Cakes
When we think about throwing a birthday party, the first thing we think about is what kind of cake to have. Cakes are used as a dessert to acknowledge a celebration of some sort such as birthdays, retirements, baby showers, a work promotions, a wedding, etc. There are so many things which we all need a piece of cake to celebrate.
Growing up as my birthday approached, the first thing I always thought about was the kind of birthday cake I wanted. Throughout my life, I have had a variety of different cake themes and different flavors. I always enjoyed having a customized dessert to celebrate my birthday so I decided that I wanted to do that same thing for others. All of the images in this blog are cakes that I have made for friends and families for their birthdays. I am known in my family as the ‘Cake maker’! Sometimes I ask them for their desired cake flavor and theme and sometimes I simply surprise them, and thankfully nobody has been disappointed yet.
Growing up as my birthday approached, the first thing I always thought about was the kind of birthday cake I wanted. Throughout my life, I have had a variety of different cake themes and different flavors. I always enjoyed having a customized dessert to celebrate my birthday so I decided that I wanted to do that same thing for others. All of the images in this blog are cakes that I have made for friends and families for their birthdays. I am known in my family as the ‘Cake maker’! Sometimes I ask them for their desired cake flavor and theme and sometimes I simply surprise them, and thankfully nobody has been disappointed yet.The History of Cake
The creation of cakes dates as far back as Ancient Egypt, although it is unclear, despite all of my research to know for certain when specifically that cakes were invented. The Greeks and Romans created their cakes closer to the desserts that are known today as baklava but nonetheless cakes were considered deserts at that time. However, cakes resembled more bread rather than the cakes that are known today as they were flat, round, and dense. The cake that was made at the time was known as a honey cake, which as the name entails was sweetened with honey. (1)
It was not until the 16th century in Europe that cakes were baked in the oven with icing then evolved once again in the 17th century as the ingredients began to change. In the 17th century, cakes began to include fruits and berries. In the 19th century, cakes became more so as we view them today. The creation of different cakes as well as icings such as buttercream. They were baked then coated with icing and used for celebratory events and not just birthdays. (2)
The Evolution of Birthday Cake
The beginning stages of the birthday cake originated in ancient Greece as the round cakes were eaten on the days of the births of the Gods and Goddesses. Birthday cakes then evolved in Germany when they began lighting a candle and blowing it out after making a wish on the day of their birth. This begins the traditions that we use today as birthday cakes. (3)
Personal Meaning
Cakes are very personal to me because I have developed a hobby for baking and decorating birthday cakes, and my ultimate favourite part is when I see the surprised and excited faces once they set eyes on their birthday cakes. I love playing around with different flavours, themes, styles of icing, and decorations.
My next challenge is to make a wedding cake…Wish me luck!
Footnotes:
1) King, Crystal. “Appeasing the Gods, or Let Them Eat Honey Cake (Ancient Roman Cuisine).” Author Crystal King’s Blog – Tasting Life Twice, September 7, 2018.
2) “The Surprising History of Cake.” Better Together BC, May 21, 2019.
3)Fire, Color. “The History of Cakes.” Garry’s, April 24, 2018.
Bibliography
Fire, Color. “The History of Cakes.” Garry’s, April 24, 2018. https://garrysgrill.com/the-history-of-cakes/
King, Crystal. “Appeasing the Gods, or Let Them Eat Honey Cake (Ancient Roman Cuisine).” Author Crystal King’s Blog – Tasting Life Twice, September 7, 2018. https://blog.crystalking.com/appeasing-the-gods-or-let-them-eat-honey-cake.
“The Surprising History of Cake.” Better Together BC, May 21, 2019. https://www.bettertogetherbc.ca/blog/single/the-surprising-history-of-cake
Bibliography Fire, Color. “The History of Cakes.” Garry's, April 24, 2018. https://garrysgrill.com/the-history-of-cakes/ King, Crystal. “Appeasing the Gods, or Let Them Eat Honey Cake (Ancient Roman Cuisine).” Author Crystal King's Blog - Tasting Life Twice, September 7, 2018. https://blog.crystalking.com/appeasing-the-gods-or-let-them-eat-honey-cake. “The Surprising History of Cake.” Better Together BC, May 21, 2019. https://www.bettertogetherbc.ca/blog/single/the-surprising-history-of-cake
