I was too young to remember the name of these cakes, I just remember I loved them. I’ve been asking people for ages if they remembered them and what they were called. I could remember what they looked like but noting else, not even who made them. I recently googled all the cake manufacturers I could think of and bingo, I lucked out. I sincerely hope certain people take note of this site and bring them back.
Chris.
My sister and I have had many delightful fantasies which start off with “Oo I could just fancy a Kunzle cake…..” I didn’t know they were called Showboats though. Surely they weren’t all boat shaped? I’m sure I remember a variety of shapes and all in fabulously lurid colours. Was there actually any cake in there? I can only remember a chocolate shell containing fluorescent butter cream topped off with a toning jelly sweet. Ah…healthy eating, it all comes back to me.
Comment by Sue — September 7, 2006 @ 8:05 am
Don’t forget the one with the chocolate button on!
Comment by Chris — September 10, 2006 @ 1:28 pm
my wife and i both enjoyed but living in Barbados we thought they were gone into history,if they return will have some sent here,we will be able to show them whar real cakes are
Comment by bob humphrey — March 17, 2007 @ 9:29 pm
Thank God! I’m not going mad. My Mrs says I was making it up, and nown I find a website for Kunzle cakes. They were the best. I remember trying to save the hjard chocolate topping till the end but always failing. Bring them back now!
Comment by John Vale — May 24, 2007 @ 6:37 pm
i read a newspaper article today about local foods that are fast dissapearing, kunzle cakes got a mention, i had them as a child in the sixties and can still taste the orange flavoured one now.
i would welcome any call to bring them back.
Comment by karen — July 16, 2007 @ 5:09 pm
I remember Kunzle cakes in the fifties they were fabulous.
What ever happened to the manufacturer ?
Bring back the little pleasures in life, i liked the one shaped like a boat.
Comment by vivian jarvis — August 9, 2007 @ 2:33 pm
For some reason I was thinking about Kunzle cakes earlier today and thought I would have a look on the internet not expecting to find anything. So I was amazed to find a website to bring back Kunzle cakes. I remember eating them as a child in the early 70′s and absolutely loved them! I would love to see them in the shops again! I always wondered where they went!
Comment by Diane — August 19, 2007 @ 4:36 pm
growing up in birmingham in 1950/60′s not far away was factory making kunzle cakes every friday afternoon a sale of cakes left over were sold and my mother would buy all types and flavours available, I/m now 60 and still can remember the anticipation and taste of when she returned, the best and always !!!
Comment by brian scrivens — August 28, 2007 @ 10:34 pm
When fulfilling my National Service in the RAF, I was staioned near to Felisxtowe. A small group of us would go into Felixstowe on a Saturday afternoon and have tea and cakes at a small cafe on the sea front.
The waitress would bring a plate of Kunzle cakes and set them on the table. No matter how many she brought, and as she got to know us it would increase, they would all be gone before we left.
Just never forgot those cakes. They were distinctive in appearance and taste. I can see them, and taste them as I write this.
I went back recently to find that cafe. It had changed a little but was still there. Unfortunately, the cakes were not.
BRING THEM BACK!
Comment by Ray Newton — September 9, 2007 @ 10:12 am
Kunzle cakes were a real treat especially on the annual educational day trip from school in the 1960s. They were absolutely scrummy! Totally, wickedly and deliciously un-healthy eating at its best! Bring them back (together with cremola another victim of large manufacturers.)
Comment by Sally Wilson — September 11, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
I loved Kunzle cakes too – although they sometimes were rather sweet! My cousin married a Kunzle and I know that the company was sold off many years ago. However some years ago Waitrose produced what they called Kunzle cakes. If you want to resurrect them I would suggest contacting them.
Comment by Alison — February 18, 2008 @ 5:08 pm
Kunzle Cakes were best eaten on the beach with a dash of sand and a large therm of tea. Sitting in a deck chair helped digestion and if you did puke well there was a large beach to cover the mess up. The taste was of cheap chocolate, synthetic cream and large amounts of sugar. I loved them. But perhaps they’re best left in the past, they’d probably be banned as a health hazard nowadays!
Comment by Gussie — April 26, 2008 @ 12:42 am
I remember Kunzle Cakes, my mum always you do buy them in the late sixties early seventies, when we lived in Harrow I loved them, I would love to see them back in the shops. I knew Lyons used to make them. They should definitely make a come-back. Who should we contact?
