Some cakes are iconic and fall in to a category that can only be described as "must haves". One such cake that falls in to my must have category is the vanilla slice. But there are "real" ones with soft and creamy custard surrounded by biscuit bases, and then there are the not-so-real gelatine injected varieties that wobble and slice like something from the jelly shop. But where are all the real ones ? And where is the best Vanilla Slice in the Adelaide region ?
D&M's Bakery at Angaston proudly displays a sign outside their bakery / café to state that it is the home of the best Vanilla Slice in the Barossa Valley. And yes indeed, it does taste good. Soft luscious egg custard that has a remarkable consistency and falls on to the fork as slices are slowly carved from the slice. The hardened biscuit bases topped with a layer of decorative icing sugar complete a great contender for the best vanilla slice.
Best slice in the Barossa Valley - Steve Hudson
Winning first prize at the 2014 Royal Adelaide Show means the
Village Baker at Burnside knows how to make a good vanilla slice. And sure enough, it was good. Soft velvety custard that is attracted to the fork, enveloped with a soft but rigid biscuit base and complete with a sweet iced topping. Unfortunately a warm day meant the slice wasn't looking the best by the time I arrived in the afternoon, but at least that did not impact the taste.
2014 Royal Adelaide Show Winner - Steve Hudson
Hanhdorf is a favourite place to visit and the vanilla slice at
Otto's Bakery makes the visit all the more worthwhile. A smooth and creamy custard centre is topped by a hardened crust and iced egg white topping, while the base is soft but firm. The consistency of the filling is one of the better ones meaning that it is firm enough to hold together, yet soft enough to get all over the fingers, face and the mouth as it is devoured.
Otto's Bakery
While down the road at
St George's Bakehouse there is a real beauty of a vanilla slice. With a butter cream icing as a topping, a hardened top biscuit and slowly softening bottom biscuit, what more could one ask for ...... other than a egg custard with a faint teasing of vanilla, and texture that rivals some of the best cheesecakes out there. This fluffy high rise melt-in-your-mouth rich creamy vanilla custard slice is certainly up there as one of the best.
St George's Bakehouse
It is a tough choice to choose between these four, as all four were good. If I was chained to a post and forced to choose, the slice from Otto's Bakery is the pick, with St George's Bakehouse coming a very close second.
What do you think about the Vanilla Slice ? Is it the icon of the cake world ? Where are the best Vanilla Slices hiding in South Australia ? How far would you travel for your vanilla slice ?
