[Image courtesy of Walt Disney, Alice in Wonderland (1951)]

“On this the White Rabbit blew three blasts on the trumpet, and then unrolled the parchment scroll and read as follows:-
'The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts,
All on a summer day:
The Knave of Hearts, he stole those tarts
And took them quite away!'” (p129)

I have awarded this recipe a difficulty rating of: ★★ 

Ingredients:

♥ 12 teaspoons strawberry jam (or another flavour of your choice)
♥ 28g sugar
♥ 255g plain flour
♥ 140g hard margarine or butter
♥ 6 tablespoons cold water
♥ Icing sugar (to dust)

Recipe:

1) Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 5.
2) Gently sieve the flour into a medium-sized mixing bowl and add sugar.
3) Using finger tips, rub in the butter until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
4) Add the water a tablespoon at a time to form a moist dough.
5) Grease a cupcake tray and cut the pastry into suitably sized circles.
6) Carefully fill each pastry with a teaspoon of jam.
7) Bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes.
8) Leave to cool before lightly dusting with icing sugar.
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And so on a lazy Sunday afternoon, I took it upon myself to attempt to bake some truly scrumptious jam tarts (fearing the Queen would angrily proclaim 'off with her head!' should I fail). After a quick dash to Asda - the supermarket of choice for many students - I flicked on the oven and set about measuring out the flour.


Having added the sugar and butter, it was time for the 'fun' bit - although I use this term lightly. Mixing together the ingredients with my fingertips, every squelch sent shudders. It was at this point I realised that my false nails really weren't helping matters, so quickly whacked on a pair of marigolds.


After reluctantly getting the mix to form a soft dough, I lightly dusted the kitchen surface... the worktop soon appearing as though an avalanche had befallen it. It was time to roll out the dough when tragedy struck. Neither me, nor my housemates, actually owned a rolling pin. No worries, crisis averted, an empty wine bottle will do the trick.



To satisfy my sweet tooth I added an extra generous dollop of jam to each pastry case, ignoring the recipe's 'one teaspoon rule' . Not wanting to waste the extra dough and keeping in mind the Alice in Wonderland theme, I made a paper heart stencil, excitedly decorating my tarts before popping them into the oven to bake.
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In term of Alice in Wonderland, it could be argued that the Queen's jam tarts are a symbol of her social status. The rich, red jam representative of her royal blood - as well as of those who she has beheaded during her time of the throne. 

The idea of the dish as a 'sweet treat' which appeals to children is also reflected within the text, Alice admires the tarts, exposing the supposedly greedy habits of children. However, it is the King of Knaves whose greed is most overwhelming, having stolen the indulgent tarts. Could this be yet another reference/attack by Carroll on social class?

It could be suggested that jam tarts were an example of a 'classless' pudding - enjoyed at lavish afternoon teas yet comprised of easily available and low cost ingredients.

Works Cited:

Carroll, Lewis. Alice in Wonderland. London: Wordsworth Editions, 2001.