Mr. Tumnus’s Sugar-Topped Cake Recipe | Bookish Recipes

Posted on by Lauren

When people think of food or delicious treats from C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, I get the sense that Turkish delight is the first thing that springs up in their mind. As it’s a part of one of the most significant plot points–seeing Edmund betray his siblings–it’s understandable why it’s so prevalent. Decadent and delicious, the powdered candy represents a great deal of the story’s themes. It presents temptation, and encourages greed and selfishness. It’s heavily symbolic and hefty in the grand scheme of the story.

With all of that being said, though seen as delectable and desirable, Turkish delight (also called lokum) represents less savory things within the book. Because of that, when I’m in the mood to make foods reminiscent of Narnia, I like to think more so of the tea that Lucy has with Mr. Tumnus upon their first meeting. (Though, I suppose one could argue that even this has negative connotations as it’s used to lure Lucy in and ultimately hand her over to the cruel White Witch, Jadis. It could also, however, be seen as pure kindness extended before Mr. Tumnus actually exerts these efforts when lulling her to sleep.)

In the last few years, I’ve made it a tradition for myself to make a “sugar-topped cake” on the first snow day of the season. Some years, though, it doesn’t snow at all where I live so I have to go ahead and pretend.

This recipe is adapted from a streusel coffee cake found in the Bread Beckers Recipe Collection.

Mr. Tumnus’s Sugar-Topped Cake

And really it was a wonderful tea. There was a nice brown egg, lightly boiled, for each of them, and then sardines on toast, and then buttered toast, and then toast with honey, and then a sugar-topped cake.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Batter Ingredients:

  • 4 cups flour
  • 2 tbs. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 cup oil
  • 1/2 cup honey

Topping Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 tbs. cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
  • 6 tbs. butter, melted

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Grease a 9″x13″ baking pan (if you think this will be too much for you, feel free to half the ingredients and bake in a 9″x9″ pan).
  3. Combine dry ingredients for the batter. Make a well in the center.
  4. Add the wet ingredients. Stir just until well mixed.
  1. Spread into the greased baking pan.
  2. Combine topping ingredients and sprinkle over the batter.
  1. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until done in the center. (If you find it’s getting too brown, you can shield it with foil.)
  2. Enjoy! You can serve this as is or with tea, coffee, or another hot drink of your choice. I had some Organic Home for the Holidays tea by The Little Rustic Homestead (pictured and linked below) with mine this morning.

Did you grow up with the Narnia stories like I did, be it the film, or books, or both? Or have you yet to encounter them at all? Do you have any winter or first-snow-of-the-season traditions? I’d love to hear your thoughts below!

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Published by Lauren

Hi! I’m Lauren (she/her, 22), and I like to read and write; I’m still trying to figure out the rest.

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