Mazurek • Shortcrust tart baked at Easter
in Polish: as above
Mazurek is a simple traditional Polish cake baked for Easter. It can be generally described in English language as a shortcrust tart. The characteristic features of this Polish cake, which will allow you to recognize it forthwith, is the cake's low height – only 1-2 centimeters; its decoration – quite excessive and kitschy (it is intended that way!); and its sweetness – although it is not a rule, a mazurek is usually remarkably sweet, and this is why it is cut into small squares (it is usually impossible to eat too much of it at once).
There are various kinds of Polish mazurek made from different dough: brittle, sponge, marzipan-dough and a so-called makaronikowe dough. The dough is interlaid with a nut mass, preserves or a jam. The surface of the mazurek is decorated with icing, chocolate, krowka type toffee (see below), dried or fresh fruit, almonds, nuts and raisins.