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Tunbridge cakes

Pile of Tunbridge cakes. For Tunbridge cakes recipe.

These sweet biscuits are similar to Lancashire’s Goosnargh Cakes with the difference that they are topped with sugar as well as caraway seeds.  Why they are associated with the Kent market town of Tunbridge Wells is not clear.

Equipment

  • Weighing scales
  • Baking sheet
  • Sieve
  • Large mixing bowl
  • Cling film
  • Rolling pin
  • 6cm fluted pastry cutter
  • Small bowl
  • Pastry brush
  • Cooling rack

Preparation method

  • Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas 4.
  • Grease the baking sheet with butter.
  • Sift the flour into the mixing bowl and rub in the butter until you have fine breadcrumbs.
  • Stir in the sugar and salt, add the beaten eggs and mix thoroughly to a dough.
  • Wrap in clingfilm and place in the fridge for 30 minutes.
  • On a lightly floured work surface roll out the dough to about 3mm thick and cut out the biscuits with the pastry cutter.
  • Combine any scraps of dough and reroll to use it up.
  • Place on the baking sheet and prick them with a fork.
  • Combine the caraway seeds and sugar in a small bowl.
  • Brush the tops with egg white and scatter with the caraway and sugar mixture.
  • Place in the preheated oven and bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden and cooked through.
  • Allow to cool slightly before transferring onto a cooling rack.

Similar biscuit recipes
Buttermere biscuits
Funeral biscuits
Goosenargh cakes
Lavender biscuits
Scottish shortbread
Shrewsbury cakes
Somerset Easter biscuits
Valentine biscuits

Georgian

Serves:
30
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 15 minutes
Cooling time 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 450 g plain flour
  • 170 g unsalted butter, chilled and cut into chunks
  • 170 g caster sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 medium eggs, beaten

For the topping

  • 1 medium egg white
  • 2 tbsp caraway seeds
  • 2 tbsp caster sugar

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Tunbridge cakes
Serving Size
 
30 g
Amount per Serving
Calories
120
Percent of Daily Value*
Fat
 
5.2
g
8
%
Saturated Fat
 
3
g
19
%
Cholesterol
 
23
mg
8
%
Sodium
 
7
mg
0
%
Potassium
 
34
mg
1
%
Carbohydrates
 
18
g
6
%
Fiber
 
0.2
g
1
%
Sugar
 
5.7
g
6
%
Protein
 
2.3
g
5
%
Calcium
 
9
mg
1
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Keywords

biscuits, Caraway seeds, Georgian, Shortbread

© Dr Caroline Gordon 
2026
Illustrations by Chichi Parish
Site by Anselm Eustace