Tunis Cake
The original McVities Tunis Cake (image courtesy of McVities)
I had pictured myself with a handheld camera touring the depths of England, blowing the dust off old cookbooks, interviewing stalwarts of the WI, doing witty pieces to camera, all in search of the elusive Tunis Cake. This was to be my food odyssey, where I discovered not only the history of this childhood favourite, but of myself.
The Tunis Cake is one of those things that people remember fondly or not at all: A round Madeira cake; topped with a thick chocolate layer and some (non-descriptive) marzipan fruits; a seasonal product hitting the shelves for Christmas. The one that was always in my house was produced by McVities and was instantly recognisable in its square, red box.
Sadly my journey was neither long nor enlightening. After contacting all the supermarkets and food historians it turns out that McVities invented the cake in 1973 and ceased production in the early eighties. Bugger. Although they still have the original recipe so…
M&S discontinued their version in the mid eighties (my mum claims she had one in 1986 from them), whilst Tesco and Sainsburys are still flying the cake flag.
Click here for my recipe to my Ultimate Tunis Cake
Sainsburys version of the Tunis cake, at least it's still available.
Should you want to try the original Tunis Cake contact McVities and ask them to dust off the old recipe and mix up a batch, or better still sign my petition – and if we ever get enough people we can march on Downing Street, or something similar!
M&S's Tunis Cake for Christmas 2009
Update
Despite not producing a Tunis Cake for over twenty years, Marks & Spencer have, thankfully, come to their senses and decided that Christmas 2009 is the right time to buck that trend.
Slightly smaller in diameter than the other supermarkets offerings, with a slightly thinner icing, it was worth the wait. I managed to get my hands on one, direct from M&S’s bakery department and I can’t find a bad word to say about it! The sponge was beautifully moist and the chocolate icing just right.
It comes banded in red foil cardboard and should retail at around the £5.99 mark.
Click here for more I discovered on the origins of The Tunis Cake.
Click here for my review of 2012’s Tunis Cake offerings.
But why is it called Tunis?
Hi there,
like your story but sadly it was not Mcvities that invented the Tunis Cake! I can remember having this cake every Christmas through-out the 1960,s, we used to have it delivered from a local bakery afew weeks before the festivities. It was absolutely delicious!! just the thing to have with a nice cup of tea in the evening with Morcombe and Wise on the box.
Tesco used to do it to in the 60,s but cant remember who the manufacture was, and if I remember rightly it wasnt bad but still not as good as the local bakers.
kind regards,
Chris.
Thanks for that Chris – I can feel the trail getting warm again!
I was told by McVities that someone in their bakery department had invented it but I’m glad to be proved wrong. Sadly Tesco is such a behemoth these days that they don’t keep records about what was stocked when! Thanks for your lead Chris, I’ll investigate further. Can you remember any details about the local bakery?
Thanks
Ben
I can remember these as my mum bought them every christmas and they were the best thing as I hated christmas cake and when i got married I bought them instead of christmas cake and then shock, horror I couldn’t find them anywhere until a couple of years ago I found one again and christmas was again wonderful .To tell you the truth I eat the whole cake myself as no-one else in the family likes them but I don’t care I LOVE IT.
I’m 62, I know it’s not good for me……. but I want one!
Like Chris I remember them from the 60’s. I also hate Xmas cake. As a teenager I kept cutting thin slices hoping my mum wouldn’t notice the whole thing was getting smaller. When she did, I blamed my sister!
The photo of the original cake has me drooling. I’ll settle for a M&S one.
I am delighted to know that I am not alone drooling for over a Tunis cake. My happy childhood was made even happier when at Christmas time I had a Tunis cake for my birthday in December and half was eaten over my birthday and the other half was kept for Christmas Day. Bliss!! Am off to Sainsbury’s to find one right now!
Desperate for Tunis cake and finding none in the usual places, I thought I’d have a go at making my own version.
I bought a Madeira cake from the local bakers ( Wenzels) and covered the top with a thick chocolate icing , using melted chocolate and icing sugar. Once set, I placed marzipan fruits on top.
