Prantl's Terrible Torte — what it is and how you can get one

Prantl’s Bakery has created a version of its popular burnt almond torte inspired by Pittsburgh’s black and gold.

This newest flavor is the Terrible Torte, which will be available by pre-order only for a limited time starting Friday.

“It’s called the Terrible Torte, but it’s actually delicious,” said Prantl’s president Jeff Pastor. “We’re thankful to be carrying on the Prantl’s tradition in Pittsburgh and think this holiday season is the perfect time to put a new black-and-gold spin on our most beloved item.”

Pastor said the timing of this cake is to celebrate the Prantl family being in the bakery business for 160 years, dating back to the first shop on Pittsburgh’s North Side in 1863.

The Terrible Torte will be available for pickup in Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, North Side, Greensburg and North Huntingdon.

Courtesy of Prantl’s Bakery

Prantl’s Bakery has created the Terrible Torte, which will be available for a limited time starting Dec. 15.

The Terrible Torte will be made of the bakery’s special family recipe torte cake with black and yellow jimmies — “We call them jimmies in Pittsburgh,” Pastor said — baked in and filled with vanilla pastry cream, topped with Prantl’s buttercream icing and covered with toasted almonds and more black and yellow jimmies.

Prantl’s has other tortes in chocolate and raspberry versions as well as cupcakes and other choices and the travel torte, which is the one they can ship because it doesn’t have custard in it like the original torte. The week leading up to Christmas is the busiest for shipping tortes, Pastor said.

The black-and-gold torte is not affiliated with any of Pittsburgh’s sports teams, Pastor said, adding that the idea for the Terrible Torte came from discussions among the team at Prantl’s.

Next up for the bakery are the New Year’s pretzels, available cinnamon, nut and the latest flavor, strawberry cream cheese.

Pastor said that based on how the Terrible Torte sells, they may consider serving it for a longer period of time or bringing it back annually.

“Pittsburgh is about the black and gold and when you say the word Terrible in Pittsburgh, it means something great,” Pastor said. “And we think the Terrible Torte is great. It tastes really good.”

The 8 x 8 Terrible Torte is $29.99.Order online here or by calling 724-837-3706.