Jaffa cake.

@garymarsh6 (23393)
United Kingdom
June 3, 2017 5:58am CST
As well as the yeast product Marmite, the UK has another conundrum with Jaffa cakes! Are they a biscuit or are they a cake? This had to be settled in court due to the Tax office wanting to charge as much as they could for VAT. For tax purposes Mcvities who make the cakes were taken to court because the inland revenue wanted to charge a higher tax level on them as biscuits are charged but they argued that it is a cake. The court agreed in the favour of McVities so it is classified as a cake despite them being the size of a biscuit. I rose to the challenge earlier in the week and made a giant Jaffa cake. My colleagues at work said it was impossible to make at home so they were to be the guinea pigs and also my daughter and her family to taste the results. Essentially the Jaffa cake is made the same size as a biscuit. A layer of sponge, a layer of orange jelly covered by a layer of chocolate. I made a prototype a couple of weeks ago but have not made jelly for years so followed the instructions on the packet but it was too watery so as I turned the jelly out on the cake it slipped over the side. The solution to this was to use two jellies with half the water. I made the sponge just a plain Genoa based 7" cake. I made the jelly by covering a cake tin with clingfilm and let it set in the fridge. I then turned the cake upside down into the cake tin with the jelly in it then turned it back over so the jelly was on the top. I melted 5 bars of chocolate to cover the cake. I found it quite difficult to spread the chocolate over the Jelly and hey Presto it was done. Well I can happily report that both cakes were demolished. Both my colleagues and my family remarked wow it really tastes like a Jaffa cake! Needless to say both cakes are just now a memory! Interestingly while reading about Jaffa cakes they are made by McVities in a factory in Stockport near Manchester in the North of England. The production line is over a mile long because of the different stages the cakes go through until you get the final product. The Jaffa cakes have been around since 1927 and is a popular treat for young and old. This is a photo of my finished Jaffa cakes waiting for the chocolate to set. Have you ever heard of these?
14 people like this
14 responses
@Kandae11 (53679)
3 Jun 17
I have heard of McVities - in fact I rather like their biscuits, but I have never heard of Jaffa cakes. Seems like a lot of effort goes into making it.
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
3 Jun 17
The tangy orange and chocolate combination are delicious. I am sure you would be smitten by them!
1 person likes this
@Kandae11 (53679)
3 Jun 17
@garymarsh6 I think so too.
@prashu228 (37526)
• India
3 Jun 17
Never heard about this cake..hope you enjoyed. Have a great day
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
3 Jun 17
It is a nice tasty cake!
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
12 Jun 17
I have never tried a Jaffa cake, I do love my English sweets though and will always order coffee cake with walnuts on top, I love that to bits!!
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
13 Jun 17
@garymarsh6 Well no, that trip has been cancelled. We are staying closer to home, my mom is too much of a concern at this point.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
13 Jun 17
Well I am sure you will get a tasting this year!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
13 Jun 17
@BelleStarr Oh dear such a shame but understandable!
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
12 Jun 17
I have heard of them and only had one once . . . friends brought some out from the UK for us. I have to bake two cakes tomorrow, but they will be CAKES, no confusion
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
14 Jun 17
@garymarsh6 probably not!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
13 Jun 17
You could make it into a jaffa cake!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
17 Jun 17
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15023)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
5 Jun 17
Oh, Gary! I could weep! That looks and sounds scrumptious!!! I had never heard of a Jaffa cake before this @garymarsh6 and now I am drooling. I hope your family and colleagues know how lucky they are!
1 person likes this
@bluesa (15023)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
12 Jun 17
@garymarsh6 , no fair Gary! You baked two and I didn't get a crumb
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
13 Jun 17
@bluesa You can drool over the picture!
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@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 17
Haha Catherine in fact they said it tasted just like a Jaffa cake. ( I thought well it should do because that is what it was supposed to be) I must say the second one I made was much better than the first !
1 person likes this
@YrNemo (20261)
10 Jun 17
your wife is blessed, marrying to a good cook like this! (Might have heard of the name of this cake, but wouldn't know for sure since I don't often eat cakes or biscuits.)
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 17
OH dear you are missing something that is very tasty! I hope one day you get to try one!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
13 Jun 17
@YrNemo Haha well a little of what you fancy does you good!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458045)
• Switzerland
3 Jun 17
I never heard of Jaffa cake, I have of heard of McVities for the digestive biscuits. Orange and chocolate are always a great combination.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (458045)
• Switzerland
5 Jun 17
@garymarsh6 There is a Swiss product similar to Marmite, it's called Cenovis, I have never tried it, but I know that I love fish and chips.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
4 Jun 17
One of our national treasures along with Marmite and fish and chips Anna!
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (48929)
• United States
4 Jun 17
This is my first time hearing of them. It looks scrumptious
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 17
Thanks Marie it was quite tasty!
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
3 Jun 17
Looks delicious, yum!
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
4 Jun 17
@garymarsh6 Excellent! Did you read this back in Feb?
It's a delicious structure consisting of sponge, chocolate and orange jelly. But is a Jaffa Cake actually a biscuit? And what can it teach us about philosophy?
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
4 Jun 17
Thank you. Apparently it tasted just like a jaffa cake too so that's a bonus!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
13 Jun 17
@pgntwo I have just read it. Thanks!
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
4 Jun 17
My husband and I were in Jaffa but didn't eat Jaffa cake there. :-(
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
11 Jun 17
@garymarsh6 Oranges, of course. Jaffa is famous for its oranges.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 17
An English invention I'm afraid although they would have the ingredients to make them!
@DianneN (246720)
• United States
4 Jun 17
I've never heard of these, but expect you to make me one the next time we're in England. Sounds like a lot of work, but well worth it.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 17
It was worth the experiment but I will get you a packet and let you try them!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (246720)
• United States
12 Jun 17
@garymarsh6 It's a deal!
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
3 Jun 17
When I buy them I get the cheap versions For watery jelly you could add some gelatin leaves. Gelatin is a swear word at my work lately as one chef went overboard adding gelatin leaves to panna cotta (too many) and lemon posset (not needed). Personally I'd say a jaffa cake is a hybrid
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
4 Jun 17
Yes if I had had some I would have added it to the jelly! It was hard enough tracking down the jelly in the supermarket. I did look for gelatin but could not find any!
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
11 Jun 17
I have never heard of such a thing, but it was interesting reading about it. I bet the chocolate and orange combo is delicious. And is that marmite stuff similar to the Australian Vegemite? (I've never had that, either.) -- Did you bake those pictured? You have much skill!
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 17
Yes Marmite is similar to Vegemite although I believe Vegemite is sweeter. Yes the orange chocolate are a great combination. I did make the cakes they are quite simple really so I can't take too much credit for being skillful.
@rubyriaz007 (4188)
• India
15 Dec 17
I have never heard of this. It looks very delicious. I love chocolate cakes very much.It looks beautiful.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
15 Dec 17
Thank you! It was very nice! I am sure you make other nice cakes!
1 person likes this