Be it birthday or anniversary. No celebration is complete without the ceremonial cake cutting! Cakes are indispensable to any happy occasion and symbolize love, sharing, generosity, milestone etc. Before modern decorative cakes came into existence, cakes were as simple as a loaf of bread with a drizzle of honey. Today, there are so many different types of cakes available in the market which combine good taste with aesthetics!

So, if you love cakes as much we do, then read along to know the history of cakes, categories, types and some cool facts about them!

What is a Cake?

A Cake is a sweet baked food made from flour, oil, eggs, sugar and flavouring agents. A batter made with these ingredients is put in the oven to turn into a fluffy, baked bread-like food. The surface is either plain or decorated with frostings, icings, fruits, fondant and other elements. The inside of the cake comes with fillings like a fruit compote, caramel, ganache, whipped cream etc., for a rich taste.

History of Cakes:

The history of cakes is beyond fascinating! The word “Cake” comes from the Old Norse word “Kaka”, which means a small cake or a cookie. The Greeks and Romans had their own version of cakes made with eggs, milk, honey and nuts. In mid-17th century Europe, the cake got a real ‘facelift’ that closely resembles the cakes we eat now.

The people then had advanced skills, technology and equipment to create finer versions of cakes. Using molds, they were able to create round shaped cakes with a covering of boiled sugar frosting. By 20th Century, many new types of cakes like layered cakes got into the picture. A variety of frostings like American Butter Cream became the mainstream choices in the cake business.

Today, the sky is the limit for modern bakers! Cakes are fast turning into edible pieces of art and come in myriad versions like gluten-free, keto, sugar-free, eggless etc., to suit everyone.