Small Cakes and Pastries

From madeleines to éclairs, meringues to curd tarts, small individual cakes have great charm. Arrayed on cake-stands at the Ritz and Claridges, where afternoon tea is still taken seriously, these are the miniature versions of grander confections. Such delightful morsels rarely fail to enchant; the best exhibit a degree of finesse and precision. As an example of baking expertise, small cakes resemble the perfectly executed doll’s-house-size chairs or cupboards once made by apprentice cabinet makers.