The result was pretty good , judging by how quickly it went!
my gran always had a tunis cake, it wasnt christmas without one. My brother and i used to argue over the marizpan fruits sweets on the top. happy memories
I too belong to the happy band of Tunis Cake lovers!! I was first initiated in 1978, with a McVities version – definitely the best – the chocolate top layer is very much thinner on other brands usually. Over the years, my Christmas has been incomplete on the odd couple of years that the supermarkets in their wisdom decided against providing us with this wonderful cake. I’ve started my annual hunt for this year’s offerings, but so far none of what I consider the ‘major’ chains seems to have any in stock. I do, however, recall that in past years, it is often not shown on websites, and not actually stocked until much nearer Christmas, so perhaps I’m being a little premature/over-eager in my searching now.
I was born in1932 and during my childhood can always remember a Tunis Cake at Christmas but I’m convinced that it was made by Jacobs! The picture of the M & S one is nowhere as appealing as my rose tinted memory, I shall now don my cook’s (not chef’s) apron and replicate my dream. In the meantime if anyone has a better source I would be delighted to know.
A Merry Christmas to all.
Terry
I’m feeling guilty now.having to admit that we had 5 over the Dec-Jan period. All 4 family birthdays were in December and January (one each only seemed fair), and one for Xmas. Oh and then when we always went to our relatives on Boxing Day who were fans also……
Did anyone notice the Tunis Cake group on Facebook? I’m seriously thinking about refining the recipe my wife now uses to make mine, BD fast approaching, and getting a niche market cake to market again – how it used to be not the modern excuses for Tunis cake.
Hi fellow Tunis Cake lovers. My Mum always bought one for Christmas from the 1960’s and they may have been available before then. My wife and I have carried on the tradition but to my horror last year we were unable to find one anywhere! Christmas without Tunis is like being without brussel sprouts, decorations, tree lights, carols and presents – in no particular order! Early in 2009 we found that the Co-op had sold them so we’re heading straight there first this Christmas!
I’ve heard today that Waitrose are doing one this year too. My mum loves Tunis Cake so every year we have a hunt for them as soon as Christmas food hits the shops. For me it defines Christmas, once Tunis cakes are in it’s time to put the deco’s up! 🙂
I’ve had the Tesco offering in the office today as I try and introduce everyone to it – unfortunately no one’s jumping at it. Each year I want to buy the shop out of them so that I can show them to be popular and they’ll stock them more.
Well after marrying an Englishman I dragged him back to living in South Africa 6 years ago and he has always spoken of Tunis Cakes. Fortunately or unfortunately his birthday falls on 31 December and he says his Mum always got him a Tunis cake to celebrate, unfortunately I have not had the pleasure as yet. As he is now working in West Africa and away from the family for long periods, I thought it would be nice to surprise him with one when he returns for Xmas. Have found a recipe (not sure as haven’t a clue what it’s supposed to be like), but want to check about the topping. This recipe says to top with melted chocolate, but see others mention icing or adding icing sugar to the chocolate, can anyone advise or offer a fool-proof recipe for a clueless yet efficient baker from down South??
i have one every xmas sinse i was a kid its not xmas without them usually get one at local tescos but imagine my horror none there this year,so thanks im off down to local m & s tomorrow morning please let them be there
Found this link which mentions that Macfarlane Langs amde this cake in 1938 – There is evidence in the form of a catalogue in John Lewis’ archives. http://trewins.memorystore.org.uk/page_id__60_path__0p5p.aspx
Been looking for these myself, ive heard m&s do one, also found one on the waitrose website ! not as pretty as the old one though 🙁
Thank God I was starting to think I was the only one who remembers these, every year I ask in various shops only to be looked at like I have just landed, We used to get are ours via the Unigate milkman every year and it got to the stage my mum would let me have my own cake so others got a chance of having some of theirs with out me sneaking a slice. Any way they are older than the seventies as my dad had them when he was a kid.Anyway I don’t remember the exact details but he said McVities stopped making them because one year they had a bad batch and have not made them since not sure of the year but must of been early eighties.
Just out of interest I’ve just found a thing! on face book to lobby McVities to start making their Tunis cakes again ( you never know it worked for the Wispa bar)
My father from the time he can remember always had a Tunis Cake for his birthday and he is going to be 83 on Jan 31. So that dates it back to the late 30’s. His Mother got it from the local bakery. She reserved the display one that was on show through the holidays. My mother then arried on the tradition for many, many years.
