Location Skipton
Largest Dimension 100mm
Thickness 31mm
Weight of cake 102gm
Colour of upper crust Uniform pleasant brown. Texture – perfect!
Interest in crust Two wide slits
Thickness of base 10mm – laminated but partly baked
Weight of fruit 38gm
Texture of filling Minced fruit bound and tasty
Base caramelisation Partially glazed
Overview
Busy efficient shop with wide popular local appeal. Nice Eccles Cake.
Woolton is a charming, ancient village absorbed now as a suburb of Liverpool. This shop is the hub of lunchtime life in the village.
Location Woolton
Largest Dimension 101mm
Thickness 21mm
Weight of cake 98gm
Colour of upper crust Uniform mid brown
Interest in crust Tantalisingly small sugar crystals and eruption of fruit
Thickness of base 6mm – dense
Weight of fruit 24gm
Texture of filling Beautifully bound with large currants
Base caramelisation Partially glazed
Overview
Busy efficient shop with wide popular local appeal. Nice Eccles Cake.
In the 1950s the then Mr Sayers was hit upon by your tasters Mother to provide free cakes for Sunday School Treats. A kind and generous man. Affection does not impact objectivity!
Location Hunts Cross, Scouseville sur Mer
Largest Dimension 95mm
Thickness 30mm
Weight of cake 103
Colour of upper crust Dark Brown – baked in store.
Interest in crust With some caramelised leakage on top. Nice.
Thickness of base 9mm
Weight of fruit 30gm
Texture of filling Plump currants not bound but pleasant.
Base caramelisation Partially glazed
Overview
Good example of what can be achieved with in store bakery
Asked if her shop lay in North, South or Mid Wales the proprietor insisted it was in West Wales. Living in a town dominated by a Divinity College makes the residents free thinking.
Location Lampter
Largest Dimension 130mm
Thickness 25mm
Weight of cake 145
Colour of upper crust Pale gold
Interest in crust Slits – various
Thickness of base 9mm
Weight of fruit 70gm – satisfyingly solid
Texture of filling Raisins, currants and filler tightly bound
Base caramelisation None
Overview
An attractive obviously popular shop with a distinctive feel. Range of products refined to the taste of locals
This innovative, prize winning and friendly firm open the debate about when the filling stops an Eccles Cake from being one!
Location Craven Arms
Largest Dimension 95mm
Thickness 20mm
Weight of cake 95gm
Colour of upper crust Mid brown nicely crumbly
Interest in crust Varied with samples
Thickness of base 7mm
Weight of fruit 60gm – generous
Texture of filling Raisins, currants and mixed peel bound
Base caramelisation Some
Overview
Great shop with cheerful staff and a very wide circulation of its excellent products
The fortunate folk of Lampeter (sounds like the start of a limerick!) have 2 excellent bakers in their delightful town both offering a feast of earthly delights.
Location Lampeter
Largest Dimension 95mm
Thickness 30mm
Weight of cake 100gm
Colour of upper crust Golden with large sugar crystals
Interest in crust Various openings
Thickness of base 15mm
Weight of fruit 35gm
Texture of filling Largely currants loose not well bound
Base caramelisation None
Overview
A good sold product well presented and appealing to the local pallet (palette?)
Location Reigate
Largest Dimension 120mm
Thickness 35mm
Weight of cake 110gm
Colour of upper crust Golden. Very uniform (Sugared)
Interest in crust Various sized slits
Thickness of base Superbly flaky and gorgeous brown
Weight of fruit 25gm – hugely extended
Texture of filling Grotesque
Base caramelisation None
Overview
A poor introduction to surveys in South East.
Location Higher Ferrer
Largest Dimension 120mm
Thickness 30mm
Weight of cake 130gm
Colour of upper crust Gold with sugar flakes
Interest in crust Large wide slit
Thickness of base 15mm down to nothing. Laminated but lumpy
Weight of fruit 40gm
Texture of filling Tightly mixed with lots of filler
Base caramelisation None
Overview
Popular shop with excellent range of produce. A pleasant Eccles Cake made on the premises. I will call again next time I am passing
Location Lutterworth
Largest Dimension 100mm
Thickness 28mm
Weight of cake 100gm
Colour of upper crust A bit pale
Interest in crust Caramelised vents – great!
Thickness of base 8mm and a bit stodgy
Weight of fruit 30gm – ungenerous
Texture of filling Nicely bound
Base caramelisation None
Overview
Nicely presented packaged Eccles Cake. Faced with the problems of freshness the results were quiet typical.