Selected during a nationwide contest for the country’s 2018 birthday cakes, a honey-walnut fantasy will be the sweetest highlight of the upcoming annual August 20th celebrations, when Hungary honours its founding king, St. Stephen. The cake, Komáromi Kisleány (“Girl from Komárom”), will be available to taste from August 18th. In the sugar-free category, the Budapest-based Nándori confectionery came first with its Három Kívánság (“Three Wishes”) creation, made with chia seeds, walnut, almonds, sour cherries and cottage cheese.

Jánoska confectionery in provincial Hungary dreamed up the winning recipe for this year’s national cake. Laid on honey-infused sponge with walnuts, a gel-like concoction made with lemon, pears and ginger is enveloped in a mascarpone mousse. Ingredients also include white chocolate, dark chocolate, Williams pear liqueur, cinnamon and vanilla.

Now an integral part of the historic August 20th celebrations when Magyars commemorate the foundation of the Hungarian state, this is a relatively recent tradition of offering a birthday cake to the nation. On this occasion, the National Trade Corporation of Hungarian Confectioners calls for pastry makers from all over the country to invent or reinvent desserts that reflect the country’s traditions and flavours. Nominated cakes have to include local foodstuffs and must be made without adding artificial ingredients.

Every year since 2012, those on a sugar-free diet can also celebrate Hungary’s national holiday with a slice of the country’s birthday cake. This year, the One Drop of Attention Foundation (Egy Csepp Figyelem Alapítvány) selected a dessert made by the Nándori confectionery in downtown Budapest as Hungary’s sugar-free delight.

Both cakes are available for tasting from August 18th at many of Budapest’s confectioneries, including at the winning sweet shop. From the same day through August 20th, the Street of Hungarian Flavours set up for the St. Stephen’s Day celebrations by Várkert Bazaar will also proffer slices of the newly invented treats.

Last year, two Budapest-based sweet shops won the contest for the country’s 2017 birthday cakes. Balatoni Habos Mogyoró (“Balaton Foamy Hazelnut Cake”) by the Sugar! Design Confectionery was selected as Hungary’s national cake. For the sugar-free category, Zazzi’s Pöttyös Panni earned first prize, with its refreshing raspberry mousse, and layer of sweet plum and poppy seeds.