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Original poster

Do you want a queen cake or a fairy cake??

30 replies

Communionmom · 15/06/2022 17:54

Just had a conversation with DH and he didn’t know what queen cakes or fairy cakes were!

So am I unusual that I do? To me they’re the same thing but I’m Irish and wondering if fairy cake is an Irish version of a queen cake?

To be fair, this is a man who didn’t realise black sheep were real but he has me doubting myself now!

OP posts:
TaranThePigKeeper · 15/06/2022 17:55

I’m in the West Country in England, and I’ve never heard of a Queen cake. We baked fairy cakes - little round cakes which might be called cupcakes now, but shallower, and iced with water icing and sprinkles.

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 15/06/2022 17:57

I'm Irish and I've only ever heard queen cake used in Ireland.

In the UK fairy cakes is what most small buns were referred to before the advent of Big Cupcake.

nocoolnamesleft · 15/06/2022 17:57

I know what a fairy cake is, but never heard of a queen cake.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Baking General food
RampantIvy · 15/06/2022 17:58

I have no idea what a queen cake is either. I still make fairy cakes though.

Lovelydovey · 15/06/2022 17:59

I thought queen cakes were fairy cakes with raisins in?

Blossomtoes · 15/06/2022 17:59

Isn’t a Queen cake a fairy cake with a hole in the middle and jam inserted before baking?

IHateWasps · 15/06/2022 18:01

I'm familiar with fairy cakes but I've never heard of Queen cakes.

SleepingStandingUp · 15/06/2022 18:02

Fairy cakes is a little cupcake isn't it and fairy cake it when you cut the top off, add buttercream and put the top back in in two halves to look like wings

Bluebellbike · 15/06/2022 18:03

We made queen cakes at school. (NW England). They were buns with currants in. Fairy cakes are same buns without currants nut with icing and a cherry, sweets or sprinkles on top.

User76745333 · 15/06/2022 18:04

Fairy cakes is a little cupcake isn't it and fairy cake it when you cut the top off, add buttercream and put the top back in in two halves to look like wings

No that's a butterfly cake. A fairy cake is just a small cupcake.
Never heard of a queen cake.

Bluebellbike · 15/06/2022 18:04

but not nut

Bluebellbike · 15/06/2022 18:05

SleepingStandingUp · 15/06/2022 18:02

Fairy cakes is a little cupcake isn't it and fairy cake it when you cut the top off, add buttercream and put the top back in in two halves to look like wings

We always called those butterfly buns.

anybloodyname · 15/06/2022 18:07

SleepingStandingUp · 15/06/2022 18:02

Fairy cakes is a little cupcake isn't it and fairy cake it when you cut the top off, add buttercream and put the top back in in two halves to look like wings

Nooooo that's a butterfly cake ! 😂

Original poster
Communionmom · 15/06/2022 18:08

Now I’m starting to wonder where I heard of queen cakes! Maybe raisins were the difference - I definitely remember a little bun with raisins (sometimes without the icing on top)

OP posts:
Spanielsarepainless · 15/06/2022 18:09

Butterfly cake for me!

Rahrahrahrahannoyed · 15/06/2022 18:09

The Swedish have 'Princess cakes' and you can get them from IKEA (or used to be able to.
They are so tasty!

LadyEloise1 · 15/06/2022 18:09

I'm in Ireland and know of both Queen and Fairy cake.
In our house they were called Fairy cakes - Mum was in the ICA - OP should know what that is.

MasterPretender · 15/06/2022 18:13

I'm English but live in Ireland. My Irish in laws do a lot of baking and always say Queen cakes.

A queen cake is the same as a fairy cake.

PestoPasghetti · 15/06/2022 18:14

Nothing beats a good fairy cake! So much nicer than a cupcake with all that sickly sweet crap all over it

FreezyFreezy · 15/06/2022 18:16

I grew up calling what are now known as cupcakes buns. Where has the word "bun" gone?

Couchto5ktowine · 15/06/2022 18:18

Queen cakes are plain fairy cakes with currants in!

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 15/06/2022 18:19

I’ve never heard of Queen cakes. Fairy cakes are the traditional little ones often seen at birthday parties - much nicer than the rather bigger cup cakes IMO - which usually have far too much sickly icing.

RampantIvy · 15/06/2022 18:19

My late MIL called fairy cakes buns. She was from Northumberland.

Original poster
Communionmom · 15/06/2022 18:19

LadyEloise1 · 15/06/2022 18:09

I'm in Ireland and know of both Queen and Fairy cake.
In our house they were called Fairy cakes - Mum was in the ICA - OP should know what that is.

That just unlocked another memory - are you old enough to remember the “housewife of the year” competition presented by Gaybo?

OP posts:
Joolsin · 15/06/2022 18:27

North and north west of Ireland here. I grew up calling them queen cakes or buns, but somewhere along the way I dropped queen cakes and now just say buns. You've made me all nostalgic, OP!! 😁