Battenburg us a very British cake, despite its name.Four long oblongs of sponce, usually pink and yellow, are arranged so that the end forms a chequerboard and sandwiched with apricot jam (US: jelly). The whole thing is then covered with marzipan. The first cake was made in 1884 to celebrate the marriage of Princess Victoria, the granddaughter of Queen Victorian (and mother of Prince Philip), to Prince Louis of Battenburg. Anti-German feeling in 1914 forced him to change his name and he became Prince Louis Mountbatten. Apparently there are those who eat this cake on St George's Day and I have also discovered that the prominent chequered markings on emergency vehicles are officially called Battenburg Markings (with thanks to Charles Nevin).