Torta Garash

This decadent cake is one of the most popular Bulgarian desserts. It consists of five delicate walnut sponges layered with dark chocolate. The whole cake is then covered in a glistening chocolate icing or creamy ganache, decorated with walnuts, desiccated coconut, sliced almonds, or chocolate ornaments. The cake was invented by an Austro-Hungarian confectioner Kosta Garash in 1885. At the time, he was working at a lavish hotel in the city of Ruse, where he first served the cake. He later went to Sofia and continued to prepare the cake—which soon became a renowned Bulgarian dessert that is nowadays found on the menus of numerous pâtisseries and restaurants across the country.