(German, lit.: "bee sting") - Classic German
cake with a crunchy crust and a fluffy filling.
The tender yeast-based cake layers are traditionally filled with
custard (or vanilla pudding) and topped with roasted
almond slices in a caramelized
honey glazing.
Why it's called "bee sting cake" is unclear. Legend has it that one morning in
1474, the citizens of Linz on the Rhine set out to raid the neighboring town of Andernach. As they approached, they were spotted by two young bakers from Andernach who were just strolling along the town walls, nibbling honey from
beehives. The bakers hurled the hives at them, and the attackers fled,
pricking all over. To mark the occasion, a special cake was invented - the
Bienenstich.
This writeup contains a translation of a public domain text taken from
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bienenstich