My wife and I always bought a Tunis cake each Christmas, and like everyone else were up very upset when they disappeared from the scene. The response we had when we enquired was that they had been around too long for some marketing genius and so were withdrawn. Strange we thought as we had to get our order in promptly as supplies quickly disappeared from the shelves.
On mentioning the comments I had read from folk who were as disappointed as we to be deprived of a much loved Xmas treat, my wife said she well remembers the cake appearing on her Aunt Laura’s table as long ago as 1936 at big family get togethers. So we are talking pre-War and just out of recession times.
Yes we are both past our sell by dates and into our 80’s.
I still miss Tunis Cake. My parents moved to Australia in 1970 and the only cake I would eat as a child was Tunis Cake. My brother always got to eat the three marzipan pieces of fruit from the top because I didn’t like [still don’t] marzipan. Nana and Mum used to buy three each year. One for Christmas, one for New Year and one for my Grandfathers Birthday at the end of January.He didn’t like fruit cakes. I then went without cake till the following Christmas.I have been without Tunis Cake now for 41 years and still miss that wonderful flavour. Or at least the flavour I remember in my head, I was 12 when I last tasted one.
I spoke to a friend who visited Australia a couple of years ago and she told me she hadn’t seen one in years. I had hoped I could import one for my mothers 80th birthday, sadly that seems to be out of the question now. Recipe anyone????
I know they were a part of my family at least since the 2nd World War. My mum told me they had them during the war due to the shortage of ingredients for traditional Christmas fruit cakes. Not sure of the truth of that statement, however that is the story in my family.
OMG, I can’t believe I found this website, how fantastic.
I was only mentioning this to my mum the other day. She always bought me a Tunis Cake for my birthday on January 11th and I recall the McVities variety with the different colour icing on top. I would like to try another one, but they just don’t seem the same without the pretty icing.
I too can remember the marzipan fruit debate and I seem to recall that as it was my birthday, I was allowed to eat them all if I wanted…..but I think that the whining from my brothers meant that I shared them out. Ultimately it was the thick chocolate layer that I loved….oooh I must mention this to my mum.
I remember Tunis cake at Christmas in the 50s and 60s. Then they seemed to disappear for many years. I was curious why it was called “Tunis” cake. I have just returned from a trip to Tunis and enquired if this was where it originated. Unfortunately the Tunisians have never heard of it. Does anyone know where it came from?
I was asked to find an M & S Tunis cake today. Having heard of it, but never seen or tasted one, I set about finding it in my cookery books – Nothing – zilch! Maybe it originates from Tunisia and is full of raisins?
Then I came across this website. It seems to me that since the year before anyone can remember there were people who just did not like the traditional fruit cake and the alternative was the good old madeira – a firm favourite. So the cake manufacturers found a way of “tickling” its status for the Christmas market.
As far back as I can find in my old traditional recipes from farmer’s wives there is no Tunis Cake. But, heh, anything as festive and colourful as this deserves a place at Christmas. What a combination!
This is a staple for me as part of the Christmas food. Have had at least one every year that I can remember started at my Grandma and Grandad’s house boxing day when I was only a few years old and now I am all grown up (30!) I buy as many as I can find from Tesco – which is only usually 2 as they go so quick – each Christmas. I never liked Chrsitmas cake so this was my version. I don’t mind Chrsitmas cake now but this has got to be my ultimate favourite cake and I can’t wait to see them on the shelves in Tesco again this year!
Tunis cake on sale in Marks & Spencer today but best by date is 6.12.10 so no good to buy for Xmas just yet!
hi. my parents always had tunis’ in the 60’s and 70’s and i remember always having a mcvities one every yr through my 80’s childhood. tesco, m&s and sainsburys all sell tunis from about half way through december every yr. we have tried them all but sainsburys is possibly the better 1. i had a bash at baking 1 last yr – mcvities will email you the recipe for 1 if you ask them- but while the topping was lush, the cake wasn’t quite right. there is a craft baker who sells them through ebay and they look very much like the real deal with the lovely pink and yellow icing – their reviews are very good. just search ‘tunis cake’ on ebay and bob’s your uncle! oo we do so love tunis at christmas in our house – trying to cut the chocolate topping with your cake fork provides endless fun and laughter at the table! lol.x
My parents used to sell Tunis Cakes in our grocery shop back in the 50’s and
60’s,and I remember they always kept one for us to have on Boxing Day.I loved
the way the thick layer of chocolate would crack when it was cut. Mmmarvellous
memories!! The Tesco version is a HUGE disappointment as the fondant icing is
SOFT…Uuuurgh…not the same AT ALL.Please MacVities,bring back your Tunis
Cake, and make your Tunis devotees very happy Christmas bunnies once
again!!!
