Every year, a contest is held to select the cake of Hungary. The decision is made early August, in time for the 20 August celebrations. The holiday is sometimes also jokingly called the birthday of Hungary – since the date commemorates the foundation of Hungary more than a 1,000 years ago. The winner of the contest will be available all over Hungary during the celebrations and in the following period.
Who selects the cake of Hungary?
The contest is organized by the Hungarian Confectioners Guild, and the jurors are always some of the most skilled confectioners of Hungary. The contest is usually announced around January, and entries are accepted until the end of March. The contestants are confectioners, confectionaries, and other hospitality establishments where you can normally expect to be served cake (mainly cafés or restaurants).
During the contest, two winners are selected: one regular and one sugar-free cake. The “sugar free” section of the contest is organized in cooperation with the Egy Csepp Figyelem Foundation for diabetics to raise awareness of diabetes.
Requirements for the cake of Hungary
Each year, contestants are required to meet specific requirements, and use special ingredients for their cakes. In 2024, the topic was “Superfood”, so confectioners were expected to use at least 2 ingredients from the below list:
- Berries – such as blueberry, black currant, rosehip, blackberry
- Seeds – such as hemp seed, linseed, spelt, millet
- Vegetables – such as beetroot, squash or pumpkin, carrot, sweet potato
- Nuts – such as walnut, almond, pumpkin seed, hazelnut
Other suggested ingredients included sea-buckthorn berries, chokeberries, sloes, honey, poppy seeds, gooseberries, strawberries, raspberries, prunes, black grapes, dark chocolate, oats.
The cake of Hungary in 2024
This year, the cake of Hungary is called “Mákvirág”. The name means poppy flower as well as rascal, and it certainly refers to one of the most conspicuous ingredients: the poppy seed, used both in the dough and as a decoration. Between the layers, you will find a black currant jelly as well as a white chocolate cream, which also covers the cake. The creator is Alfréd Kovács from the Édes Vonal (“Sweet Line”) Confectionary in Vác.
The sugar-free cake of Hungary in 2024
The sugar-free cake of Hungary is called “Zöld Málna” (or “Green Raspberry”). This is a really light cake with pistachio mousse and raspberry jelly, made special with just a dash of rosewater and the beautiful dried rose petals. The creators are Ádám Novák and László Csonka from the REÖK artisan confectionary and café in Szeged.
Where to try the cake of Hungary?
First and foremost, at the Street of Hungarian Flavors in the Várkert Bazár, right under the Buda Castle between on 19 and 20 August. The cakes will also be available in hundreds of confectionaries all over Hungary – look for the signs in the shopwindows. The list of participating locations will be available on the website of the Hungarian Confectioners Guild and of the Egy Csepp Figyelem Foundation for diabetics.
Get a taste of Hungary
You can appreciate the flavors of Hungary even if you are not Hungarian. However, if you have been living in Hungary for some time, or if you have Hungarian ancestors (parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, or even more removed ancestors), there is a chance you are eligible for Hungarian citizenship.
Are you interested in Hungarian citizenship? Take 5 minutes to fill in our free online survey, and see for yourself if you are eligible.
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