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Desserts are sinful and decadent culinary creations usually prepared from rich and hearty ingredients, such as chocolate, sugar, ghee, nuts, and more. Thus, it shouldn’t be surprising that many of the desserts that are treasured across the world today were originally created for royalty. Several of these desserts’ royal roots are evident in their names. For instance, the Victoria sponge cake obviously refers to the erstwhile British monarch, Queen Victoria.
Another reason why many desserts have royal origins is because, during older times, common people couldn’t afford the luxury of buying or crafting sweet treats, as the ingredients required for these dishes were expensive. Therefore, only the super elite of society, such as kings, queens, and emperors, could commission the creation of desserts. They usually hired in-demand chefs to craft fancy pastries, cakes, and sauces.
Take a look at seven fascinating desserts that have a royal connection.
Queen of Sheba Cake
Image Credits: By Romaine - Own work, CC0/Wikimedia Commons
Named after Queen Sheba, who was originally referenced in the Hebrew Bible as the queen of Egypt and Ethiopia, this indulgent delicacy comprises tons of sinful chocolate as well as enriching butter and crunchy nuts. The cake is also quite versatile, existing in several variations today. However, the most cherished version of the cake is probably the simplest one. The cake doesn’t employ any ornate filling; rather, the dessert’s novelty comes from a shaved almond topping and a shiny chocolate glaze.
Battenberg Cake
Image Credits: By Henrycooksey - Own work, CC BY 3.0/Wikimedia Commons
The Battenberg cake is believed to have been created in 1884 to mark the union of Princess Victoria of Hesse and Louis Battenberg. Princess Victoria was the British monarch Queen Victoria’s granddaughter, while Battenberg was a renowned British naval chief and sea lord. The cake is composed of four separate logs of sponge patterned checkerboard. The logs are held in place by succulent jam; subsequently, the entire cake is coated with creamy marzipan.
Marie Biscuits
Although not technically desserts, Marie biscuits are frequently blended in cookies, brownies, pastries, and other desserts, to give those dishes crunch. So, the biscuits can be classified as desserts in a roundabout way. These biscuits were invented to celebrate the nuptials of Russia’s Grand Duchess, Maria Alexandrovna, to the Duke of Edinburgh, who was the second son of Queen Victoria. The delightful biscuits can be melded into desserts or savoured with a cup of hot tea.
Mysore Pak
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Mysore pak is a luscious, ghee-rich sweet treat that has roots connected to the grand Mysore Palace of Karnataka. Legend goes that this dessert was crafted in the royal kitchens of the palace in the 19th century. Instantly winning over the Mysore Maharajas, the Mysore pak is one of the most cherished Indian sweets today. Made using ghee, sugar, and gram flour, the dish has a fudge-like consistency, making it flaky and tasty.
Victoria Sponge Cake
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As the name clearly indicates, the Victoria sponge cake dates back to the prodigious era of Queen Victoria, arguably one of the most iconic monarchs of Britain. Queen Victoria was known to have an intense sweet tooth, and the creation of several British sweet treats has been credited to her. However, the most enduring among them is the Victoria sponge. A light cake filled with whipped cream and topped with jam, this dish is a fixture in traditional high tea spreads.
Kaiser Rolls
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The exact origin of this mouthwatering delicacy hasn’t been pinned down yet; but many culinary experts trace the dish back to the Austrian Empire. The delectable rolls or buns, are thought to have derived their name from Kaiser Franz Joseph I, who ruled the country for almost 70 years in the 19th and 20th centuries, and popularly consumed the rolls for breakfast. Crafted from yeast, flour, salt, sugar, and butter, the crown of this simple bread is usually cut in five parts to mimic the appearance of a star.
Badam Halwa
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The enticing badam halwa is believed to have originated with the Nizams of Hyderabad. The dense and smooth sweet treat, crafted from almonds, ghee, and sugar, produces an irresistible melt-in-the-mouth sensation, which results in the taste of the dish lingering on the tongue long after one has consumed it. A staple at royal banquets and special events, badam halwa symbolises decadence and luxury.