How wonderful to hear all those fond memories of the Tunis cake. As children we certainly had them throughout the 1960s, and my Grandmother had them before that. My sister and I used to share the marzipan fruits – but I recall there was just one orange, one apple and one pair – so not equally divisable! I have a theory that origin is North of the Thames (we are in North Essex/East Anglia). I married a girl from the South, and none of her family had never heard of Tunis Cakes. Come to that, I’ve never met anyone from the southern counties who remembers them. Can anyone prove me wrong? In my opinion, nothing compares to the McVities version with the pink and yellow piping .. and this year I will make my own. have just made a basic Madeira and will adorn in my own way. Hope it works because I’d like this fantastic cake to survive another generation.
I fondly remember Tunis cakes from my childhood in the 50’s n 60’s, we always had one as well as the more traditional iced fruit cake my Mum made. When I maried in the 70’s I continued to buy them and have always bought 2 – 1 for my mum’s birthday on 19th December and 1 for my own family. Last year I struggled to get one and my mother-in-law had to track it down for me. My mum had them as a child too and she died last year aged 92, so they have definately been around for a very long time. The M&S one doesn’t look quite the same, but if that’s all I can get then I will be buying one this year.
I went to Tesco Isle of Wight yesterday, where to my joy found a Tunis cake! What fantastic memories of Christmas in the 60’s. It doesn’t have the coloured icing but I can’t wait to try it and share the experience with my children who have never before had Tunis.
The reason to visit this site was to learn it’s origins, even as a child I wondered what the link to Christmas was, I’d still love to know any ideas anyone?
Today “07-12-10” I was informed by Sainsbury’s bakery (in Poole Dorset) that they will be receiving a batch of Tunis Cake tomorrow “08-12-10” and I was allowed to place one on reserve order to collect.
My Christmas is now complete.
All our family are looking for tunis cake this december. We take it in turns to go to Tescos to see if they have any in yet! So if I cant find one in Tescos do anyone know it M&S definately have them or Sainsburys or Co Op? If i can find them i’m buying 6 and wrapping them up as a nice surprise for everyone. Be grateful for any information!
I remember Tunis cake during my childhood in the 60’s. I think my mother bought it from the milkman (Express Dairy). I don’t remember it looking as garish as the McVities version in your picture! My hazy recollection is of the chocolate topping with marzipan fruits. I looked in Waitrose last night and they are stocking it at their bakery counter. However, now that I have bought my marzipan fruit I shall be baking mine, as I have on the last few occasions. I think adding some butter and water or icing sugar to the chocolate topping is quite a good idea otherwise you cannot cut through to the cake without a pneumatic drill! Not very christmassy. The recipe I have used before was taken from deliaonline message board and flavours the cake with orange rind and juice whereas the one I am going to try this year is taken from the book ‘A Taste of Heligan:The best from the Bakery’ by Tina Bishop and Paul Drye published by Truran Books Ltd. This includes ground almonds and lemon rind and juice.
I bought one in Tesco’s yesterday for £5.00. Still has chocolate top (without coloured icing) but has the marzipan fruits. Was quite well stocked. Looking forward to it Christmas day!
Just like marmite you either love or hate Tunis cake and I am sorry to say I’m really not a fan! My memories are of the 70’s, when my Nana would bring a Tunis cake every Christmas when she came to stay and it became a standing joke because nobody else in the family was keen on it either, but we didn’t want to upset her, so my Mum told us that we had to eat it and because of this I am only left with bad memories of being force fed Tunis cake!!! :/
My Mum always made our Tunis cake, and I have continued the tradition – my tunis cake is in the oven right now! My kids will then help make the marzipan fruits, just as I did when I was little. Christmas wouldn’t be the same without it!