Comment by Steve Curtis — May 8, 2008 @ 4:03 pm
I remember Kunzle cakes very well because my father worked there as works manager from 1956 to about 1969 or 1970 when the company was closed. He joined when the company was based at Fiveways in Birmingham and moved with it to Garrets Green in the north east suburbs. In 1956 it was still owned by the Kunzle family (I seem to remember that one was an Olympic gymnast, no cakes for him!) but went through other owners, including Lyons, until the final closure, when Dad moved to Terry’s of York.
We used to wait for him to come home at 6.00 to 6.30 pm before we had tea, but the highlight of the week was Friday when he came home with the freebies – maybe a Madeira cake, bars of high quality chocolate, cream horns (a sort of flaky pastry cornet filled with real, fresh cream) and, of course, Showboats. Why wsn’t I fat?
Comment by Graham — July 8, 2008 @ 1:21 am
Reconition!!!!!…..Like so many kunzle cake fans, no one beleives me about them and being the best cake everrrrrr…..
I must have been 8 years old when I ate my last one .when we were living in cornwall.Oh how I would love to experience that special flavours again.They were so unique.I hope they come back, and if anybody out there knows where to buy them , please, please let me know.Waiting for that day!!!!!
Comment by Mary Mackenzie Sproat — September 28, 2008 @ 12:23 pm
Does anyone remember anything about the wrappers for Kunzle cakes? I know the cakes were individually wrapped & then packed about 6 to a carton.
I never had the undoubted pleasure of being Kunzled, but my Mum’s generation loved them as a special treat! Particularly so in her family, as an Uncle of theirs married the lady who had a business in the Midlands making the wrappers! We know she was called ‘Aunt Jim’ and after marriage would’ve been a Mrs Sennett. Anybody out there know any more?
I have a family tree website/blog & have put up a Kunzle cakes post, including links to your excellent page.
http://trunkcallsblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/kunzle-showboat-cakes.html
Many Thanks, Lisa
Comment by Lisa — October 17, 2008 @ 9:52 am
I remember kunzle cakes, the orange one was my favourite, we had a discussion about them at work today and the general concensus of opinion was that someone should start manufacturing them again, but we wondered if they could be sucessfully reproduced to taste as sublime as they did when we were children.
Comment by Marion — October 28, 2008 @ 7:40 pm
Strawberry, Orange, Chocolate, and Vanilla, mmmmm….. I remember only too well these delectable taste bud sensations, and I would love to get hold of the recipe and re-invent them.
If anyone knows how this would be possible please contact me on hayverity@googlemail.com.
Bring back the KUNZLE CAKE SOON.
Comment by verity — November 1, 2008 @ 5:40 pm
Wow ! Kunzles showboats, I absolutely adored them, the only time we had them was Christmas at my Grans, never tasted anything like it since – unfortunately
Comment by DIANE — December 23, 2008 @ 6:21 pm
Chocolate Kunzle Cakes, such a treat for me in the early 60′s when as I child I used to go with my Mum to Leicester to look after my Grandmothers shop whilst she was on holiday. If I’d been good and helped out in the shop I could walk to the bakers a few shops away and treat myself to a Chocolate Kunzle cake. It’s the only place I ever remember having them, maybe they didn’t sell them in Scotland where we lived at the time. I wish they would come back although I doubt they would be as good, probably be full of additives which weren’t even around in those days!
Comment by Maddie — January 17, 2009 @ 9:16 pm
I realy wish the Showboat cakes would make a revival, the last time I had one was in my packed lunch whilst I was off on my school camp in 1977. Along with the Tunis Cake. Mmmmmmmmmmmm
Comment by tina — January 27, 2009 @ 9:19 pm
The shop next door could not stock enough of the little gems. My favourite favourite was the strawberry one with the jelly strawberry on top which I always took off first and ate last.
