In the land of tea and sweet treats, few things stir up as much passionate debate as the humble Jaffa Cake.
Is it a cake? Is it a biscuit?
This age-old question has returned to the spotlight thanks to a surprising twist involving McVitie’s and a quirky UK museum dedicated to biscuits.
The Biscuit Museum, tucked away in Bermondsey, south London, recently included Jaffa Cakes in an exhibition celebrating beloved British biscuits.
But McVitie’s, the company behind the chocolate-orange delicacy since 1927, wasn’t having it.
McVitie’s Puts Its Foot Down on Biscuit Mislabeling
Shortly after the exhibit went live, McVitie’s responded with a cheeky—but firmly worded—letter asking the museum to remove the Jaffa Cakes display.
And this wasn’t just a polite request; it read almost like a cease-and-desist, filled with clever language and a dash of humour.
“Dear Sirs, Madams, and Biscuit Enthusiasts,” the letter began, “we write to you today, not with crumbs of animosity, but with a full slice of firm objection.”
Their point? “Jaffa Cakes are, in fact, cakes. Not biscuits. Not hybrid snacks. Just cakes.”
Their reasoning was simple: the clue is in the name.
Cake or Not, the Museum’s Staff Was Surprised
While the museum’s team didn’t see it coming, they’ve complied for now.
Curator Gary Magold expressed his disappointment but remained hopeful: “It’s a shame—we’ve had to remove the exhibition for the moment.
But, as a nation of Jaffa Cake lovers, we’re hoping we can reach an agreement.”
McVitie’s, on the other hand, stood their ground with a line that sums it all up: “A cake’s a cake, even when it’s small, round, and lives suspiciously close to Hobnobs.”
Jammie Dodgers’ Filling Sparks Another Sweet Revelation
Just when you thought British biscuit drama couldn’t get more bizarre, fans of Jammie Dodgers got a shock of their own.
These classic treats, known for their red jam heart and shortbread layers, don’t actually contain the fruits they’re labelled with.
Despite their strawberry or raspberry branding, the real magic inside those sticky fillings? Apple jam. Yes—apple.
The Apple Inside the Heart of Your Favourite Biscuit
A Facebook post recently blew the lid off the ingredients list, revealing that even the strawberry version of Jammie Dodgers is made primarily with apple jam and just a dash of flavouring.
The packaging for a standard 140g pack lists “raspberry flavour apple jam,” apples, flavourings, and sugar among the ingredients.
Reactions online ranged from mild disbelief to emotional meltdown.
Social Media Reacts with Shock and Sarcasm
One shocked fan wrote, “This makes me question everything I know.”
Another said it felt like their world “crashed around them,” comparing the revelation to finding a leftover screw after reassembling an iMac.
Others simply found the thread “horrible,” while some were genuinely flabbergasted to learn their beloved jam centre was actually made from apples.
But not everyone was surprised.
One commenter shared that cheap jams have long used apple pulp for affordability and texture.
“I make my own jam now, and have for 30 years,” she added proudly.
Jammie Dodgers’ Sweet Legacy Lives On
Despite the drama, Jammie Dodgers remain a cherished tea-time treat.
After briefly introducing dairy into their recipe, the brand returned to a vegan-friendly formula in 2020—much to the delight of plant-based eaters.
They’ve also had fun with flavours over the years, offering everything from lemon to toffee to “berry blast.”
And yes, they’ve even gone to space—sent to the International Space Station in 2009 as part of a care package for astronaut Tim Peake.
Everyone Eats Jammie Dodgers Differently
The debate over the correct way to eat a Jammie Dodger is just as heated as the cake-or-biscuit war.
One Instagram user, Danny from Leeds, asked his followers how they eat theirs—and responses flooded in.
Some nibble the outer edges first, saving the jammy heart for last. Others go straight for the centre in one bold bite.
A few confessed to having highly strategic approaches that involve eating the top and bottom layers separately.
Whatever the method, one thing is clear: when it comes to British snacks, emotions run high.
So What’s Next in the Great Biscuit Battles?
With McVitie’s holding firm on Jaffa Cakes being cakes and Jammie Dodgers hiding apples in plain sight, one thing’s for sure—Britain’s obsession with biscuits (or cakes, or whatever they may be) is far from over.
Whether you’re a dunker, a nibbler, or a jam-first kind of snacker, the conversation around these treats is only getting sweeter.
Stay tuned—who knows what we’ll discover next about our beloved snacks?