This document provides a history of cakes including their origins and evolution over time. It notes that early cakes were flat and dense while modern cakes are light and airy due to ingredients like baking powder and soda. The document also discusses traditional cakes from different cultures around the world and how frosting and icing developed as cake toppings over centuries. Wedding and birthday cake traditions are also summarized.

1. Let Them Eat Cake!
Angela McCullough St. Thomas University EDT-630-AP1 Dr. Gregor January 31, 2021

2. What Makes Cake...Cake?
● Medieval England writings described cake as flour-based sweet
foods while breads was flour-based food without sweetening
● Cake is light and bread is dense
● The main difference between bread and cake
are the ingredients
● The terms “bread” and “cake” have Anglo Saxon origin

3. A Simple History of Cake
● Early cakes were flat and dense
● Neolithic villagers made simple cakes from crushed grains cooked on a
hot stone
● Egyptians created honey sweetened dessert breads
● Fancy sweet breads made with a variety of grains, dried fruit, seeds and wine
● Romans added yeast but 16th century Italians replaced
it with whipped eggs

4. A Simple History of Cake
● Baking ingredients became more affordable during the Industrial Revolution
● Mid 1800’s introduced bicarbonate of soda and baking powder for quicker
and easier airy cakes
● In 1940 Betty Crocker introduced “just add water” cake mixes
● Cakes were called “plakous” or “satura” by Greeks and “placenta” or
“libum” Romans

5. Icing on the Cake
1950’s- Frosted cupcakes are created
The History of Frosting & Icing
1494- Icing appeared as a topping for marchpane
16th Century- French Chef introduced 1st frosted, multi tiered cake
17th Century- cakes were covered in powdered sugar or other
ingredients and harden in the oven
1655-1st frosting and icing recipe

6. Icing Vs. Frosting
Thick and Fluffy
Main Ingredient- Fat (butter or cream)
Always whipped
Can hold its shape in various designs
Opaque
Thin & Flowy
Main Ingredient- Sugar
Only mixed
Cannot hold its shape
Translucent, becomes more opaque as it cools down
Frosting
Icing

7. Birthday and Wedding Cakes
Egyptians invented the celebration of birthdays
but Ancient Greeks added cake and candles
“Kinderfeste” gives us our modern birthday traditions
Birthday Cake
Bread, buns and pies were used in wedding
celebrations
In 1840 Queen Victoria of England designed a
multi-tiered wedding cake with white icing
Wedding Cake

8. Traditional Cakes of the World
Black Forest Cherry Cake
From the Black Forest (South-East) region of
Germany
Layers of chocolate cake separated by cherries and
topped by whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and
some more cherries for decorative purposes.
Revani
Found in Both Turkey and Greece
A cake made with semolina and lemon
and moistened with orange syrup

9. Traditional Cakes of the World
Tres Leches Cake
From Mexico meaning “Three Milks”
A butter sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk
and topped with whipped cream or meringue
Ciambella Allo Yogurt
From Italy, known as an Italian Breakfast
Cake
A light spongy cake flavored with lemon
zest and yogurt

10. Traditional Cakes of the World
Mawa Cake
From India, A traditional Mumbai Cake
A milk based cake with cardamom and nuts like
almonds and cashews
Dundee Cake
From Scotland
A fruit cake made with Scottish
whiskey,raisins, currants, sometimes
cherried and decorated with almonds

11. References
Ariza, T. (2020, June 08). 10 Traditional Cakes from Around the World. Retrieved January 24, 2021, from
https://thethingswellmake.com/10-traditional-cakes-from-around-world/
Frosting vs Icing (2020, April 24). Retrieved January 24, 2021, from
https://dohful.com/blogs/bakersjournal/what-is-icing-what-is-frosting-difference
Elliott, S. (2009, October 05). Who made the first cake? Retrieved January 25, 2021, from
https://recipes.howstuffworks.com/food-facts/first-cake.htm

12. References
Koshal, A. (2015, March 16). Difference Between Bread and Cake. Retrieved January 25, 2021, from
https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-bread-and-vs-cake/
Hunt, P. (2019, November 23). The History of Icing & Frosting. Retrieved January 25, 2021, from
https://www.leaf.tv/articles/the-history-of-icing-frosting/
Furdyk, B. (2018, April 23). The Secret History of Wedding Cakes. Retrieved January 31, 2021, from
https://www.foodnetwork.ca/fun-with-food/blog/secret-history-of-wedding-cakes/#:~:text=Wedding%20Cake%20Origins,some%
20of%20that%20good%20luck.

13. References
Stradley, L. (2016, July 05). History of Cakes. Retrieved January 25, 2021, from
https://whatscookingamerica.net/History/CakeHistory.htm
The History of Frosting (2020). From The Kitchen Table. Retrieved January 25, 2021, from
http://www.eatyourdessertfirst.com/Articles.asp?ID=272#:~:text=Covering%20cakes%20with%20powdered%20sugar,is%20first
%20attested%20in%201750
Nowak, C. (2020, August 14). Why Do We Eat Birthday Cake? Retrieved January 24, 2021, from
https://www.rd.com/article/origin-of-birthday-cake/