Regarding local desserts, the island of Krk has a pretty big, juicy trick: the Krčka kneginja cake! 

‍Krčka kneginja is a product of the creative minds and skilful hands behind the Casa del Padrone, a restaurant located in the heart of Krk town. The cake is inspired by the legend of a noble family wedding that transpired more than half a century ago and is an authentic product of Krk! 

‍Casa Del Padrone, the Home of the Krk Princess

Casa del Padrone is located on the Krk town’s Riva, a promenade by the sea. The restaurant primarily serves local Mediterranean dishes, and it boasts a reputation for being devoted to using local and sustainably produced ingredients. At nighttime, it also doubles as a pretty fun lounge bar! There’s also a Casa del Padrone beach bar at the Dunat beach, where you can sunbathe, enjoy the delicacies by day, and revel in live music, DJs, and spectacular parties at night. But the jewel in the crown of Casa del Padrone is its pâtisserie, which is why we are talking about the Krčka kneginja today, as they’re the ones who created it.

The Tale of the Noble Wedding From the 15th century Inspired the Cake

So, what was the inspiration behind this luxurious local dessert? First, let’s travel back almost 600 years ago to the Vrbnik field, where the wedding of Dorotea Blagdanska and Nikola Frankopan was held. The Frankopan family was a noble Croatian family, the most influential noble family from the coastal area. Many prominent figures throughout Croatian history have belonged to it. By the middle of the 15th century, they had numerous properties on the island Krk and the mainland under their authority. So, it was no surprise that the wedding between Dorotea Blagdanska and Nikola Frankopan had to be lavish.

Among the guests that the Frankopan family wanted to impress with their luxurious desserts were the Bosnian Ban and other influential nobles involved in politics: people who were used to banquets overflowing with fancy sweets. Facing a difficult task, the cooks of the château used all of their will and creative power. They managed to deliver a feast of innumerable local desserts made out of various ingredients they had in the kitchen.

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The Secret Recipe

Inspired by that story, Casa del Padrone decided to make a cake that would incorporate all of the ingredients traditionally used in the kitchen of the château, adjusted to the contemporary taste. The result is Krčka kneginja, made with chocolate and decorated with almonds, a cake so full and rich that some consider it a complete meal! 

‍Krčka kneginja is protected by copyright, so the only legitimate cake you can taste is the one you order from Casa del Padrone! The cake has become a celebrity in authentic Croatian desserts, as it is genuinely endemic and obtainable only on Krk! Shrouded in mystery, it makes its way to the plate of every Casa del Padrone’s patron. Truly living up to its noble name, Krčka kneginja demands your full attention and will show you her true colors only when you request to meet her in private, eye to eye ― or, more precisely, spoon-to-frosting.

And if a piece of this luxurious dessert doesn’t satisfy you, there’s always Krčka kneginja ice cream Casa del Padrone serves! And after you’re done with your dessert, we recommend you visit the Frankopan Castle to deepen your immersion into the history of Krk. It stands a brisk five-minute walk away from Casa del Padrone, which means that, after your walking tour, you can come back to the pâtisserie for another piece of cake, because there’s always room for more!

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