Category: Cake supplied packaged

Some months ago we tasted a package from M&S.  It was ghastly.

M&S are one of the best and most consistent suppliers of in-store baked Eccles Cakes.

We thought our earlier sample was untypical. We were wrong. The latest offering was barely edible.

The packaging in French and German implies export. God help our reputation.

 

Location                           Traford Park

Largest dimension        85mm

Thickness                         25mm

Weight of cake               81gm

Crust colour                    Pale and uninteresting

Interest in crust             None unless you find sugar crystals interesting

Thickness of base          15mm

Colour of base                Mid brown

Texture of base              Like 18th Century Naval hard-tack

Weight of fruit                42gm

Texture of filling            Well bound soft currants

Caramelising                   None

Over view

How can a firm with so much expertise get this so wrong?  Twice?

Recovering from an unseasonal  dip in The Channel, seeking sustenance, staggered into baker.  A pack of 3 Eccles Cakes was irresistible.

Theses are the first Eccles Cake we have seen with “pointy ends”

Location                             Sidmouth

Largest dimension          120mm

Thickness                           28mm

Weight of cake                 105gm

Colour of upper crust    Mellow Yellow

Interest in crust               Slits with different patterns on different cakes

Thickness of base            8mm A bit under baked. Better to bake on try than on rack?

Colour of base                    Yellow

Texture of base                  Not crisp – stodgy

Weight of fruit                  21gm

Nature of filling                A mixture of fruit

Texture of filling               Currants not engorged. Enveloped in extender. A bit like mashed dates but not unpleasant

Caramelisation                 None

We aim to be realistic in our criticism. These cakes tasted very well in spite of our detailed critique.

This thrusting off shoot from Sayers is popular for its value for money. The potential for overeating when everything comes in 2s for the price of one is a challenge each time your Taster walks past their store.

Location                                 Eccles

Largest Dimension             90mm

Thickness                              30mm

Weight of cake                     100gm

Colour of upper crust       Half pale brown and half covered in white sugar crystals

Interest in crust                  Some holes in crust giving peeps at the filling

Texture of crust                   Plane with dimples

Colour of base                     Pale brown.

Thickness of base              10mm. Stodgey

Texture of base                   Thick not completely baked

Weight of fruit                     22gm.

Texture of filling                Single rather dry currants. Not bound at all

Base caramelisation        None.

Overview

As one of the last Eccles Cake Bakers in Eccles they need to be encouraged.

 

Glory be! Another Eccles cake baker in Eccles.

This commercial baker has begun to retail through some local shops.

The product looks indistinguishable from Aldi’s.

It would be good to have a national chain sourcing its products for their place of origin. A very logical Germanic thought process!

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)

This firm have one of the most attractive Founding Myths we have encountered. The image of armies of Grans,  feverishly baking their special dishes  is unforgettable

Location                                 Llanrwst

Largest Dimension             100mm

Thickness                              30mm

Weight of cake                     70gm

Colour of upper crust       Mid Gold with leakage

Interest in crust                  Shape and texture

Thickness of base               8mm strong and firm. Small plug,baked

Weight of fruit                     40gm

Texture of filling                 Bound

Base caramelisation      Enough to tempt the palette

Overview

One of the best packaged offerings sampled