“Exceedingly good cakes“
You might be wondering who exactly Mr Kipling is. Well, Mr Kipling is not a real person but a brand of cakes, pies and baked goods that are widely marketed and loved in the U.K. Introduced in the mid-sixties, the Mr Kipling brand wanted to bring to the supermarkets baked goods that were more like the quality you would find in a bakery. Clearly they were able to do that as by the mid-seventies, the brand had become the U.K.’s largest cake manufacturer. I grew up loving the sweet treats that Mr Kipling produced. From Battenberg to Bakewell Tarts, you knew that if Mr Kipling had made it, it was going to be “exceedingly good.”
When I started this blog, it had been many years since I had had any Mr Kipling treats. As part of my “research”, I ordered a box of British goodies from British Corner Shop, including Mr Kipling’s Mini Battenbergs and Bakewell Tart. Would my fond memories be reignited or would they have lost their lustre?
I have always loved Battenberg. It is a soft, moist and almondy delight and it was always a treat to have when I was young. I loved it so much that I worked on my own recipe as Mr Kipling products are not easily found in grocery stores in the U.S. As I mentioned already, I ordered a box of Battenberg Minis from British Corner Shop, one of a number of places you can now order a wide variety of British goods.
Was it as good as I remember? Yes, yes it was! Even though I love making my own Battenberg, it does not get much better than Mr Kipling’s Battenberg. It was as soft and flavourful as I remembered it to be and there is a quality to it that simply gives a yum factor as soon as you take a bite. I also gave some to my husband to sample as he has never had any Mr Kipling baked goods and I can say he is now a big fan! Marks and Spencer also do a wonderful Battenberg, but I digress…that will be a future post!
What about the Bakewell tart? Was it as good as I remembered? The tart took on a tiny bit of bruising from its’ travels but hey, when I fly that distance, I too can look a little worse for wear when I arrive! Back to the flavour – just how I remembered it to be!
In addition to the above mentioned baked goods, Mr Kipling offers a wide variety of treats. If you are visiting the U.K., be sure to try something or head to somewhere like British Corner Shop and have a taste of Britain delivered to your doorstep!
For more information on Mr Kipling and all the treats “he” produces, click here.
