The 26th of November is International Cake Day. Yes, that’s a thing, and it’s fantastic. If we’re honest, we don’t know why this isn’t a monthly occasion. To celebrate, the Sandton Central team is (of course) going to indulge in a slice of deliciousness, but we’re also going to take a closer look at this classic dessert, some of the history behind the iconic confectionary, and cake trends to look out for as we head into 2023. Much like any good cake, this article has layers.
What is cake?
Listen, we know this seems obvious. You’re an adult, you’ve had birthdays, and you know what a cake is. Or do you? Is a pancake a cake? A vetkoek? Do cupcakes count as cake, or are they their own thing?
According to the ultimate informational authority (Wikipedia), a cake is “a flour confection made from flour, sugar, and other ingredients, and is usually baked.” The platform elaborates, “The most common ingredients include flour, sugar, eggs, fat (such as butter, oil or margarine), a liquid, and a leavening agent, such as baking soda or baking powder.” Pretty standard stuff, right? What you might not have known is that professional bakers have defined two main types of cake, “shortened” and “unshortened.” The differentiation comes in whether they contain fat or not. Unshortened or “foam” cakes don’t contain oil or butter, while shortened cakes do. So yes, a vetkoek IS a cake – a shortened one, at that.
The history of cake.
Though it’s now a birthday party staple, the humble cake wasn’t always so regularly available in the bakery section of your local grocery store. The word “cake” is of Viking origin, from the Old Norse word “kaka.” The first cakes, as we know them now, came from Ancient Greece and were called “plakous”, which was derived from the word for “flat.” These plakous were baked using flour mixed with eggs, milk, nuts, and honey. Just a short distance away, the Romans were also investigating cakey goodness. As a fun experiment, one clever Roman baker decided to enhance their basic bread dough with butter, eggs, and honey, which produced a sweet and cake-like baked good. In England, predictably, early cakes were pretty much the same recipe as the bread they were making but differentiated by their circular shape. Sponge cakes, which most closely resemble the cakes we enjoy today, only popped up in the Renaissance in Spain.
Half the fun of a good cake is how it looks, so the history of cake decoration is also worth considering. During the Great Depression of the early 20th century, there was a surplus of molasses in the USA. There were also very many hungry people that needed feeding. One company put two and two together and developed an easy, cheap cake mix in a box. This took cake from a “speciality and bakery” place to a “make your own” place. Now that making a cake was so easy, home cooks had time to pour effort into making their cakes beautiful. And that, pretty much, is the reason Pinterest exists.
Cake trends for 2023
Funky Flavours
Chocolate and vanilla? That’s so 2003. As we move into the new year, the cake world’s focus has shifted to exciting flavour combos and unexpected icing twists. There’s been a trend towards American flavours, so s’mores, salted caramel, pumpkin spice and cookies & cream are showing up in a big way.
Maximalist decorating
Understated elegance? No thanks. It’s literally a cake; why would you want less of it? Decorators are moving away from minimal, sparse decorations and stacking cakes with bright colours, garnishes, tasty treats and mountains of icing. Instagram is filled with “showstopper cakes” decorated with a mixture of stencils, metallics, piping, drips, flowers, and edible and non-edible decorations such as sprinkles, macarons, fans, and personalised toppers. Just in time for summer, social media cake gurus are leaning into lavish florals and botanical themes, which are perfect for garden parties. Or eating on your own over the sink at 3AM. We don’t judge here.
Everyday indulgences
The best thing about being an adult is that you can actually just buy a cake. You don’t need permission or a party or anything. People are realising this, and smaller, everyday cakes are becoming more popular. Cakes have moved from special occasion deserts into the territory of everyday snacking, which seems like the right call. “People are finding fun moments where they can, and food is always front and centre,” says Asda senior director of culinary innovation Jonathan Moore. “This means there are no rules, so we can shake off any traditions when it comes to different formats, flavours and pairings and just go for it.” Now you can have your cake, eat it, AND not have to invite anyone to your house. It’s a win for all involved.
Where can I get cake?
If you’ve made it to the end of this article and you DON’T want a slice of cake, we’re going to assume it’s because you’ve just finished your previous one. If you’re not one step ahead, though, you can get your hands on a slice of the good stuff when you visit these spots in Sandton Central:
– Walnut Grove, Sandton City
– The Bread Basket, Sandton City
– Geldhof Chocolates, Sandton City
– Deli One, Sandton City
– Shazmin’s Luxe Patisserie, Sandton City
– Casa das Natas, Sandton City
– Food Lovers’ Bakery, The Marc
– Farmhouse Fare, Benmore Shopping Centre
Happy cake day, Sandton Central family! We know how we’ll be celebrating, and it’ll be a piece of cake!
