Home StoriesPart of Inside Our Collections

The weird folklore of British cakes

The United Kingdom is a nation of cake munchers, and there are few celebrations that are not marked by the baking and consumption of some form of cake. To most people, cakes are no more than a sweet treat, but in the past many confections had folkloric powers of prediction, protection and the power to effect miraculous cures. Ben Gazur follows the British obsession with cakes through 1,200 years of history.

Words by Ben Gazur

  • In pictures

About the author

Black and white photo of Ben Gazur

Ben Gazur

(he/him)

Dr Ben Gazur has a PhD in biochemistry but gave up the glamour of the lab to be a freelance writer. He specialises in history, science, and the history of science. Ben Gazur is a writer and author. His book about food folklore is currently being crowdfunded. If you support it, you will get your name printed in the book. Click here to find out more.