Secret British Bakes: Meet the Coventry God cake – an Easter favourite

Name: Secret British Bakes: Meet the Coventry God cake – an Easter favourite
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 8 - 12
Ingredients: 475 g ready-rolled ready-made puff pastry; 300 g mincemeat; 1 tbsp. rum (optional); 1 egg white, whisked with a teaspoon of water; Caster sugar, for sprinkling

They were traditionally given by godparents to their god children on their confirmation, or at Easter

By Karen Burns-BoothPublished: 10 April 2025

Jump to recipe

Karen Burns-Booth

Welcome back to our Secret British Bakes series, this time we have a recipe for Coventry God Cakes, a traditional regional treat from The Midlands in England.

These triangular puff pastry pies are filled with mincemeat, with an optional slug of rum added, and are baked with an egg white and sugar coated glaze.

Traditionally given by godparents to their god children on their confirmation, or at Easter, the triangular shape and markings are said to represent The Holy Trinity.

The size of each God Cake denoted the wealth of the giver and the family, so there was much competition to make them larger than other families.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Yields:

8 - 12

Prep Time:

30 mins

Cook Time:

15 mins

Total Time:

45 mins

Ingredients

475 g ready-rolled ready-made puff pastry
300 g mincemeat
1 Tbsp. rum (optional)
1 egg white, whisked with a teaspoon of water
Caster sugar, for sprinkling

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 220C/200C Fan/400F. Like a large baking tray with baking paper.
2. Unroll the puff pastry and cut it into equal squares - such as 2-inch (5cms) squares or larger for bigger pies.
3. Place 1 to 2 heaped teaspoons of mincemeat on the middle (if adding the rum, mix into the mincemeat before adding the filling), brush all 4 sides with a little water and fold the pastry over to form a triangular shape pasty.
4. Brush the tops of each one with the egg white and sprinkle the sugar over the top.
5. Place them on the baking tray and bake in preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes until they are puffed up and golden brown.
6. Serve warm with cream, brandy or rum butter.

Tip 1) Use high quality shop bought mincemeat, or homemade mincemeat.

Tip 2) You can make your own puff pastry, but ready-made and ready-rolled cuts back on time and is just as good.

More from Secret British Bakes: Meet the Fat Rascal and the Welsh Crempog.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below