National Bakewell Tart Day, a celebration of one of the UK’s most loved sweet treats, will take place this week on Wednesday 26th June 2024
To mark the occasion, The Bakewell Tart Shop, home to the traditional Bakewell Tart for more than 100 years, will be giving away free Cherry Bakewell Tarts when customers walk in and spend £5 or more.
Duncan Kirk owns The Bakewell Tart Shop, which delivers Bakewell Tarts across the UK, and is one of only two people that know the original secret recipe. He explained:
“There is something very special about Bakewell Tarts, whether it’s the iced version with a cherry on top, or the original recipe, which is topped with flaked almonds.
“Lots of the people we speak to feel very nostalgic about them. The taste of the raspberry jam, ground almonds, and the frangipane mix brings back happy memories, and is something that is loved by adults and children alike.
“National Bakewell Tart Day is an opportunity to celebrate the heritage of the Bakewell Tart, and its longevity as one of Britain’s favourite baked treats. It’s also an opportunity to reach out to people, to hear why they enjoy about Bakewell Tarts so much, and the kinds of stories and memories that they associate with them.”
A recent survey run by The Bakewell Tart Shop revealed that more than half of Brits have a preferred way to eat their Iced Cherry Bakewell Tarts. Only 40 percent of the 2000 participants said that they simply bite into them.
20 percent said that they eat the pastry first, then the icing and filling, with the cherry being saved for last.
An incredible 3% reported that they don’t particularly like the cherry and discard it before consuming the remainder of the Iced Bakewell Tart. However, the majority like all of the different elements.
Participants were also asked what they enjoy most about Bakewell Tarts. Almost half (48.8%) said that the almond flavoured filling was their favourite bit, followed by:
- The icing (25.6%)
- The cherry (14.3%)
- The pastry (6.2%)
- Love it all equally (4.9%)
Duncan continued:
“Honestly, we weren’t aware that there were so many different ways to eat a Bakewell Tart. However, it appears that most Brits do seem to have their own preferred, quite specific ways to enjoy them. It has been fascinating to hear about.”
The Bakewell Tart Shop is a family-owned business in the historic market town of Bakewell. The shop delivers Traditional Bakewell Tarts, Iced Cherry Bakewell Tarts, and Bakewell Puddings around the UK. There is also a physical café and shop, which was refurbished in 2020, recapturing the booths that date back to the 1920s.
The Bakewell Tarts are carefully crafted by skilled bakers, using a shortcrust pastry shell, a layer of raspberry jam, ground almonds and a frangipane mix. The traditional Bakewell tarts are then glazed and topped with flaked almonds, and the iced tarts are topped with icing and a cherry.
They continue to follow the traditional and original recipe, known only by two people, using only the finest ingredients. Interestingly, the recipe creates what is called a ‘wet mix’ meaning the tarts are noticeably moister than ones found elsewhere, which tend to be closer to a normal cake in appearance and consistency.
For your diary:
What: National Bakewell Tart Day
Where: Nationwide
When: Wednesday June 26 2024
For more information on The Bakewell Tart Shop and to shop online (for national delivery), visit bakewelltarts.co.uk.
