The History of Sheet Cake
One of history's most enduring foods, cake has evolved throughout the centuries from simple sustenance to grand works of edible art. Sheet cakes as we know them today are youngsters on cake's evolutionary scale, but their versatility and popularity have made them a staple of modern celebrations. Does this Spark an idea?
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Ancient Times
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Early forms of cake can be traced back to the Neolithic age. However, these cakes were not what we think of today. During ancient times, cakes were cooked patties made of crushed grains and water cooked on hot stones, resembling unleavened bread. As the use of yeast as a leavening agent grew, cakes and breads became staples in many ancient diets. The ancient Egyptians began using honey to sweeten their cakes, distinguishing them from bread.
Classical Era
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The Greeks were the first to create a form of cheesecake, while the Romans added fruit, nuts, honey and spices to their cakes. These cakes were often used as religious offerings and were baked in forms such as animals, birds or humans to please a specific god. Roman-style fruit cakes were still popular in 14th century Britain when bakers began adding butter, cream and eggs for a richer flavor.
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17th and 18th Centuries
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Sponge cakes can be traced to the 1600s and closely resembled cookies. However, their sweetness and variety made them popular, and Italian cooks especially became experts in cake baking at this time. By the mid-1700s, beaten eggs replaced yeast as a leavening agent, further distinguishing cakes from bread. Cake hoops and molds, the forerunner of our modern cake pans, also became popular, and sheet cakes began to appear.
19th Century
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The introduction of baking soda and baking powder in the 1800s made cake baking an easier, more consistent and less time-consuming process. Wider access to items such as white sugar, refined flour and shortening allowed home bakers to make cake more often, and cakes began taking on many of the familiar elements we know today. Cakes became the centerpiece of many celebrations, and icing and decorations were often elaborate in affluent homes. Larger cake sizes, including sheet cakes, also became popular.
20th Century and Beyond
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During the early 20th century, cakes became a household staple. The ability to bake a good cake was an important skill for housewives and was often a test for potential brides. Today, sheet cakes are used for every type of celebration or gathering from birthdays and weddings to family dinners because they can feed a crowd and the simple rectangular shape makes them easy to cut and serve. A sheet cake provides a large blank canvas for a cake artist to work her magic for any occasion. Flavors, sizes and decorations are limited only by the imagination.
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