It seems inconceivable that the craving for these super duper kunzle delights never fades, therefore someone must know the recipe so as they can be re-invented. SOON PLEASE
Comment by verity — March 23, 2009 @ 1:55 pm
Just found this site whils`t looking for photos of Kunzle Cakes! I delivered Kunzle Cakes around Devon and Cornwall in the late `60`s . As well as Showboats there were Cakelets,Mint Meringues,Caramel Fancies,City Fingers,Crackle Cakes,Fondant Fancies and Genoa Cake.Many were sold individually wrapped if required and were hugely popular with all the beach cafes etc.At that time it was owned by Charles Forte ,we were well paid,your commission based on the profit of each line,and very efficiently run.We took orders for Fullers Wedding cakes and later also sold Oliver & Gurdens cakes. Taken over by a very downmarket Scribona, who sold mainly Fruit (jam!)Pies,and in turn taken over by J Lyons, it spelt the end of the Showboats and the rest.The first change was from real chocolate to chocolate flavoured shells and coverings,and the sales plummeted.Very sad!
Comment by Paul — May 26, 2009 @ 4:57 pm
My husband thought we’d be the only oldies to remember the wonderful Kunzle Cakes 0 great to know there are others!!!
How can we get the old fashioned – Kunzle Cake? Could they produce such a marvellous balance of choc and cake?
I consider myself a good cook – but can’t compete with Kunzle – no matter how old the memory!
Comment by Doreen Tallack — May 26, 2009 @ 5:09 pm
These were the ultimate treat in my family. We used to buy ‘seconds’ from the market, each individually wrapped in cellophane but none in boxes. I have asked at many market stalls over the years and have been met with blank looks. Certainly I would be a keen customer were they to be produced again. They would certainly give Mr Kipling a run for his money.
Comment by Jo Fishley — August 5, 2009 @ 9:36 am
kunzle cakes were the very best ever please bbring them back jill
Comment by jill adams — January 26, 2010 @ 2:13 pm
What’s happening? Is anyone going to market these wonderful cakes again?
Comment by Marion Pink — February 24, 2010 @ 3:31 pm
Yea, bring them back, lets start a petition or a fan club for kunzle cake lovers. My mum sold them in her proper corner shop, I could just eat one (or two) right now
Comment by Maureen P — March 12, 2010 @ 10:08 pm
Used to lick out the filling then eat the shell, my husband and I both remember them fondly. Would love them to come back.
Comment by Mary Oxborough — March 13, 2010 @ 12:54 pm
So glad to find that I am not alone! I have talked about Kunzle cakes to most people I know and nobody else remembers them! I even tried asking in Waitrose a few times as I had heard they had resurrected them, but to no avail! I loved them. They were a special treat and I think we used to get them from a bakers’ van that delivered house to house. I too used to lick out the filling and save the chocolate case until last. Please, please someone bring them back.
Comment by Bunty — May 18, 2010 @ 4:08 pm
THEY WERE A REAL TREAT SO BRING ‘EM BACK!!! IUSED 2 LICK OUT THE INSIDES 2,SORELY MISSED
Comment by nigel — June 6, 2010 @ 4:34 pm
What a wonderful delicious memory. These superb cakes were a weekly treat for our family in the late 60′s, early 70′s on shopping day. The orange and strawberry were the ones my brother and I fought over! Would so love to see them revived.
Comment by Jenny B — September 17, 2010 @ 9:27 pm
My wife was a baker and confectioner (Cadena) and has never heard of Kunzle or Showboats. She thinks she has had some good cake but never a Showboat…Only my grandmother would ever buy them, they probably cost two ordinary family meals. What an agonising choice when faced with all four, had to be the one with a chocolate button…or that little royal icing sweetie…I used to marvel how they baked cake in that chocolate shell. I thought I did see something similar in Waitrose a few years back but I gave them a miss – surely they would never have tasted like a Showboat?! The sun truly did set on the Empire when Kunzle cakes disappeared – no wonder there is no Longbridge any more either. Hope I taste one again before I die, and can share one with my wife (on second thoughts…)
Comment by Trevor — September 24, 2010 @ 9:18 pm
I was just telling my 11 year old daughter about the wonderfull Kunzle cakes and how lucky we were to have eaten them, she asked me what they were and I did a google search found this website, I would welcome the comeback of the Kunzle cakes anyday, I can still remember the wonderfull taste of them, my mother used to buy me one as a treat when we called in Park stores near Ammanford in the sixties, Please Please Bring Back The Kunzle Cakes !!
