It beggars belief that a store allegedly offering premier, fresh products does not offer an excellent Eccles Cake when they have the facilities to present and sell them.
The ubiquitous Real Lancashire Eccles Cake is available but this package is no substitute for a freshly baked cake to tempt their discriminating clientele .
Aldi’s offering is the only serious threat to the dominant position of Real Lancashire Eccles Cakes.
Location Pendleton
Largest Dimension 65mm
Thickness 30mm
Weight of cake 70gm
Colour of upper crust Plane mid brown
Interest in crust Some small vent holes
Texture of crust Thin and laminated
Colour of base Mid brown.
Thickness of base 5mm.
Texture of base Biscuity
Weight of fruit 25gm.
Texture of filling Minced fruit a bit glutinous
Base caramelisation None.
Overview
Working to a price point for a volume product the overall quality is acceptable.
A throbbing shop at lunchtime in Bolton clearly successful.
Location Bolton
Largest Dimension 98mm
Thickness 25mm
Weight of cake 100gm
Colour of upper crust Thick sweet and chewy but not unpleasant
Interest in crust Holes with evidence of fruit escape.
Flecks of baked on syrup added to the interest.
Texture of crust Close to short crust. May be intentional.
The good folk of Bolton have many idiosyncrasies.
Colour of base Mid brown.
Thickness of base 11mm.
Texture of base Short crust?
Weight of fruit 51gm.
Texture of filling Loose currants and raisins. Not bound at all.
Base caramelisation None.
Overview
Part of a chain but very local in its feel.
One of many Bakers shops which can only thrive by becoming lunch providers
This traditional baker offers us Flat Cakes. No attempt to call them Eccles Cakes.
They are good to look at – lovely glaze (top and bottom)
Location Farnworth
Largest Dimension 120mm
Thickness 17mm
Weight of cake 100gm
Colour of upper crust Golden Glazed
Interest in crust Many small holes; glorious glaze
Thickness of base Uniform 6mm Flexible but containing
Weight of fruit 15gm more then the photo implies
Texture of filling Lovely large sultanas. Not bound.
Thinly spread
Base caramelisation Totally glazed above and below
Overview
Correctly called a Flat Cake but something to sample.
Cracking little shop with other belting treats. Worth a visit.
This is certainly the least appealing Eccles Cake experienced to date – equalled only by the other offering in the 2 pack.
Location Trafford Park
Largest Dimension 103mm
Thickness 15 to 30mm
Weight of cake 98gm
Colour of upper crust Pale flaccid and unappealing.
Over proved.
Under baked
Interest in crust None. It actually repels
Thickness of base Uniform 2 to 3mm Flexible but containing
Weight of fruit 25gm measily
Texture of filling Lovely large currants. Bound
Base caramelisation About 30% covered. Yum.
Overview
Trying to hit a Price Point is no excuse for this disgusting product. Other large stores are doing much better with similar technology and comparable costs.
Asda Price !(pats bottom)
At the end of a long shift on a busy Saturday the Assistant was cheerful and helpful, even apologising for the base of the cake being glazed!
Location Hope
Largest Dimension 92mm
Thickness 16mm
Weight of cake 100gm
Colour of upper crust Perfect.
Interest in crust Openings and an attempted “fruit escape”
Texture of crust Thicker than the base. Laminated
Colour of base A thing of beauty opening caused by sticking to the
baking tray. Whoopie!
Thickness of base 2 to 3mm
Texture of base Hard and crisp
Weight of fruit 20gm Not a lot but it filled the small cake completely
Texture of filling Delicious. Plump fruit (only currants) swelled and bound together lightly
Base caramelisation About 40% covered. There may have been even more.
Overview
A moral lifting visit. The shop faces a Greggs and is successfully competing with it.
Crouched, alluringly, within the walls of the ancient town of Conwy lies a delightful cake shop………
Location Conwy
Largest Dimension 90mm
Thickness 40mm
Weight of cake 115gm
Colour of upper crust Unusual soft, matt, mid brown upper surface.
Interest in crust Intriguingly different top.
Thickness of base 5mm – not completely baked
Weight of fruit 54gm almost over generous.
Texture of filling Gloriously bound stuffed with succulent fruit.
Base caramelisation About 30% covered. Yum.
Overview
This shop is not one to miss. Great location. Attractive sale space. Pleasant friendly service.
Location Denbigh
Largest Dimension 98mm
Thickness 20mm
Weight of cake 78gm
Colour of upper crust Golden heavy with white sugar crystals
Interest in crust Various small holes partially blocked with sugar crystals
Thickness of base 1 to 8mm – laminated. Central plug also laminated.
Weight of fruit 34gm
Texture of filling Not bound
Base caramelisation None
Overview
In the past Eccles Cakes were a solid snack with satisfying hunger a priority. This offering closely resembled the old style. The cakes are popular locally – why change?
Location Salford, Regent Road
Largest Dimension 81mm
Thickness 35mm
Weight of cake 60gm
Colour of upper crust Pleasant Golden
Interest in crust Varied Dual venting with lightly baked on sugar
Thickness of base 6mm – laminated, thin and crisp. Excellent
Weight of fruit 25gm
Texture of filling Ideally bound
Base caramelisation None
Overview
A sample on a previous visit had the crust explode as it was bitten into. This sample had much to recommend it.
