Bakewell tart
Encyclopedia
The Bakewell Tart, not to be confused with the Bakewell Pudding, is a shortcrust pastry
with a layer of jam and a sponge filling with almonds. The Bakewell Pudding on the other hand is a flaky pastry, with a layer of jam and an egg and almond filling. The tart then can be covered with a layer of fondant. Only the pudding originates from the Derbyshire
town of Bakewell
.
shell, spread with jam and covered with a sponge-like
filling enriched with ground almond
s (known as frangipane
). They may also be covered with nuts such as almonds and peanuts. Alternative flavours, including blackcurrant, strawberry and apple are also produced.
A Cherry Bakewell is a variation of the tart where the frangipane is covered with a top layer of almond flavoured icing
and a single half glacé cherry, also known as a Bakewell Cake.
Recipes abound, for example those given by Eliza Acton
(1845) and Mrs Beeton
(1861), and modern commercial examples are to be found in most cake shops and on every supermarket shelf. The name only became common in the 20th century
The recipe still used in The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop consists of a puff pastry
shell with a layer of jam, covered with a filling of eggs
, sugar
, butter
and almond flavoured icing
.
's Aubrey-Maturin series, "Master and Commander
," Jack Aubrey is staying at The Crown in Port Mahón
, Minorca
. He observes: "... the place smelt of olive oil, sardines and wine; and there was not the least possibility of a Bakewell tart, an Eccles cake
or even a decent suet pudding
."
, presented by Sue Perkins
and Mel Giedroyc
, on August 23 2011 (the second programmme in the programme's second series). The story of a maid who got the recipe for jam tarts wrong was mentioned on the programme, although the narrator seemed skeptical about the story.
Pastry
Pastry is the name given to various kinds of baked products made from ingredients such as flour, sugar, milk, butter, shortening, baking powder and/or eggs. Small cakes, tarts and other sweet baked products are called "pastries."...
with a layer of jam and a sponge filling with almonds. The Bakewell Pudding on the other hand is a flaky pastry, with a layer of jam and an egg and almond filling. The tart then can be covered with a layer of fondant. Only the pudding originates from the Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
town of Bakewell
Bakewell
Bakewell is a small market town in the Derbyshire Dales district of Derbyshire, England, deriving its name from 'Beadeca's Well'. It is the only town included in the Peak District National Park, and is well known for the local confection Bakewell Pudding...
.
History
The origins of the pudding are not clear; however, the generally accepted story is that it was first made by accident in 1820 when the landlady of the White Horse Inn (now called the Rutland Arms) left instructions for her cook to make a jam tart. The cook, instead of stirring the eggs and almond paste mixture into the pastry, spread it on top of the jam. When cooked the egg and almond paste set similar to an egg custard in texture and the result was successful enough for it to become a popular dish at the inn. The Bakewell Pudding is exclusive to Bakewell. Bakewell Tarts are a completely different confection, both in appearance, flavour and texture. These are made by larger commercial bakeries, usually with icing sugar on top, which have spread the name.Commercial outlets
Two shops in Bakewell offer what they both claim is the original recipe pastry - The Bakewell Tart Shop & Coffee House sells a "Bakewell Tart", while The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop sells a "Bakewell Pudding".Tart
The tart version consists of a shortcrust pastryShortcrust pastry
Shortcrust pastry is a type of pastry often used for the base of a tart or pie. It does not puff up during baking because it usually contains no leavening agent. It is possible to make shortcrust pastry with self-raising flour, however...
shell, spread with jam and covered with a sponge-like
Sponge cake
Sponge cake is a cake based on flour , sugar, and eggs, sometimes leavened with baking powder which has a firm, yet well aerated structure, similar to a sea sponge. A sponge cake may be produced by either the batter method, or the foam method. Typicially the batter method in the U.S. is known as a...
filling enriched with ground almond
Almond
The almond , is a species of tree native to the Middle East and South Asia. Almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree...
s (known as frangipane
Frangipane
Frangipane is a filling made from or flavored like almonds. This filling can be used in a variety of ways including cakes, tarts and other assorted pastries, such as the Jesuite. An alternative French spelling from a 1674 cookbook is franchipane with the earliest modern spelling coming from a...
). They may also be covered with nuts such as almonds and peanuts. Alternative flavours, including blackcurrant, strawberry and apple are also produced.
A Cherry Bakewell is a variation of the tart where the frangipane is covered with a top layer of almond flavoured icing
Icing (food)
Icing, also called frosting in the United States, is a sweet often creamy glaze made of sugar with a liquid such as water or milk, that is often enriched with ingredients such as butter, egg whites, cream cheese, or flavorings and is used to cover or decorate baked goods, such as cakes or cookies...
and a single half glacé cherry, also known as a Bakewell Cake.
