Seed Cake Recipe from The Hobbit | A Taste of Tolkien's Middle-earth — Under A Tin Roof (2024)

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Hello and Good Morrow to you, Dear Reader!

I want to let you in on a little secret… I am huge geek. Could you have guessed? I didn’t think so either…

I have been wanting to create blog posts like this exact one for years. I always felt like I had present a certain way to our audience, and I still do, but over the last year or so things have obviously been changing and evolving more into the space that I have always wanted this to be.

Today, I wanted to share with you a recipe from our Ebook, Tea at Beatrix’s, but it is also a beloved food mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. Seed cake is a traditional British tea cake filled with delicious caraway seeds. Read on to learn more about this delightful little afternoon sweet and learn the recipe to make your own!

sharing literary inspired recipes:

If you have been around since the age of our homesteading days, or even earlier when we shared handmade goods and herbal recipes, then I applaud you and thank you for sticking with us. I never thought that I would be able to take my love of books, fantasy, movies, cottagecore, and history and turn them into a job. It feels a bit surreal to take the things from my past like acting and theatre and utilize those skills in my daily work. Things like dressing up and creating characters are things that come naturally to me, and I have always loved cosplay even from a young age.

It is something that I felt like I could not incorporate into our blog space because it didn’t fit right. But now that we have changed our channel and evolved into the space we are at now, focusing on food and cottagecore vibes, I feel like I can bust out of that shell and make things that really inspire me.

We have more exciting things coming, too! So just hold onto your hat!

the history of seed cake:

Seed cakes have been mentioned in English literature all throughout history. This cake is a traditional British baked good, and it is named after the caraway seeds baked inside that give it a unique flavor. The cake itself is not overly sweet, and it pairs perfectly with a hot cup of tea.

The origins of seed cake are unknown, thought it is known that many baked goods contained seeds and various spices throughout history, prominently in the Middle Ages. The seed cake that we know more fondly today became popular in the 18th century and had a resurgence again in the 19th century.

You will see mentions of seed cake in many, many English fiction books including Jane Austen’s Emma. It is a particular favorite of Mr. Woodhouse. It is also mentioned in stories by Beatrix Potter and, of course, Tolkien.

seed cake in the hobbit:

"“A little beer would suit me better, if it is all the sameto you, my good sir,” said Balin with the white beard. “But I don’t mind some cake – seed-cake, if you have any.”

“Lots!” Bilbo found himself answering, to his surprise; andhe found himself scuttling off, too, to the cellar to fill a pint beer-mug, andthen to a pantry to fetch two beautiful round seed-cakes which he had bakedthat afternoon for his after-supper morsel.

-An Unexpected Party, The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien

final thoughts:

This cake is quite delicious. I have made it at least 10 times in the last year, and it always turns out so lovely. It was originally featured in our ebook, Tea at Beatrix’s, but I thought I would give it to you for free in this post. If you would like other recipes that are similar to this one, I would be so appreciative of your support in purchasing our ebook. Otherwise, please enjoy this little cake recipe!

My Hobbit inspired clothing is from the lovely Huckleberry Clothing Co.

xoxo Kayla

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