Wednesday
Nov122008
Royal Dilemma: Why is the Princess Cake Green?
Wednesday, November 12, 2008 
Princess Cake shown is from Miette in San Francisco; photo credit Frankie Frankeny.
Some of you may trouble yourselves mysteries of the natural universe: What is the meaning of life? If a tree falls in the woods, can anybody hear it? Why on earth is Paris Hilton famous?
But we Cake Gumshoes choose to ponder a much bigger (and more delicious) mystery: why is the princess cake green?
First things first though. For those of you not acquainted with the princess cake (or princess torte), we'd like to clarify that we're not talking about the "Princess Cake" that has a severed Barbie doll stacked atop a dome of frilly buttercream (though that one has its moments). No, we're talking about the Princesstårta, a cake which hails from Sweden, where it was invented in the 1930s by cookbook author Jenny Åkerström, who is said to have made it in honor of Sweden's three princesses at the time--Margaretha, Märtha and Astrid. While it's not as common in bakery cases as say, Red Velvet, it's not an exceedingly rare cake either--most urban areas will have at least a couple of bakeries that offer the sweet confection, which is made of alternating layers of light, airy cake, thick pastry cream, and jam, all topped with a sweet jacket of marzipan--often in a dome shape. But perhaps the most striking thing about this cake is how it's nearly always green.
Of course, there are exceptions. For instance, famed Los Angeles restaurant Scandia offered a chocolate-topped version back in the day (which, with the help of pastry chef Chris Jarchow, we made it recently; see above); some bakeries will offer an off-white or pink version. However, it seems to us that most frequently--or at least frequently enough for us to have noticed-- it's an attractive and very signature pistachio tone of green.
So what gives?
Unfortunately, this proved to be quite the challenge. Here's a summation of our epic journey to discover the truth:
First Stop: The Library
First, we hit up the library, where we consulted the serious tome of a book The Professional Pastry Chef by Bo Friberg, in which we found the following passage:
First, we hit up the library, where we consulted the serious tome of a book The Professional Pastry Chef by Bo Friberg, in which we found the following passage:
"I am slightly embarrassed to admit that I do not have a definite answer as to why is the marzipan on top of a Princess Cake traditionally colored green. This is a question I have been asked time after time, and believe me, I have tried to find out. It would at least make more sense to me if the cake were flavored with mint or pistachio. Princess Cakes are often made with other colours..."
Our buddy over at ReTorte referenced Friberg's quote too, adding that "My fancy French pastry books do not even mention Princess cake..my only theory is that, as with a lot of stuff in the pastry world, it's green because of tradition. They do A LOT of stuff just out of tradition, even though it makes no sense otherwise!"
Second Stop: The Experts
We figured if anyone would know, it would be the good Nordic population of Seattle!
Unfortunately, the mystery only deepened with a call to the Swedish Cultural Center, where they had not a clue as to why the green-hued cake persists; however, they did point us in the direction of Larsen's in Ballard as a spot to pick up a particularly delicious one.
While the employees at Larsen's were friendly, unfortunately they were unable to shed further light upon the cake's color. "Maybe it was the princess' favorite color," one employee muses; "maybe it was the colors of her wedding flowers" adds another, referencing the fact that it's frequently topped with a pink flower.
Last-ditch: The Internet
Just when we were beginning to despair, we found a very informative bulletin board on chowhound.com that answered some of these questions--one user's comments in particular were very helpful. Turns out, the confection's invention may hold the answer.
Remember how that cookbook writer invented the recipe for three princesses in the 1930s? Well, as it turns out, "it appears that Åkerström had not one, but three different princess cakes, one for each of the princesses. They were very elaborate cakes, not terribly suited to the home baker. Astrid's cake most closely resembles the princess cake in its current form." (Cakes pictured, above). As it turns out, the article continues, "Annika Larsson, a baker at the Grillska Konditoriet in Stockholm, is credited with combining features from the three cakes and creating the princess cake that has become a tradition--that is to say, the green one. It appeared in Finland not long after it became popular in 1930s Sweden and has remained a traditional cake ever since, particularly for graduation and end of school year parties."
While this doesn't completely answer the question of why the cake is green, it does shed some light on the subject and leave it open to some guesswork. Perhaps when Annika was combining the best aspects of each cake, she simply preferred the green hued one as a matter of personal preference. Perhaps she had a surplus of green dye and it was done for more practical reasons.
Of course, we like to think maybe it was something truly poetic: perhaps green was a color caught on with the Swedish audience because it represented the hope of spring, like the first gentle blades of grass coming up in the cold, dark winters.
But whatever the reason, one thing is for sure: the Princess cake is certainly iconic, and we certainly feel happy whenever we see the green-hued confection turn up on our table.
