Sacher-Torte Day – December 5, 2022, history, significance
We get to indulge our sweet tooth on Sacher-Torte Day every year on December 5. The cake is famous worldwide for its taste, and this day is set aside to appreciate this culinary delight and how it has satisfied millions of people for hundreds of years. Tortes are similar to cakes, and many regard them as a cake variant. The difference lies in the ingredients — the torte incorporates several components that give it a tighter crumb and a heavier base than cake.
HISTORY OF SACHER-TORTE DAY
The Sacher-Torte ranks among the most celebrated culinary creations in Vienna. Sacher-Torte is a special kind of chocolate cake invented under equally special circumstances in 1832 by Austrian pastry chef, Franz Sacher, for the Austrian State Chancellor, Prince Clemens Lothar Wensel Metternich.
A huge fan of novel dishes, the Prince ordered the creation of a new cake. With the head chef out sick, the kitchen staff immediately went into panic mode. No one had any idea what to prepare — and then Franz Sacher had a culinary revelation.
Despite being a 16-year-old, Sacher gathered his wits and the available ingredients, then set about to create what has since become a famous chocolate cake. The prodigy would go on to run several restaurants and cafes. The Sacher-Torte was by far his most notable creation; it established his genius and made him prosperous.
In 1876, Franz Sacher’s son, Eduard Sacher, opened a luxury hotel in Vienna which bore the family name. The Sacher-Torte unsurprisingly became the staple of the Sacher Hotel. The hotel would rise in popularity under the management of Eduard’s wife, Anna Sacher. Famous for her love of cigars and dogs, Anna Sacher transformed the hotel into a hotspot for diplomats, aristocrats, and socialites.
Sacher-Torte Day was created to celebrate this amazing dessert and its unique origins. Food lovers worldwide can testify to the superb taste of what many call the best chocolate cake ever made. Longtime admirers and first-timers alike get to enjoy this yummy holiday every year as the holiday season looms. What a treat!
SACHER-TORTE DAY TIMELINE
1832
Franz Sacher Creates the Sacher-Torte
Franz Sacher makes the first Sacher-Torte for the Austrian State Chancellor, Prince Clemens Lothar Wensel Metternich.
1876
Hotel Sacher Opens
Eduard Sacher opens a luxury hotel bearing the family name.
1892
Eduard Sacher Dies
Eduard Sacher dies, and his wife, Anna, takes over the management of the hotel.
1930
Anna Sacher Dies
Anna Sacher dies in the same hotel she managed.
SACHER-TORTE DAY ACTIVITIES
Whip up a batch
There’s no better way to celebrate Sacher-Torte Day than to eat one. Make a fresh Sacher-Torte or visit a local store and buy one.
Try a new recipe
Look up recipes for Sacher-Torte online and try one. You can also channel your inner Franz Sacher and add a twist to an old recipe for something special.
Try the real deal
What could be better than tasting the original recipe? You can get the original Sacher-Torte at the Hotel Sacher in Vienna or Salzburg.
5 FACTS ABOUT SACHER-TORTE THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND
Globetrotter
Over 360,000 Sacher-Torte are shipped around the globe by the Hotel Sacher.
Endless shopping list
To make that number of cakes, one would need about 1,2 million eggs, 30 tons of flour, 37 tons of apricot jam, and 25 tons of butter.
Handmaidens
The Sacher Hotel kitchen staff still hand-make Sacher-Torte using the original recipe.
Under lock and key
The Hotel Sacher keeps the original hand-written Sacher-Torte recipe in a safe.
Rumour has it
The icing comprises a blend of three chocolates from Germany and Belgium.
WHY WE LOVE SACHER-TORTE DAY
We love yummy desserts
This delightful cake is loved all around the world. It’s no wonder it has its own holiday.
Rich history
Franz Sacher’s story is an inspiring one. The stakes were high, and the pressure was on, but he managed to create a delicacy that would last for generations to come. If that doesn’t light a fire in your belly, what will?
A taste of Europe
The Sacher-Torte is one of the most loved desserts in Vienna, and it offers a tasty perspective into the dynamic European culinary scene.
