Blackout cake facts for kids
Blackout cake
|
|
| Type | Cake |
|---|---|
| Course | Dessert |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | Brooklyn |
| Created by | Ebinger's Bakery |
| Invented | 1942 |
Blackout cake, also known as Brooklyn Blackout cake, is a delicious chocolate cake that's famous for being extra chocolatey! It usually has a rich chocolate pudding filling and is topped with yummy chocolate cake crumbs. This special cake was first made during World War II by a bakery chain in Brooklyn, New York, called Ebinger's. It got its name to remember the "blackouts" that happened during the war.
Contents
What is Blackout Cake?
Imagine a cake that's chocolate, chocolate, and more chocolate! That's a Blackout cake. It's a layer cake with several layers of dark chocolate cake. Between these layers, you'll find a thick, creamy chocolate pudding. The whole cake is then covered in more pudding or frosting, and finally, it's rolled or sprinkled with chocolate cake crumbs. This makes it look very dark, almost black, which is part of how it got its name.
How Blackout Cake Got Its Name
The name "Blackout cake" comes from a time during World War II when cities like Brooklyn had mandatory "blackouts." A blackout meant that all lights had to be turned off at night. This was done to make it harder for enemy airplanes to see cities from above and know where to drop bombs. The Brooklyn Navy Yard, a very important place for building ships during the war, was in Brooklyn. So, keeping the area dark was super important for safety.
The bakers at Ebinger's Bakery created this very dark chocolate cake to honor these blackouts. It was a way to recognize the efforts people made to keep their communities safe during wartime.
The Bakery Behind the Cake
Ebinger's Bakery was a very popular chain of bakeries in Brooklyn, New York. They were well-known for their delicious cakes and pastries. The Blackout cake quickly became one of their most famous items. People in Brooklyn loved it so much that it became a signature dessert for the bakery.
Ebinger's Bakery had more than fifty locations and was a big part of Brooklyn life for many years. Even after World War II ended, the Blackout cake remained a favorite because of its amazing taste. Sadly, the bakery chain closed its doors in 1972, but the memory and recipe of the Blackout cake live on!
Blackout Cake Today
Even though Ebinger's Bakery is gone, the idea of a super dark, chocolatey Blackout cake is still popular. You can find similar cakes in bakeries and restaurants, especially in the American Midwest. It's a classic dessert that reminds people of its unique history and, of course, its rich chocolate flavor!
