NATIONAL CAKE DAY
Today celebrates a dessert that you will find at almost everyone’s birthday party regardless if they are age 1 or over 100. It is also very commonly the dessert of choice at bridal showers, baby showers, wedding receptions, anniversary parties, retirement celebrations, graduations and so many other get together’s and social events. Often served with ice cream. cake is a dessert or snack favorite of millions of people across the nation, even if it is not part of a celebration. November 26th celebrates cakes each year on National Cake Day.
It may be a bundt cake, cake roll, layer cake, sheet cake, yeast cake, sponge cake, butter cake, fruitcake, cheesecake or one of the many other kinds of cake and it may be made at home from scratch, made from a box mix or bakery/store bought, whichever way, a cake can be one, or a combination of, thousands of flavors.
No one can know how many, as there are countless cake recipes, some of which are bread-like, some rich and elaborate and many are centuries old.
At one time considerable labor went into cake-making, today, baking equipment and directions have been simplified and making cakes can now be enjoyed by both, professional and amateur alike.
Cakes typically contain a combination of flour, sugar, eggs and butter or oil, with some variety of liquid which may be milk or water, along with a leavening agent such as yeast or baking powder. Flavorful ingredients are often added, for example; chopped nuts, fresh, candied or dried fruit, fruit purees or extracts.
There is a long history in the term “cake”. The word itself has a Viking origin from the Old Norse word “kaka”.