P.S. Wanna try to make the Princess Cake? A fantastic recipe can be found on Tartelette, as well as some seriously beautiful pictures!
addthis_url=''; addthis_title=''; addthis_pub='cakespy';
Reader Comments (7)
That is known that cash can make us disembarrass. But how to act when one has no money? The one way only is to receive the business loans and commercial loan.
we provides you the best and most fashionable products. All the products are 100% high quality, competitive price, free shipping with best and timely service, 100% satisfaction. Big discount for big order. Welcome to make your choose.
louis vuitton
replica handbags
lv
louis vuitton bags
louis vuitton handbags
discount handbags
lv
discount handbags
louis vuitton bags
louis vuitton blog
louis vuitton
replica handbags
lv
louis vuitton bags
louis vuitton handbags
discount handbags
lv
discount handbags
louis vuitton bags
christian louboutin
louboutin
christian louboutin shoes
louboutin shoes
bridal shoes
sexy shoes
high heels shoes
ed hardy
ed hardy clothing
ed hardy clothing shirts
ed hardy clothes
ed hardy t shirts
ed hardy
ed hardy clothing
ed hardy clothing shirts
ed hardy clothes
ed hardy t shirts
rosetta stone
rosetta
rosetta stone software
With the development of tecnology and economy, more and more people tend to pay more attention to their body. They want to have better shape and healthier body. Here, I will introduce a good program to you—p90x price. from America.p90x price is classic training DVD which covers all manner of fitness methods. It include 13 p90x price and beachbody complete training for 90 days. Please image that you will hve your dreamed body and shape in 90 days.There are also many other fasion sports included in p90x. they are waiting for you to find.How can you learning languages without Rosetta Stone Spanish dvd. Here, I am not point the real stone in British Museum. The real rosetta stone is a stone that has Greek, Egyptian script and the words popular during that time.
If you want to learn another language to improve yourself, you can choose this useful software
Rosetta Stone Spanish dvd to enhance your level of languages.
mens watches
breitling navitimer
rolex datejust
breitling Navitimer
panerai watches
bvlgari watches
breitling
annahappy
babylady
annahappy
Welcome to buy windows 7 ultimate,windows 7 professional,windows 7 premium, online,superior quality, good service,low price! come on!
An excenlent watch can make you feel good, and that may improve your grade. A successfui businessman must have one kind of watch to show his special quality. for a lady the watch also can attract many eyes. that is a amazing feeling for owning a watch. these watches are selected for all kinds of people. you can get your favorite watch freely.
mens watches
breitling navitimer
rolex datejust
breitling crosswind
panerai watches
bvlgari watches
hublot watches
iwc watches
panerai luminor
burberry watches
breitling
panerai watches
hublot watches
omega seamaster
rolex submariner
rolex daytona
watches
An excenlent watch can make you feel good, and that may improve your grade. A successfui businessman must have one kind of watch to show his special quality. for a lady the watch also can attract many eyes. that is a amazing feeling for owning a watch. these watches are selected for all kinds of people. you can get your favorite watch freely.
replica watches
rolex air king
Tag Heuer watches
bvlgari watches
Rolex DateJust
Burberry watches
rolex watches
bell ross watches
ferrari watches
Patek Philippe watches
panerai watches
rolex submariner
Breguet watches
chopard watches
hublot watches
U boat watches
watches
I've also been searching for an answer to why the princess cake is green and what I have read is that the cake was originally called "green cake" in "Prinsessornas kokbok" (the princesses cookbook) from 1930 and that the three princesses liked that cake so it was renamed prinsesstårta (princess cake) after that.
The original princess cake does not have jam in it, with jam and pink marzipan it is an opera cake but some how the jam got in to the green princess cake too so now it's only the color that tells them apart.
This is how I've learned to make a princess cake in school and what I think is the most popular/classic one.
cake:
5 eggs
3dl sugar
1,5dl flour
1,5dl potato starch
3tsp baking powder
3tsp vanilla sugar
Line a greased cake pan (23cm diameter) with a circle of parchment paper at the bottom and a strip along the inside, the strip should be about 5cm higher than the pan itself (prevents the batter to rise over the top).
Heat the oven to 175c (350F).
Whip the eggs and sugar until really thick and fluffy, this takes at least 15min with an electric beater.
Sift the rest of the ingredients and carefully blend it with the whipped eggs using a spatula or a whisk (do not whip it in, fold it).
Pour the patter in to the cake pan and bake for about 40 minutes at the lower rack.
When the cake does not wobble when the pan is given a gentle shake the cake is done.
Let it cool for about 5min, remove the parchment paper from the sides and carefully turn the cake upside down. Let it cool and then divide it in three layers.
Custard (or vanilla cream as we call it in Sweden)
600g milk
75g sugar
1 vanilla pod, pod and seeds
150g milk
180g egg yolk (about 9)
110g sugar
60g corn starch
40g butter, room temp
Combine the first three ingredients in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Let cool for 5 minutes.
Blend the sugar and corn starch and stir in the yolk and milk. Pour in to the sauce pan while stirring.
Put the pan back on the hotplate and stir constantly until it thickens.
Strain it to remove the pod and small parts of it. And stir in the butter.
Cool it as quick as possible by putting the bowl in another bowl of icy water or putting it in the refrigerator.
When the custard is completely cooled:
Take the bottom part of the cake and turn it with the brown side up and spread raspberry jam (preferably seedless) on it. Take the upper part of the cake and lay it on top of the jam with the brown side down. Spread a layer of custard on it, place the last cake layer on top.
Whip about 3-4dl of whipping cream until it holds its shape. Spread a thin layer around the cake and make a dome on top of it.
Cover the cake with green marzipan and decorate with a pink marzipan rose, dust it with icing sugar.
Why the turning of the cake layers? If you put the brown parts against the dark jam you won't notice it as much when you cut the cake so it makes prettier slices. It's purely for the eye.
And last, buttercream and macaroons in a princess cake? It might taste good but it is NOT a princess cake.