Stunningly simple yet sophisticated, there are few cakes more iconic and well-suited for an afternoon tea than Battenberg cake. Also referred to as church window cake, checkerboard cake, and domino cake, the Battenberg is believed to be British in origin, but the story surrounding its creation is debated. The most widely known story suggests the cake was created in honor of the marriage of Princess Victoria to Prince Louis of Battenberg in 1884. Whether or not that’s true, we may never know. But one thing’s certain: Battenberg cake is a British classic that’s here to stay.
While the clean and crisp presentation of this cake may appear complex, its construction is really no more difficult than your classic layer cake. In fact, the Battenberg cake is the perfect-size cake to make in the comfort of your home kitchen. We’ll show you how to make your own marzipan, mix and divide your cake batters, bake both sponges in a single square pan, and construct a cake even Paul Hollywood would be proud of.
Marzipan, in a Nutshell
Marzipan is not only an essential element of Battenberg cake, but it also gives essence to almond croissants, , stollen, and many a holiday cookie. So, what is marzipan, and where did it come from? The makings of marzipan are really quite simple: ground almonds are combined with sugar
