Queen Elizabeth’s Wartime Chocolate Biscuit Cake!

Hello, darlings!
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​If you failed to spot the queenly clue in the title of my recipe, then I must tell you that I recreated this splendidly simple, yet rather indulgent wartime dish purely for the delectation of Queen Elizabeth II! After all, it is Her Majesty’s most favourite afternoon teatime treat, or anytime treat as my research revealed.

And following the incredibly sad news of the one and only Forces’ Sweetheart who passed away at the grand ol’ age of 103 on the 18th June 2020, I hereby dedicate this recipe to the magnificent DAME VERA LYNN.

I dare say, that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has been a fan of this scrumptious cake since her childhood; throughout the wartime years; and well into her monarchical era. Therefore, I deem my recreation of Irene Veal’s Chocolate Biscuit Cake rather fitting, which I gladly stumbled upon in Irene’s extraordinary contribution to the arena of wartime cookery – Recipes of the 1940’s.

​The illustrious Irene Veal wrote a short, yet a rather sweet introduction for Chocolate Biscuit Cake; beautifully curtailed, with just a handful of words that sums up and describes the relevance and duty of Her Majesty’s most favoured cake.   
 
This rather luxurious recipe must be reserved for high days and holidays during the war. Afterwards, it can perhaps become more general!

May I draw your attention to reserved for high days’– well, although this means “a religious festival”, in Miss Windsor’s book, Trooping the Colour is most definitely classed as a “high day” – I do hope you agree. 

​To recreate this wartime culinary marvel, it simply requires eggs, sugar, chocolate powder, butter, vanilla essence, and some plain yet delicately sweetened biscuits – the British staple of Rich Tea (will suffice!).

PHOTO CREDIT – CLICK HERE

Now I must divulge, Irene’s wartime version of the Queen’s favourite cake surprisingly resembles a chocolate type of Tiramisu – it’s jaw-dropping delicious, served with a scant drop of Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur. Nevertheless, next time I give it a bash, one shall reduce the number of eggs, which may assist the biscuits to remain a little crunchier. 

​​Darlings, unfortunately, the option to slather a luxurious layer of melted chocolate over your decadent creation fit for a Queen would’ve been quite a rarity during the British wartime years, especially from July 1942 when sweets and chocolate were rationed.

But hey ho, things are a trifle different during modern-day Great Britain, so one may slather on as much melted chocolate as you wish – after all, Trooping the Colour is indeed a high day!

​​Legend has it, well according to the Former Chef to The British Royal Family, Darren McGrady, who informed Today (.com) on April 4th 2017, “It’s her favourite cake that she eats until it’s gone!”……..If there is anything left when she has it at Buckingham Palace, it then goes to Windsor Castle so she can finish it there.” According to my resource, Chef McGrady often travelled by train from London to Windsor Castle balancing Her Majesty’s half-eaten Chocolate Biscuit Cake on his knee – bravo, Darren!

According to one’s thorough research, Queen Elizabeth’s darling grandchild – the Duke of Cambridge (Prince William) – is also rather partial to a slice or two of his grandmother’s treasured teatime treat. He developed a liking for it so much, that it was served as the groom’s cake at his wedding to Catherine Middleton.

​Darlings I do hope you enjoy whipping up Queen Elizabeth’s Wartime Chocolate Biscuit Cake – it’s so easy and so perfect for those chocoholics of the incredibly ardent and incurable kind!
 
Now Miss Windsor’s off to enjoy a sup or two of the Queen’s favourite tipple – gin and dubonnet.
 
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN (don’t forget to curtsey or bow)

Miss Windsor x

ALL PHOTOGRAPHY BY MISS WINDSOR