Whenever anyone thinks about planning a birthday party, the first thing that is arranged is a cake! Even if there is no time for anything else, a cake is the very minimum which makes the day qualify as a true celebration. Such is the power of this baked product, usually made of flour, eggs, sugar and butter. To watch these simple yet disparate ingredients come together and rise to form the most beautiful and delicious thing that can have you forgetting all about your intentions to eat healthy.
If you're wondering why we're suddenly focusing on cakes today, it's because it's Cake Day! And since there are just too many kinds of cakes in this world, we've decided to focus on the 10 most popular varieties, that never seem to go out of fashion. Warning: put a waterproof cover over your keyboard to catch all the drool!
10 Most Popular Cakes of the World
1. Victoria Sponge Cake
We begin with one of the most common cakes ever - the sponge cake, specifically the Victoria sponge cake also called the Victoria sandwich cake. Named after Queen Victoria, this cake consists of layers of sponge cake sandwiched together with fruit jam and whipped cream. Sometimes, cut fruit like strawberries or raspberries are also placed in the filling as well as used to decorate. This is one of those cakes that stand out for their simplicity, and don't require any additional decoration!
2. Cheesecake
A cheesecake has a more pudding-ish texture when compared to the traditional idea of a cake, but that doesn't mean it's any less delicious! Made of a biscuit or cracker base, and topped with a cream cheese mixture, cheese cakes are available in a wide variety of flavors, although the New York Cheesecake is probably the most popular. Many also have different toppings like jelly or ganache which add another layer to this delectable dessert.
3. Angel Food Cake
You've often heard of the term 'food of the Gods'; well, this one is one for angels! This cake is so soft and light, that you can't stop at one slice. The airiness is achieved by beating egg whites stiff, and without using any butter. These cakes are usually baked in tins with a hole in the center to ensure that the cake rises well, giving it that pillowy soft texture.
4. Devil's Food Cake
When you speak of angel's food cake, can the devil's version be far behind? And yes, this cake is so sinfully delicious, that the name is just perfect for it! This cake is considered different from your average chocolate cake because of all the chocolate - in both the cake as well as the ganache and filling. These cakes are a deep, dark brown, and just a small slice can take you to chocolate heaven!
5. Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Most cakes are served the way they came out of the oven, but this cake is served upside down! Slices of pineapple are arranged at the base of the cake tin, usually with cherries filling in the gaps. Batter is then poured over this and baked, after which the cake is upturned to get a beautiful pineapple topped dessert! As you can imagine, this cake requires absolutely no frosting or accompaniments, it's perfect just the way it is!
6. Black Forest Cake
This is probably the most sought after cake for birthday parties! A black forest cake is also called a black forest gateau, and is actually a German production. It consists of layers of chocolate cake, usually soaked in some sort of liquid, whipped cream, cherries and chocolate shavings. The cake is set apart from other chocolate cakes because of the moistness from the syrup and the tartness from the fruit, making it a true explosion of flavors!
7. Pound Cake
No, this cake doesn't cost a pound; it is called so because of the ingredients - a pound each of flour, sugar, butter and eggs. However, a scaled down version with an equal ratio of these ingredients also qualifies as a pound cake. This cake is a little denser than the airy sponge, and nuts or chocolate chips are often added to the batter. This is the perfect cake to accompany your afternoon tea!
8. Tiramisu
The Tiramisu is much more than just a cake; it is an experience! An Italian dessert, it consists of ladyfinger biscuits with a good amount of coffee, cocoa as well as mascarpone cheese. The result is a rich cake, usually cut into square slices and served at the end of an elaborate meal. This is not your everyday coffee cake!
9. Fruitcake
This kind of cake starts getting popular around this time of year, and is a common fixture during Christmas feasts. This cake is usually quite dense and is filled with different kinds of nuts, dry fruit and spices, many of which are soaked in a mixture of liquids for several days before baking. A popular variation of this cake is the
Plum cake, often seen in Christmas celebrations in Kerala.
10. Red Velvet Cake
This cake is not for the faint-hearted; but don't let that fiery red color fool you! This is one of the most popular cake recipes on the planet, and in no small account to the contrast of the deep red cake against the white frosting. This is actually a kind of chocolate cake, which uses buttermilk to keep the cake moist and soft. The color is usually due to food coloring or beetroot juice, and is what gives the cake its distinct look!
Besides being informative, let this article be a bucket list of sorts - for the cakes to bake if you're a baker, or the ones to eat if you're a foodie! Do let us know if we've missed out on your favorite kind of cake!
1 comment:
Cakes are something that is part of any celebration.
Cakes can be our dessert after a meal. Or we can just eat it randomly. Thank you for sharing your excellent information. I look forward to more information on trend cakes.
Post a Comment