Linzer Torte is the world's oldest known cake and is named after the Austrian city of Linz. It has been documented as early as 1696. Its oldest recipe is listed in a 300-year-old cookbook!
The traditional Austrian tart is made with a rich, buttery crust and a filling typically made from ground nuts, and hazelnuts, combined with preserves featuring raspberry or red currant.
In the 17th century the Linzer Torte was made with a simple dough consisting of flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and lemon zest. The filling often featured ground nuts and almonds along with fruit preserves.
In Austria, the Linzer Torte is often associated with important celebrations such as weddings and Christmas. It is a customary holiday dessert and is also made at home
The earliest known recipe for the dish can be found in the "Cookbook of Countess Anna Margaretha von Rinn" from 1653, which was written by an Austrian aristocrat
Linzer Torte is identified by its lattice top, where strips of the pastry dough are arranged in a crisscross pattern over the filling, which lets the fruit preserves peek through.
The availability of nuts in and around Austria particularly almonds and hazelnuts, played a role in shaping the tart's filling since nuts were produced in abundance around the countryside
In Linz and other parts of Austria, there are festivals and events dedicated to the Linzer Torte, featuring bakers showcasing their skills and offering a variety of Linzer Torte creations