Why London Cheesecake?

We get asked this question a lot, this is what we have been able to find out….

The honest answer is that nobody knows for sure. They used to be just called cheesecake, the London bit was added to differentiate them from the dessert style cheesecake that had risen in popularity. But why cheesecake if it doesn’t contain cheese?

There are two main theories, the obvious one being that the shredded coconut resembles grated cheese. The other theory is that they used to contain curd cheese under the coconut, however this could just be a case of mistaken identity as there was another London sweet treat called a Deptford Pudding, sometimes referred to as a cheesecake, that was made from curd.

Ours are definitely cheese and curd free, they are simply squares of golden flaky pastry, a dollop of jam, a layer of almond frangipane and a topping of icing and coconut strands. So whether you call them a Cheesecake, a London Cheesecake, a Hairy Cheesecake or a Hairy Mary (ask your Grandparents about that one) they are delicious, the perfect tea-time treat.