It's National Cake Day: Is There Anything Sweeter
On November 26 each year, cake lovers from all over the
United States and beyond come together to celebrate one of the most deliciously
innovative culinary holidays of the year: National Cake Day. This day, which
germinate on gluttony and love to food, enables us to treat the taste of cake
much more than that govern and also the taste of produce and social variety
history where cake signify. In this blog post, we will learn about the history
of cake baking, the evolution of the different types of cakes, and celebrations
for this special day.
History of the Day:
In the United Kingdom, National Cake Day honors this long,
proud history of cake and pastries. For generations, cakes have been a staple
of British society: they figure during afternoon tea, special occasions such as
weddings and birthdays and any event that is remotely celebratory. It is a day
to highlight the value of preserving, promoting and developing the idea of
cultural characteristics. An opportunity, too, for local bakers to display
their originality and their talent. On November 26th, cake enthusiasts
nationwide and around the world come together to pay tribute to one of the
sweetest culinary traditions known to man: National Cake Day. Celebrated in the
spirit of decadence and gastronomic delight, this day allows us to relish the
delightful taste of cake, but also to appreciate the history and culture behind
cake.
In this blog post we will take a look at the origin of cake
making the development of cake and the traditions of when we celebrate this
beloved day.
The addition of sugar and inhibition of an oven was a
watershed in cake history. The first reference to a “modern-style” cake, using
eggs to incorporate air and create a light texture, appears in the 18th
century. These cakes, often creamy and tiered with icing, were once a luxury
reserved for special occasions. Cakes have transitioned from status symbols to
cherished celebration staples, mirroring larger social changes.
Why is it so good for small companies and our economy?
National Cake Day is about more than swooning over
scrumptious pastries. It is also key to the success of small businesses and the
economy overall. Here's how.
- Support Local: National Cake Day reminds us to take a
trip down to our local bakeries and patisseries. This surge also helps small
businesses by providing them with more foot traffic and revenue. - Boosting Your Online Sales: Since the digital age,
many bakeries, large and small, have transitioned to the web. National Cake Day
is one of the best times to promote small businesses and present their
delightful products, which leads to new online clients and an expanded scope. - Culinary tourism: Some foodies commemorate National
Cake Day by taking trips to sample cake. They travel to other towns and cities
and taste other cakes, thus supporting tourism and boosting local economy. - Generating employment: The boost in sales on National
Cake Day often requires hiring more staff in bakeries generating job
opportunities in the society. - Variety of Cakes to Make Your Day Special:
There are a multitude of tastes, shapes and styles of cake.
Whether it be a classic we all know and love or an avant-garde vessel of
culinary cosmology, there is a cake for all palates. The most well-liked types
are:
- Chocolate Cake: This decadent, indulgent cake is
popular with birthday celebrations and other events, and most often we are seen
it coated with chocolate frosting. - Vanilla Cake: It is a classic base that can go with
almost any combination of flavors and most frostings. It sparkles at weddings,
at gala occasions. - Red Velvet Cakes: This Southern treat is famous for
its bright color and cream cheese frosting and has gained legend status in the
last several years. - Cheesecake: Not really a cake but a custard,
cheesecake is a creamy, tart cake substitute with an endless array of flavours,
e.g. topped with fruits or ganache chocolate. - Carrot Cake: Also usually served with cream-cheese
icing and nuts and very much enjoyed during the holidays, carrot cake is moist
and spicy. - Fruitcake: A fruitcake is a rich cake made with
candied or dried fruits, nuts, and spices, and optionally soaked in spirits,
and is associated with the holidays; some fruitcakes have a tradition of being
cured over time.
This is only one of the various kinds of cakes that has won
hearts — and palates — of dessert admirers everywhere. The creativity that goes
into cake-making means new trends sprout up all the time, opening up our cake
horizons for flavors like matcha, lavender, and even savory cakes.
