Why John Lennon's Love For This Beloved Snack Faded Faster Than You Can Say 'Cake'

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From Rice Krispies paired with ice cream and corn flakes swimming in rich cream to simple, straightforward chocolate, John Lennon enjoyed some sugary snacks. He even sipped them as well — including the Brandy Alexander, an old-school, chocolatey cocktail. So it stands to reason that when Lennon first hit the big time, he might have indulged his sweet tooth a little, and according to Paul McCartney, he did just that, with a popular snack called Jaffa Cakes.

In Paul du Noyer's book, "Conversations with McCartney," the Beatle told du Noyer that Lennon quickly became obsessed with Jaffa Cakes, quoting him as exclaiming, "Gimme gimme," in reference to the fruity, chocolatey snacks. However, Lennon's love for the confection didn't last long. "About a week later[,] he couldn't look at one, and he never looked at one the rest of his life," McCartney said, noting that Lennon didn't even want to hear about the treats.

McVities, which first opened its doors in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1839, is the maker of Jaffa Cakes. It became well-known for its Digestive Biscuits, crafted in 1892, and ultimately launched the original Jaffa Cake in 1927. Round and cookie-sized, the original version consists of a sponge cake-style bottom topped with an orange jelly and a layer of chocolate. Though the confection's name is a nod toward the Jaffa orange, the brand does make a raspberry version, too. Plus, they also make bars, mini rolls, and so-called Jonuts. And Lennon isn't the only one who (at least briefly) loved the cakes. A number of Redditors extol the virtues of the beloved snack, with one exclaiming, "They are the GREATEST INVENTION EVERRRRR."

Jaffa Cakes may seem like a simple treat to just nosh on when the craving strikes, but it turns out the (briefly) Lennon-loved snack comes with a strategic suggestion for getting the most out of it. If you want to savor the cake in the best way, the key is to not chomp right into it. Instead, follow the advice of food scientist Dr. Farrimond, who told The Independent, "We ran a panel of experiments to discover the best ratio of chocolate, orange jam and sponge." While plenty of people pop the whole thing in their mouths at once (named scoffing), others space it out into two bites (half-mooning). However, according to the research, the best balance comes from taking the "all rounder" approach. Start with small nibbles on the perimeter of the cake, then tackle the entire center of the cookie at once. This way, you get a balance of all aspects — chocolate, cake, and jelly.

While the cakes are often eaten on their own, they're also easy to transform into other easy desserts. With a smear of ice cream in between two of them (and a quick freeze), they're great for tiny ice cream sandwiches — and they also make for a simple base for layer cakes or icebox cakes. Or, break them up and combine the crumbs with cream cheese or icing to make cake pops, sprinkle them over ice cream, or kick a two-ingredient fruit dip up a notch by folding them in. Jaffa Cakes can also make it a breeze to build a trifle or a parfait, or pieces can be pressed into a dish to serve as a creative crust for your favorite pies or cheesecake.