Flies' graveyard
 | It has been suggested that this article be merged with Gur cake to Fruit slice. (Discuss) Proposed since July 2025. |
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| Alternative names | Flies cemetery, fruit slice, fruit squares, currant squares, fly cakes, fly pie |
|---|---|
| Type | Pastry |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Main ingredients | Currants or raisins |
Flies' graveyard and flies' cemetery are nicknames used in various parts of the United Kingdom for sweet pastries filled with currants or raisins, which are jokingly said to resemble dead flies.[1]
Regional variations
[edit]In Scotland, they are known as fly cakes, fruit slices, or fruit squares.[1]
In Northern Ireland, they are also referred to as currant squares. In the North East of England, the pastries are fly cakes or fly pie.[1]
In Wales, it is called Cacen Pwdin ("dessert cake").[citation needed]
In New Zealand, it is known as a fruit slice or a fly cemetery.[citation needed]
The mixture is similar to sweet mince pies, which are traditionally eaten at Christmas time in the United Kingdom.[citation needed]
The Garibaldi biscuit, which contains a layer of squashed currants, is commonly known as a "fly sandwich", "squashed fly biscuit", or "dead fly biscuit" in the UK.[1]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d McAlpine, Fraser (2015). Stuff Brits Like: A Guide to What's Great about Great Britain. Penguin. pp. 123–124. ISBN 9780425278413. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
Any sweet pastry that has been filled with currants or raisins in a thick black layer of sweet goodness runs the risk of being referred to as flies' graveyard, or flies' cemetery, because raisins look a bit like dead flies. There are regional variations on this; the squared-off slab version, known as a fruit slice in Scotland, or a currant slice in Northern Ireland, is referred to in the northeast of England as a fly pie. In fact, the biscuit Brits know as a Garibaldi (see: Dunking Biscuits) has taken this whole fly theme and run with it. Depending on where you are, Garibaldis are known colloquially as fly sandwiches, dead fly biscuits, or squashed fly biscuits.
Bibliography
[edit]External links
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