Linzer Torte

Appears in
Oxford Companion to Sugar and Sweets

By Darra Goldstein

Published 2015

  • About

Linzer Torte, replete with spices and fruit, has for more than 300 years been the culinary representative of the provincial city of Linz on the Danube River in Upper Austria. Nineteenth-century travel books have two recurring themes in connection with Linz: Schöne Linzerin, beautiful Linz woman, and Linzer Torte. The beauty of the women of Linz was emphasized by their elegant traditional costume, including a precious golden bonnet. However, it is doubtful that they actually wore this costume for baking, as was depicted on the cover of one of the oldest Linz cookery books, published in 1846.