I got a taste of the newly crowned Cake of the Yearhere’s what it was like.
We came for a slice of Hungarys 2024 Cake of the Year.
We would have voted for it twice.
Scenic views of Budapest and the Parliament Building from Fisherman’s Bastion in the Castle District.Credit:Eric Yang/Getty Images
The immediate surge in demand after winning was overwhelming.
This competition was a great opportunity to revive and refresh old, traditional flavors.
My cake is not too sweet or overly heavy, as poppy seed cakes in Hungarian cuisine can be.
Sable and her slice of Hungary’s 2024 Cake of the Year.Sable Massingill Martinez/Travel + Leisure
One of these celebrations includes the Street of Hungarian Flavors, which honors Hungarys proud cultural history of gastronomy.
Leading up to the national holiday, many pastry shops also prepare cakes from previous years competitions.
There’s even a sugar-free division from which a separate winner is selected.
The Mákvirág (Poppy Flower) cake created by Alfréd Kovács, owner and pastry chef of the Édes Vonal Confectionery.Courtesy of The Hungarian Confectioners Association
Regardless of your taste preferences, Hungarys storied pastry- and cake-making tradition has a bright future.
Bookmark Aug. 20, 2025 on your calendar and prepare to celebrate one of the worlds sweetest traditions.
Exterior of Korona Kavehaz, the family-run confectionery and cafe in Budapest’s Grand Buda Castle District.Sable Massingill Martinez/Travel + Leisure
