A Rickmansworth baker has solved the mystery of a beloved Irish cake recipe thought lost forever.
Succeeding on an amazing journey to track down the forgotten treat, Hazel Carmichael will now be selling the beloved Mary Cake at her Cake Studio in the town.
The Mary Cake, a rich chocolate filling on a sponge base, encased in chocolate and topped with a disc of marzipan, was a favourite product at in Dublin, Ireland’s famous Bewley’s Cafés.
However, the original recipe was lost during an ownership change. It was not to be found until Hazel received a request from the company’s managing director, Cól Campbell.
Speaking about her quest of discovery, Hazel said: “I learned that the original Hungarian Marika sample was created by confectioner Henry Spelter, who had fled to Dublin from Budapest following the Uprising in 1956.
“Henry was given a job by my grandfather and collaborated over the recipe with my great uncle to produce the Mary Cake, which was loved by Dubliners for decades.
“Henry Spelter later emigrated with his family to the US, but I eventually found him through an online obituary – he had died just a week previously! I left a message of condolence… and continued to experiment with recipes.
“Weeks later I received a message from a Carolina Malagon in New York, Henry’s granddaughter – who was in the process of documenting his life and recipes.
“I was thrilled when Carolina shared Henry’s meticulous notes, and together with a list of ingredients I subsequently discovered in an old Cost Ledger in Bewley’s archives, I have brought the recipe back to life.
“This is a story about a refugee fleeing war, sharing his skills and heritage, and what can happen when these are recognised and given a chance to flourish.
“I felt honoured to relaunch the Mary Cake with Carolina in Dublin recently. And I am delighted that Mary Cakes are now available from Hazel’s Cake Studio in Rickmansworth, with 50p from every cake sold donated to charity.”
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