Recipes abound, for example those given by Eliza Acton
Eliza Acton
Elizabeth "Eliza" Acton was an English poet and cook who produced one of the country's first cookbooks aimed at the domestic reader rather than the professional cook or chef, Modern Cookery for Private Families. In this book she introduced the now-universal practice of listing the ingredients and...
(1845) and Mrs Beeton
Mrs Beeton
Isabella Mary Beeton , universally known as Mrs Beeton, was the English author of Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management, and is one of the most famous cookery writers.-Background:...
(1861), and modern commercial examples are to be found in most cake shops and on every supermarket shelf. The name only became common in the 20th century
Pudding
Puff pastry
In baking, a puff pastry is a light, flaky, leavened pastry containing several layers of fat which is in solid state at 20 °C . In raw form, puff pastry is a dough which is spread with solid fat and repeatedly folded and rolled out and used to produce the aforementioned pastries...
shell with a layer of jam, covered with a filling of eggs
Egg (food)
Eggs are laid by females of many different species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, and have probably been eaten by mankind for millennia. Bird and reptile eggs consist of a protective eggshell, albumen , and vitellus , contained within various thin membranes...
, sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
, butter
Butter
Butter is a dairy product made by churning fresh or fermented cream or milk. It is generally used as a spread and a condiment, as well as in cooking applications, such as baking, sauce making, and pan frying...
and almond flavoured icing
.
Shot
The Cherry Bakewell shot is a popular alcoholic beverage made from amaretto, cherry liquor and Baileys. A skilled bartender is able to layer the ingredients by pouring the respective spirits over the back of a chilled spoon. The name comes from the similarity in taste to the aforementioned Cherry Bakewell tart.In Popular Fiction
In the first of Patrick O'BrianPatrick O'Brian
Patrick O'Brian, CBE , born Richard Patrick Russ, was an English novelist and translator, best known for his Aubrey–Maturin series of novels set in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and centred on the friendship of English Naval Captain Jack Aubrey and the Irish–Catalan physician Stephen...
's Aubrey-Maturin series, "Master and Commander
Master and Commander
Master and Commander is a historical naval novel by Patrick O'Brian. First published in 1969 , it is first in the Aubrey-Maturin series of stories of Captain Jack Aubrey and the naval surgeon Stephen Maturin. Closely based on the historical feats of Lord Cochrane, O'Brian's novel is set in the...
," Jack Aubrey is staying at The Crown in Port Mahón
Mahon
Mahón is a municipality and the capital city of the Balearic Island of Minorca , located in the eastern part of the island. Mahon has the second deepest natural harbor in the world: 5 km long and up to 900m. wide...
, Minorca
Minorca
Min Orca or Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. It takes its name from being smaller than the nearby island of Majorca....
. He observes: "... the place smelt of olive oil, sardines and wine; and there was not the least possibility of a Bakewell tart, an Eccles cake
Eccles cake
An Eccles cake is a small, round cake filled with currants and made from flaky pastry with butter and can sometimes be topped with demerara sugar.-Name and origin:Eccles cakes are named after the English town of Eccles...
or even a decent suet pudding
Suet pudding
A Suet pudding is a traditional food containing suet. Many variations are strongly associated with British cuisine. Recipes vary greatly and can be desserts or savoury courses...
."
In Popular Culture
Bakewell tarts were mentioned on an edition of The Great British Bake OffThe Great British Bake Off
The Great British Bake Off is a British television cooking/Baking competition first shown by the BBC in the summer of 2010.The judges are cookery writer Mary Berry and professional baker Paul Hollywood. Mel & Sue present both the series' of The Great British Bake Off , while Aaron Craze present the...
, presented by Sue Perkins
Sue Perkins
Sue Perkins is an English comedienne, broadcaster, actress, and writer.-Education:Perkins was educated at Croham Hurst School, an independent school for girls in Croydon in South London, at the same time as the BBC Breakfast News presenter Susanna Reid...
and Mel Giedroyc
Mel Giedroyc
Mel Giedroyc is an English television presenter, actress, and writer.-Mel and Sue:Giedroyc is best known for presenting comedy items alongside Sue Perkins. The two women met whilst students at Cambridge and both were members of the famous Footlights comedy club.As Mel and Sue, the duo were...
, on August 23 2011 (the second programmme in the programme's second series). The story of a maid who got the recipe for jam tarts wrong was mentioned on the programme, although the narrator seemed skeptical about the story.