Tottenham cake

Tottenham Cake is a traditional British dessert, originating from the London district of Tottenham. It is a simple, rectangular tray-baked sponge cake, typically topped with a pink icing made from mulberries.

History

The Tottenham Cake was first created by the Quaker baker Henry Chalkley in 1901, who sold the cake for a penny a slice. The cake was originally made using leftover dough from bread-making, with the pink icing made from mulberries that grew in the garden of the local Quaker meeting house.

Ingredients and Preparation

The basic ingredients of a Tottenham Cake are flour, sugar, eggs, and butter for the sponge, with icing sugar and mulberries (or more commonly nowadays, raspberries) for the pink icing. Some variations of the recipe may also include a layer of jam between the sponge and the icing.

To prepare the cake, the sponge ingredients are mixed together and baked in a rectangular tray until golden brown. Once cooled, a layer of jam may be spread over the top, before the icing is applied. The cake is then cut into squares for serving.

Cultural Significance

The Tottenham Cake has a strong association with the Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. Following the club's victory in the 1901 FA Cup, the cake was given out for free to local children to celebrate.

Today, the cake remains a popular treat in Tottenham and is often served at special occasions and community events. It is also sold in bakeries and supermarkets across the UK.

See Also

• British cuisine
• List of cakes