Why is the cake "Napoleon" so called? The most common versions

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Probably, you have often tried the famous and adored by many puff dessert, which has a somewhat atypical name. Someone thought about why the cake "Napoleon" is called that? However, if you have never tried to understand this, it's time to fill this gap. Today we will present to your attention several versions of the origin of such an unusual "name".

The most popular version of the origin of the name of the cake "Napoleon"

The multi-leaf base for this dessert was invented many years before it appeared. Once, one inventive confectioner kneaded the usual dough and, having rolled it out, layered it with layers of butter. Then he again walked with a rolling pin on it, folding it in several layers. Having sent the resulting product to the oven, the confectioner did not really know what he would receive. However, a very amazing product came out, consisting of many delicate layers. However, the baking is excellent.got up.

After a while, another experimental baker appeared in the Neapolitan bakery. And he layered such a product with various delicious creams and jams. In terms of taste, it was a true culinary masterpiece. Then this cake was called Napolitano - "Neapolitan". He was of Italian descent.

After some time, the "Neapolitan" pie began to be called "Napoleonic". They renamed it because not everyone understood what Naples was. And if not everyone, then many have heard about the Frenchman Bonaparte. That's why it's called Napoleon cake.

Second interesting version

According to the second story, the name of the cake "Napoleon" was due to the fact that it had many different layers in its composition. Some of them were more refined and almost invisible. Others, on the contrary, are thicker. The sweetness was also layered with various ingredients. In addition to layers smeared with jam, the dessert included custard, various jams, and even whipped sweet cream.

It would seem, where is the connection? And why is the cake "Napoleon" called so and not otherwise? And the answer is rather banal. It is known that in his army, marching proudly and capturing many countries, Bonaparte accepted completely different people. Shoulder to shoulder in the formations were both ordinary people and people from the court nobility. That's where the name of the cake "Napoleon" comes from, according to this version.

Third variant of origin

This version is at leastcommon. The legend says that a cook served in the palace of Napoleon Bonaparte. He really wanted the emperor to notice him. And one day, an ingenious person turned a royal biscuit (a layered dough pie) into an exquisite cake.

The cook cut the biscuit along the layers and each of them was not too lazy to smear with various types of cream, syrup and other sweets. The result is an incredibly delicious confectionery product. Of course, the cunning cook named his creation after the emperor. That's why the Napoleon cake is called that, according to this legend.

Moscow dessert

The centenary of the expulsion of the invader was celebrated by all of Moscow, and not only. In honor of this grandiose event, the city's confectioners baked an amazingly delicious cake. It consisted of many layers, since puff pastry was taken as the basis. Each of them was generously smeared with custard by confectioners. The top of each cake was sprinkled with cookie crumbs. Cut into triangles and offered to buyers. A cake in the form of a "cocked hat" - Bonaparte's favorite headdress, they liked the taste.

Here is the symbolism that was put into it during preparation:

1. The cakes were very brittle and thin. Although together they gave the impression of a very strong cake, with any movement, and even more so when biting off, the layers easily broke and turned into petals of airy crumbs. Fragility symbolized the unreliability of the invader's army, which only outwardly seemed strong and invincible. But atcloser examination turned into crumbs.
2. The cookie symbolized the harsh weather conditions in Russia during the winter. Especially in the year when Napoleon wanted to take over our country. Winter also made a significant contribution to the liberation of Moscow from the enemy. It was immortalized in the form of crushed cookie crumbs.
3. During the celebration, everyone could eat a piece of "Napoleon", investing their mite in the victory over the enemy.

People liked the cakes so much that they were snapped up in an instant. Subsequently, the city's confectioners did not stop baking the Napoleon cake. On the contrary, they began to make a cake according to the same recipe and sell it by weight.