28 August 2023

Vienna Insight: The popular dessert Kardinalschnitte, invented by confectioner Ludwig Heiner, celebrates its 90th anniversary

Over the years, Fashion has published articles about famous Austrian desserts. For example, on the occasion of the exhibition of coffee and dining culture at the Hotel Sacher in Vienna, which is famous for its Sacher Torte, a recipe created by Franz Sacher in 1832 (article), or an article about the soufflé Salzburger Nockerl, thought to have been invented by Salome Alt, the mistress of Salzburg's prince archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau at the turn of the 16th to the 17th century, or the Zaunerstollen from the Zauner pastry shop in Bad Ischl, Salzkammergut, which has announced special desserts for 2024, when the Salzkammergut will be the European Capital of Culture (article).
The traditional craft of making these pastries has been passed down through generations and was recognized as part of Austria's Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2022 (see for details on www.unesco.at/en/culture/intangible-cultural-heritage/national-inventory/news-1/article/das-handwerk-der-oesterreichischen-zuckerbaeckerei).

Today, one of the high-quality confectioners of Vienna, the K.u.K. Hofzuckerbäckerei L. Heiner, released the press information about the 90th birthday of the 'Kardinalschnitte'. Even if the AI Chat on Bing doesn't know everything about Austrian tradition, in the case of the fluffy Kardinalschnitte it has some information, such as the reason for the colors - but not all details about the history (fast checked today). The original dessert consists of layers of egg white, biscuit, caramel, and apricot jam. It was invented by Ludwig Heiner, grandson of company founder Andreas Rabl (1840), and namesake of the K.u.K. Hofzuckerbäckerei L. Heiner. It is the oldest Imperial and Royal Court confectionery in Vienna, known for its enduring family ownership and reputation.

The pastry is a homage to Cardinal Theodor Innitzer, created on the occasion of the General German Catholic Day from 7 to 12 September in 1933. The colors yellow and white of the biscuit and meringue represent the colors of the Vatican. Insights into the making of are published on heiner.co.at/erfindung_der_kardinalschnitte.html.

Images, from left: Picture of the Kardinalschnitte by K.u.K. Hofzuckerbäckerei L. Heiner. Photographer: Franziska Liepe; © L. Heiner / Franziska Liepe. Right: Ludwig Heiner, inventor of the Kardinalschnitte, which celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2023. Photo: © L. Heiner.