Bakery aims for Guinness Book of Records with a giant kirschtorte

A Zug confectionery wants to secure an entry in the Guinness book for its 125th birthday with the world's largest Zug Kirschtorte (cherry cake).

Zuger Kirschtorte has been subject to strict rules since 2015: as the alcohol-containing cakes have been listed with protected geographical indications, only Zuger Kirsch or Rigi Kirsch can be used for their production. They may be a maximum of 45 millimetres high and must be at least 8 centimetres in diameter.

The Confiserie Speck is unlikely to have any problems with the minimum dimensions if it wants to set a new world record in Zug on January 25. The Zuger Kirschtorte should be a whole four metres in diameter.

The company, which has six sales outlets, is being run by the fourth generation. It grew out of the bakery founded by Klemens Oswald Speck on the Kirchengasse in Zug. According to its own statements, the Confiserie Speck has experience in the production of particularly large ‘Kirschtorte’. A cake with a diameter of 1.8 metres was created for the opening of a hotel in Germany in 1968. The cake weighed 72 kg, and contained 19.6 kg of sugar, 11.7 kg of butter and 2.8 kg of nuts, and was soaked in 22 litres of kirsch (cherry liquor).

The world record attempt in the new year will take place under precisely defined conditions. Those who would like it can have a taste of the artwork after the event.

Over 100 years old: The Zuger Kirchtorte is registered with protected geographical indications.

The Zuger Kirschtorte was invented in the city of Zug in 1915. The manufacturing process has been the same for 100 years, with the exception of certain technical advances and modified ingredients.

For example, the amount of Kirsch liquor has risen steadily since the invention: while the alcohol was initially only a flavouring, it is now an essential component. Around 250,000 Kirschtorte, with around 15,000 litres of kirsch liquor, are produced each year in the canton of Zug.