Bryan llewellyn (Wales)
Comment by Bryan Llewellyn — October 5, 2010 @ 5:56 pm
I used to buy Kunzle for my children as a treat, and my eldest son, aged 41, still talks about them. I would love to see them brought back.
Comment by florence — December 24, 2010 @ 11:49 pm
I remember our local baker’s shop used to sell Kunzle cakes in Hawkesley Mill between Longbridge & Northfield. They used to be in a mouthwatering display on the left hand side of the counter as you entered the shop. As far as I can remember they weren’t too expensive, either 6d or possibly 10d in the late 1950′s/early 60′s. I used to buy them with my pocket money as an alternative to a chocolate bar.
If only they could be brought back! Not as a parody of the originals, but the real thing!
Comment by Susan Holbeche — April 3, 2011 @ 12:45 am
I often fantasize about Kunzle Showboats and only today I was talking to a friend and asking her if she remembered them – she didn’t, but then she is a lot younger than I am. I wish they would come back again. I used to buy a couple of boxes every week – I needed to as I have seven children – and we all loved them. So someone somewhere PLEASE BRING BACK KUNZLE SHOWBOATS. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!!
Comment by Brenda Mayhew — April 4, 2011 @ 3:40 pm
I don’t know if this will be seen by anyone after all this time, but I have a story about Kunzel cakes that may interest a few and possibly bring back a few memories.
In the last few days, I have sent the following message to the Paknam Web Forum in Thailand …………………..
Re: New Members Please Introduce Yourself Here
Hello All,
I have just found this site and after over 60 years wondering about someone I met at primary school all those years ago, I decided to see if he was still alive and if so, contactable.
When I was a boy of about 6-7, I went to a private school in Birmingham, England and met a yound lad from Siam, as it was then called. His father had sent him to England to be educated and being all alone and me being new to the school, we soon made friends.
My father used to pick me up from school in his car and would also pick up my friend and took us for a special tea at a place in Edgbaston, Birmingham, where we had something that if still around, he will remember.
After many months, the boys father sent a gift to my father to thank him for the friendship shown to his son, but after leaving that school, we never made contact again.
I often recall him by name and although I may not have the correct spelling, his name was Vivat Utamote. His father was then a silversmith to the King of Siam, before the country changed it’s name.
I am hoping that Vivat is still alive and well, perhaps occasionally thinking of his days in England some 60+ yars ago and a boy he became friends with. He will be about the same age as myself, now 70. If anyone can possibly make enquiries over there, not sure of his location now, but any information would be welcome and I can be contacted on my e-mail at (email removed by Moderator, people can contact you via Privatge Message if they wish). Perhaps if he is still around, we could link up and maybe even arrange a meeting before we drop off our perches!
Malcolm
That special place referred to was the Kunzel restaurant at five ways in Edgbaston Birmingham, who some of you may remember. We enjoyed scoffing many of the showboat fancies when we had those teas.
I had made various attempts to trace my old friend over the years without any success, but thought I would give it one more try.
With the help of a few determined people over there, I was delighted to receive the following message ……
I’ve found the son of Khun Vivat Uttamot, he will contact you directly. Congratulation.
Mel
Followed by this ….
Dear Khun Malcolm,
I’ve received a phone call from Khun Mel yesterday, and immediately called my father, Khun Vivat Utamote, afterwards. Yes, he still remembers you and the tea place he used to visit with you in the past. My father is well and now living in Bangkok.
Please let me know your e-mail address, so that I could ask my dad to write to you directly.
My dad and myself would like to thanks Khun Mel once again for her great helps. Without her, we would never come across the message. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Regards,
Krisda Utamote (Jon)
I am now looking forward to hearing from my old friend and Kunzel chum.
Malcolm
I hope this gets through to someone.
Comment by Malcolm Alexander — September 24, 2011 @ 12:04 am
I can’t beleive all you like minded people – these cakes were quite incredible and this is not just nostalgia.
I cannot find a couloured photo but can recall those amazing tones with the fruit jellies and chocolate button on top.
I must admit to being one of the ‘lick the filling out first’ types, but like others, I rarely suceeded – ofcourse this made me more determined to keep trying.
From a marketing perspective, these would not need to trade on the business of those of us who remember, they were so perfect I am sure they would appeal to a whole new generation.
Comment by Allan P (Wales) — October 26, 2011 @ 4:30 pm