To Kevin Willmot – my husband & I are both from Hampshire & are tunis cake addicts, so we can prove you wrong !! I remember the McVities one with the bright pink icing & thick chocolate that was impossible to cut elegantly ….. that was half the fun! Now that we live in the US we have to rely on some kind soul bringing one over for us at Christmas – unfortunately this year our tunis trafficker was not able to find one, hence my search on-line for information & recipes……. must go & start baking!
i always had a tunis cake at christmas as a child. my family knew it was my favourite so used to wind me up and threaten to eat it all!!lol i now live in cornwall and get one every year from barnecutts bakers in staustel. looks the same and still tastes great
My husband has fond memories of Tunis cake every Christmas in Wiltshire whereas I’m from the North and had never heard of them before we met, sorry Kevin Wilmott but your North/South divide theory doesn’t fit my family! Both my mother-in-law and I had a bash at recreating one this year but I’m not sure our efforts met his memories! I searched every online and actual supermarket I could this year and not a sign of the holy grail of cakes! I may start writing to McVities now to put the pressure on for next year.
Like many others I love Tunis Cake and buy mine every year from Waitrose, the cake has always been a family favourite from when I was a child (born 1946) and I can remember having a cake since I was at least 3 or 4 years of age.
I wait with anticipation for the 1st week of December when usually Waitrose take in their 1st delivery I live alone and buy at least 1 each week until the New Year. I’ve introduced several friends to these cakes and every friend now has to buy the cakes as well. HURRAH FOR TUNIS CAKES. I wish they were available all year round!
Purchased the Tunis cake today from sainsburys sunday 2nd jan..sell by date on the box 5th jan 2011..original price £7.99..I paid £1.30..thank goodness I didnt pay anymore..I was expecting a nice soft madeira cake..but found it very very dry..and the the chocolate really hard..so I made some custard sliced the cake to small portions and popped them in the microwave..better with custard..but will throw the rest of the cake away…wont be on my shopping list next christmas.
Finally I have perfected the chocolate topping! It has taken me a few years but I’ve done it. I am so proud of myself. I have made about 5 tunis cakes this year – I start in November and carry on making them. My sister keeps asking me what the secret it but my lips are sealed! Christmas ain’t Christmas without the good old Tunis Cake and unfortunately the M&S one just wasn’t the same – more like fondant chocolate. I ice them and add the fruits – its like being transformed back to the 70’s! I LOVE IT.
I also did not like Xmas cake (just Xmas pudding with icing on it) and was thrilled when our family discovered Tunis cake in the 1960s. This was a treat every year until only Tesco stocked It in our area and it became so degraded it was not worth buying Smaller, badly decorated, thinner and thinner icing which soon did not even reach down the side, then even this was replaced by soft fondant ‘chocolate flavoured’ icing. Ugh!. I am so pleased that I am not alone in missing it. I must start making a nuisance of myself in the stores much earlier next year.
My family Christmas (50s & 60s in Hoxton) was not complete without our tunis cake. Only mum & me ate it but that was o.k., more for us!
I make my own tunis cake and have done for many years now as i have some food allergies which prevent me from eating the shop bought ones, but i remember them from the 50s when my grandmother had them
I started work with United Dairies in 1950. One of the most popular items at Xmas was the McVitie Tunis cake, we could never get enough of them to satisfy all our customers.When they were delivered one would be cut up as samples for the milkmen and office staff.Since retiring from the dairy industry I have tried other makes of Tunis cake, and not one of them came anywhere near the quality of the McVities Tunis. So come on McVities if you are looking for a good line for profit, then start to make Tunis cakes all year not just for Xmas.
I work in a shop in Cornwall and we sell hundreds of Tunis Cakes each year,there is a local baker called Barnecutts who supplies them.
How lovely to see the photograph of the McVities Tunis cake, it brought back so many memories. It was a delicious cake and I couldn’t keep from eating it. My mum always bought one for Christmas in the 1970’s – what a treat and so much better than a traditional fruit cake. I will make my own this year so my daughter can try it – hopefully, she will enjoy the taste as much as I did. I LOVE Tunis cake and am glad to be part of the ‘Tunis Cake Lovers Club’!!