Some Recipes to Make your Day special
White Poinsettia Sheet Cake
It's a treasure of decadent but not too decadent vanilla
brown butter cake, tart-sweet cranberry curd filling, and light yet luscious
white chocolate whipped cream topping in every bite.
Ingredients
- Baking spray
- Brown Butter Cake batter
- Whipped Cream Frosting, divided
- Cranberry-Orange Filling
- White Chocolate Candy Leaves
- Fresh bay leaves
- Gold dragees
Directions
- Preheat oven to 325° F; spray a 13- x 9-inch baking sheet
with baking spray. Use parchment paper to line the bottom and sides, leaving a
2-inch overhang on long sides. - Prepare the Brown Butter Cake as directed; spread batter
evenly in prepared pan. Tap the pan a few times on counter to release air
bubbles. - Place in a preheated oven and cook until the center springs
back lightly on being touched, and a wooden pick inserted in the middle comes
out clean, about 50 to 55 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 15 mins.
Transfer to pan and then cool completely, about 2 hours, on a wire rack. (+The
middle may sink a bit as it cool) - If the cake has a dome shape on top, use a serrated knife to
slice it off. Discard the trimmings. - Transfer the cake to a serving plate, cut side down; discard
parchment. Spoon 1/2 cup of the frosting into a piping bag or a zipper-style
plastic bag; snip a 1/2-inch hole in the tip or one corner. - Make a 1/2-inch-tall border of frosting around the edge of
the cake. Spoon the filling within the border and spread it as evenly as
possible. Reserve 1/4 cup of frosting if you'd like to do the sides. Pipe more
of the topping over the filling and smooth out, if necessary. - Using a piping bag filled with frosting, pipe three small
mounds — about 6 inches apart — of frosting on the top of the cake as bases for
the poinsettias. You can tuck candy leaves into mounds in star formation,
stacking them and piping more frosting on the backs of the leaves according to
necessity.
Cranberry Upside-Down Cake
Ingredient:
- Unsalted butter
- Light brown sugar
- Fresh or frozen cranberries
- Orange
- Kosher salt
- Ground ginger and cinnamon
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Granulated sugar
- Eggs
- Sour cream
- Vanilla extract
- Whole milk
- Powdered sugar
Instructions:
- Step 1: For brown sugar topping, melt butter in a cast-iron
skillet. Add brown sugar in medium temperature for melting. After cooking,
remove it - Step 2: Prepare cranberries, in a bowl, mix cranberries with
the orange zest and juice, salt, and ginger. Spoon cranberry mixture over sugar
in skillet. - Step 3: Prepare cake batter, combine the dry ingredients and
set aside. Beat sugar and butter together, followed by eggs one at a time. Mix
on medium-low speed. Lastly, add in beat the vanilla and sour cream. Add the
mixtures of milk and flour in separate pieces combining well after each
addition, ending of course with flour. Combine and beat three or four minutes
on medium until lump free. - Step 4: Dollop batter evenly over cranberry mixture in
skillet. Put it onto a large rimmed baking dish and roast for 40–45 minutes in
the preheated oven. - Step 5: Let the being cool: Cool the pan, place on a wire
rack for 10 minutes, then flip. Carefully flip the warm cake out onto a serving
platter. - Step 6: Dust with icing sugar and serve warm after inverting
the cake. As for powdered sugar, this delicately solution cures into the cake,
so be sure to top it right before serving. Optional: add chopped almonds. Top
it off with whipped cream or ice cream!
Why National Cake Day Matters
In a world that rarely ever stops, National Cake Day serves
as a reminder for us all to take a minute and indulge in the simpler things in
life. Not Just Dessert: A Celebration of Culture, Creativity, and Community
Whether you consume at home or in a pastry shop, National Cake Day is a
celebration of sugary frivolity.
How are you going to celebrate it this year? Set aside
November 26th for a bake sale, share or taste of your favorite flavor.
We need to get a cake to celebrate, cause there is no party
without a cake!