South Aussies rush to buy frog cakes following the sale of Balfours – but is the treat endangered?

Online searches for SA’s iconic frog cake have risen dramatically since the announcement Balfours has been sold to an interstate rival. But will the sweet treat dessert us?

The number of us on the hunt for a Balfours frog cake has ribbit, sorry, risen dramatically, with online searches for the sweet treat up 850 per cent since Monday.

The increased demand has, no doubt, been brought about by news of the impending sale of Balfours.

However, the beady-eyed amphibian delicacy is not endangered.

A Balfours frog cake. Picture: Advertiser Library

Former TV presenter Kelly Nestor wearing a frog cake hat. Picture: Advertiser Library

A National Trust of South Australia heritage item since 2001, the frog cake is nevertheless on the verge of being made a protected species.

When The Advertiser put a call into Balfours we were told; yes, frog cakes are in great demand; and, no, they are not going anywhere because they will still be jumping off the production line at Aus Pie Co, the Western Australian company set to buy Balfours.

Chief executive Bruce Feodoroff has confirmed the frog cake will not die out.

“We haven’t officially taken over the business but, as per previous statements, it is a business as usual plan,” he said when contacted by The Advertiser, adding: “We will evaluate the business once we have full ownership. However, we do understand the importance of the frog cake continuing.”

Balfours original frog cake and the cute mini versions. Picture: Mike Burton

When The Advertiser saw that online searches for the frog cake had increased by a whopping 850 per cent, we leapt into action. Here are some of the best places to find them:

* Balfours Cafe in City Cross has frog cakes aplenty and you may even spot a giant one helping to promote the popular eatery’s school holiday colouring-in competition.

* Balfours Cafe at Westfield Marion

* Coles and Woolworths and independent supermarkets such as IGA and Foodland.

* Gourmet to Go at the Adelaide Central Market stocks frog cakes on Fridays and Saturdays.

Balfours frog cake mascot. Picture: Facebook

Balfours frog cake. Picture: Advertiser Library

Legend has it the frog cake was born after Jack Balfour visited Paris in the early 1920s and decided to make a South Aussie version of Poured Fondant Petit Fours.

Frog cakes are available in green, pink and chocolate brown, and have even been made in red for Valentine’s Day, white for weddings and teal for Power fans.

A Frog Cake Tea Party painting by Nicola Semmens. Picture: Supplied

Adelaide brand Tea Towel and Co's frog brooches. Picture: Supplied

They have also been immortalised by SA artists such as Nicola Semmens in her painting titled A Frog Cake Tea Party and Adelaide brand Tea Towel and Co which has its frog cake brooches for sale in the Art Gallery of South Australia’s gift shop.

Balfours, which is owned by San Remo, is being sold to Aus Pie Co.

The WA manufacturer of Mrs Mac’s pies is due to take over on August 1.

Originally published as South Aussies rush to buy frog cakes following the sale of Balfours – but is the treat endangered?