Cake is a popular dessert across the globe. According to the Webstaurant Store, Americans spent over $140 million on cakes alone in 2016.An article by The Nibble notes that the ancient Egyptians were the first society to figure out that the natural yeast floating around in the environment was the key to making their dough rise. The first cakes were descendants of yeasted bread risen on hot stones. The modern cake began to take shape in the 19th century with the invention of leavening agents like baking soda and baking powder — as well as the increased affordability of sugar and conventional home ovens.Like other regional cuisines and dishes, cakes are shaped by the cultures and ingredients that surround them. Here are some of the most popular cakes and what makes them unique!
Red velvet cake
Red velvet cake has endured as one of the most popular cakes in the United States. The Washington Post notes the cake’s name is a descriptor of its soft, velvety texture. The color, which is not as commonly observed in other cake types, was originally derived from raw cocoa powder. Raw cocoa powder began appearing in the 1800s and contains high levels of anthocyanin; a bright pigment that turns foods blue, purple, or red in the presence of an acid. The first red velvet cakes were baked with buttermilk, which has enough acid to interact with the anthocyanin and produce a distinct burgundy hue. During World War I, many bakers were forced to turn to grated beets or baked juice when eggs and milk were in short supply. This further brightened the red color of the cake.Color additives became widely used after receiving approval from the Food & Drug Administration in the 1930s. Mental Floss reports that the Adams Extract company used the authorization as a way to promote its red food coloring. The company published a recipe for the “Adams Red Velvet Cake” shortly afterward.
Pineapple-upside-down cake
The pineapple upside-down cake is a retro baking classic. According to Alto Hartley, societies have cooked with cast iron skillets over open flames for hundreds of years. For a sweet treat, early societies would add sliced fruit to the bottom of the pan, pour on the batter, and flip the cake over once it was finished. Since early cast-iron pans featured tiny “spider legs,” fruit upside-down cakes were dubbed “spider cakes.” Pineapple became more popular in America with the establishment of the Hawaiian Pineapple Company (now Dole). This tart cake is the perfect addition for family gatherings and holidays.
Black Forest cake
The Black Forest cake got its name from a sour cherry brandy called Schwarzwalder kirschwasser (kirsch) developed in the Black Forest region of Germany. Traditionally, a sour cherry brandy was used to soak the Black Forest cake. In fact, the Black Forest gateau (as it is known in Great Britain), was granted “protected status” by the European Union in 2016. Per Channel4 News, this means that Black Forest cake can only be called such if the kirsch is derived from the Black Forest region of Germany. Typically, Black Forest cake is made by soaking the chocolate sponge in sugar syrup flavored with cherry brandy and topped with whipped cream. The German variation of Black Forest cake uses buttercream, while Austrians make theirs with whipped cream, gelatin, and cornstarch.
Cupcakes
Cupcakes are a uniquely American dessert. The Hummingbird Bakery reports that the first reference to the dessert may have been in a cookbook from 1796, calling it “a cake baked in small cups.” Another possibility is that cupcakes may have been referred to as a measurement technique memorized in volumes — similar to the pound cake. During the 18th century, queen cakes were also common; these individually-portioned cakes were easily distributed and without the need for utensils.Per ThoughtCo, commercial paper cupcake liners became widely distributed in the 1950s by the James River Corporation. The first cupcake bakery, Sprinkles Cupcake, opened in 2005, and Sprinkles now sells over 45,000 cupcakes daily.Cupcakes in general come in almost every flavor as traditional cakes, so you can customize your batch to your liking.