sponge and sauce. The roll is then frozen until it is firm enough to slice.

Variations

There are several variations of the Arctic Roll. Some versions use different flavours of ice cream, such as chocolate or strawberry, while others use different types of sauce, such as chocolate or caramel. Some versions also include a layer of jam or fruit puree between the sponge and the ice cream.

Cultural Significance

The Arctic Roll holds a special place in British culinary history. It is often associated with childhood and nostalgia, and its reintroduction in 2008 was met with much enthusiasm. It is also a popular choice for dessert at Christmas time.

See Also

• List of British desserts
• Ice cream
• Sponge cake
• Birds Eye