The Dutch Carnival Cake, also known as 'Carnival Cake' (Dutch:Kermiskoek), is traditionally a Dutch delicacy that is similar togingerbread cake. Its oldrecipe holds a variety of ingredients among which are freshly harvestedrye flour andfreshly harvestedhoney from theBetuwe region, additionally the cake is enriched withrock candy.
Back in 1871 Jan ter Gouw already described the Carnival Cake in his bookFolk Amusement (Volksvermaken).[1] From this book the following song originated:
“Jan, just buy me a Cake! Pretty girl, I've got no money”
Historically, the Dutch Carnival Cake was made solely in October for the autumncarnival ofTiel. It used to be given as awedding proposal present. A farmer's son bought a Carnival Cake for his beloved. If the girl gave him a slice of the cake on the eighth or fourteenth day after the proposal, they would get engaged. If she did not serve the cake, she turned down his offer. Nowadays the offering of 'the lovecake' is not a proposal anymore, but a token of love and appreciation between partners, family and friends.
There is still a Dutch bakery that produces the Carnival Cake, and so the tradition is being continued.[citation needed]
The Carnival Cake has a rich tradition, which sunk into oblivion over time. However, because the Carnival Cake was adopted in the list of theCentre for Folklife and Cultural Heritage[2] - a countrywide organization similar toUNESCO - the tradition can be maintained. Since this tradition was adopted, the original Dutch Carnival cake is procurable all year long.[citation needed]
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