Tunis cake

[rosie]

Does anyone know if you can still get Tunis cake in any of the supermarkets.

We used to adore the Tesco's one, but can't find it in their online store this year.

If anyone knows where to get one I'd be grateful, otherwise Al might have to make it [msnscared]

[ellie]

Will see what we can find.....[msnwink]

[Mo Green]

Rosie
I have not seen any around this year but I think they have a fairly short shelf life so may not appear until just before Christmas - I think M&S or Safeways have also sold them.
My father-in-law loves them so I was planning to make one. They are quite easy - just make a round madeira type cake. When it has completely cooled secure a double piece of greaseproof round the cake so it stands about 3 cm above the surface. Melt some good quality chocolate and pour over the cake. Arrange 8 -10 marzipan fruits (available from most supermarkets)around the edge of the cake. When chocolate has set remove greaseproof and fasten a fancy Christmas cake frill round it.
(Original Tunis cakes also had two or three circles of red/orange butter cream piped on the cake)
Mo

[CarolAnn]

In case Al needs it Rosie [msnwink]

Tunis Cake Recipe

Makes 10--12 portions

For the cake
225 g/8 oz self-raising flour
170 g/6 oz softened butter
170 g/6 oz caster sugar
110 g/4 oz ground almonds
1 lemon (juice and grated rind)
3 eggs

For the topping
plenty of good quality chocolate
6 marzipan fruits (see recipe on opposite page) [I'm not including it here, you can make your own from any marzipan recipe I'd think.]

First make the cake. Place the butter and sugar into a food mixer and beat until pale. Add the eggs, flour, lemon juice, lemon rind and ground almonds, mixing thoroughly. Place the mixture into a 20 cms/8 in greased and floured tin and bake in a pre-heated oven at 150 degree C/300 degree F/gas 2 for one hour or until springy in the middle when pressed. Leave on a wire rack to cool.

To decorate the cake, wrap some greaseproof paper around the sides of the cake, standing proud of the top, secure this with a piece of string. This forms a well into which you can pour the melted chocolate. Remove the greaseproof and you'll find that the chocolate shouldn't have run down the sides. Ideally, you should have one centimetre of chocolate -- yes, really! leave to set and place the marzipan fruits on the top to finish.

[Susan J]

I know that Mc Vities made them, as they delivered a load to our tax Office once when I helped them with something -but I am talking over 15 years ago

[Maverick]

I have never even heard of it.[msneek]

[Trina]

Hi there, Sainsbury's here in Chestfield, Kent had Tunis cakes on Thursday. They were on an end with the Xmas cakes and chocolate logs.

Trina

[rosie]

Thanks Trina, we used to live in Rochester so maybe they have them there too, will get someone to check the local stores for me [msnsmile2]