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Cakes are a baked sweetened treat that comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and flavors that are the perfect companion to any party setting. Cakes are widely served at many special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, and other widely-celebrated holidays.
Most cakes are made from flour, eggs and sugar but there are many others that... more »
Crab cakes originated in the Chesapeake Bay area of Maryland. They have evolved into a delectable seafood delight with regional variations depending upon the region of the United States in which they are being cooked. more »
No matter how old or how young someone is, a birthday cake never goes out of style. There are several different designs and flavors from which to choose. more »
For those who love cupcakes, a cupcake cake is the ultimate treat. This spin on the traditional cake can be used for birthday parties, weddings, retirement parties and any other types of celebrations. It amps up the fun and gives party guests their own personal cake. Read on to find out more about cupcake cakes. more »
Popular baby shower gifts, diaper cakes are new, clean diapers configured to look like a tiered cake. Designs vary from simple to complex castle diaper cakes. Usually the "cakes" are decorated with other baby gifts such as booties, stuffed animals and rolled washcloths. The diaper cake functions as a decoration at the baby... more »
Traditionally, one candle on a birthday cake is lit per year of the celebrant's life, but...
Gourmet cakes are as visually appealing as they are delicious. Whether you want to bake a...
Do you love to attend parties but are never sure how to throw one? No need to be intimidated....
Birthday invitations can be simple emails or elaborate handmade masterpieces. No matter how...
Jewish people often celebrate holidays and remember their collective past through foods, especially desserts. Nut cakes are rich, delicious treats... more »
Benne cakes are a popular snack cookie that originated in Africa, where the benne seed (or sesame seed as it is known in America) comes from. It... more »
Halloween is the perfect time of year to let culinary creativity flow. Making decorative Halloween cakes is a great way to add some homemade spark... more »
Decorative Easter dessert cakes should be colorful, festive and fun. There are many ways to add flair to an Easter cake, including making shaped... more »
Birthdays can be celebrated in different ways. Many people celebrate their birthday by buying or making a cake. There are many different types of... more »
Cake is a form of food that is usually sweet and often baked. Cakes normally combine some kind of flour, a sweetening agent (commonly sugar), a binding agent (generally egg, though gluten or starch are often used by lacto-vegetarians and vegans), fats (usually butter, shortening, or margarine, although a fruit purée such as applesauce is sometimes substituted to avoid using fat), a liquid (milk, water or fruit juice), flavors and some form of leavening agent (such as yeast or baking powder), though many cakes lack these ingredients and instead rely on air bubbles in the dough to expand and cause the cake to rise. Cake is often frosted with buttercream or marzipan, and finished with piped borders and crystallized fruit.
Cake is often the dessert of choice for meals at ceremonial occasions, particularly weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays. There are countless cake recipes; some are bread-like, some rich and elaborate and many are centuries old. Cake making is no longer a complicated procedure; while at one time considerable labor went into cake making (particularly the whisking of egg foams), baking equipment and directions have been simplified that even the most amateur cook may bake a cake.
Varieties of cake
Cakes are broadly divided into several categories, based primarily on ingredients and cooking techniques.
*Yeast cakes are the oldest, and are very similar to yeast breads. Such cakes are often very traditional in form, and include such pastries as babka and stollen.
*Cheesecakes use mostly some form of cheese (often cream cheese, mascarpone, ricotta or the like), and have very little to no flour component (though it sometimes appears in the form of a (often sweetened) crust). Cheesecakes are also very old, with evidence of honey-sweetened cakes dating back to ancient Greece.
*Sponge cakes are thought to be the first of the non-yeast-based cakes and rely primarily on trapped air in a protein matrix (generally of beat read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cake
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