The Battenburg: the history behind the British checkerboard cake

Ever wondered why there are 4 squares that make up the Battenburg cake? Wonder no more! Slightly mysterious, the history of the Battenberg has ties to royal heritage and Victorian baking traditions. 

Believed to have been created in 1884, the most popular story is that the cake was created to celebrate the marriage of Princess Victoria, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, to Prince Louis of Battenberg, a member of the German aristocracy. The 4 square sponge design is said to represent the four Battenburg princes, which is likely a romanticised version of the story after the cake gained in popularity.  

However, food historians note that the first printed mention of ‘Battenberg cake’ appears in 1898, in the book Saleable Shop Goods for Counter-Tray and Window, written by Frederick Vine, who was also the editor of leading trade magazine The British Baker. Vine’s version called for 9 squares of cake. Around the same time, similar cakes appeared under names like ‘Domino Cake’ and ‘Neapolitan Roll’, reflecting the Victorian trend of decorative, intricate cakes.