Cake facts for kids
A cake is a type of (usually) sweet dessert which is baked. Originally, it was a bread-like food, but no longer. Cakes are often made to celebrate special occasions like birthdays or weddings. There are many kinds of cakes. It can be baked in an oven. Some savory cakes are made on a griddle or a frying pan.
Construction
Cakes are baked from a batter. Batter is made by mixing wet ingredients (like milk and eggs) with dry ingredients (like sugar and flour). The batter is baked in an oven. This way of baking is known as the muffin method, because muffins are made this way.
Just like bread, cakes rise in the oven because they contain many small air bubbles. As cakes rise, the air bubbles expand. This is why the cake batter expands in the pan (often to twice its original size). There are two ways of forming the air bubbles, which create different types of cakes. Almost every kind of cake belongs to one of these families.
Creamed Fat
These cakes are made with butter or another fat, like vegetable shortening. The common way is to mix the fat and sugar, then add eggs, and then add flour. The fat should be soft. It should not be hard or liquid. Mixing sugar with fat creates many very small air bubbles. Most birthday cakes are made this way. Cupcakes are also made this way.
Egg foam
These cakes are not made with solid butter or vegetable shortening. Some of these cakes are made with melted butter or vegetable oil. The common way is to mix the eggs and sugar, and then add flour. These cakes are often much taller, lighter and often spongier than creamed fat cakes. Angelfood cake and chiffon cakes are egg foam cakes. Most grocery stores with bakeries sell angelfood cakes. Angelfood cakes are made by beating egg whites with sugar. This traps a lot of tiny air bubbles. The eggs and sugar are mixed with other ingredients. Then, the cake is baked.
Decorations
A cake can be decorated with icing (also called "frosting"), chocolate, fruit, and much more. A layer cake is made by stacking cakes with icing or filling between the layers. Birthday cakes are sometimes decorated with candles. Cakes can be served with berries or other kinds of fruit.
A large, rich cake is often called by the French word for "cake": "gâteau" (plural: "gâteaux", both singular and plural pronounced "GA-toe"). It may have a lot of cream. Some cakes can have edible paper on the top.
Gallery
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Black Forest cake
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Modern style wedding cake
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Pandan cake
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Angel food cake
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Matcha tiramisu cake
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Chocolate cake
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Rainbow coloured cake
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Honey cake
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Images for kids
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Birthday fruit cake
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Raisin cake
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Cake mix in plastic packets
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Gooey butter cake
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Steamed sponge cake called ma lai gao
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A strawberry cake prepared as a layer cake
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Cake made for a baby shower with edible decorations, an example of edible art
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A chocolate sour cream bundt cake
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Cake decoration – buttercream swirls being piped onto the sides of this cake with a pastry bag
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A well decorated mango flavoured cake during birthday celebration
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A decorated birthday cake
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A Halloween cake shaped like a pumpkin
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Wedding cakes at a bridal show
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A plate of white chocolate cake balls
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The kransekage is an example of a conical cake
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Dobos torte is an older form of layer cake.
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A large cake garnished with strawberries
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A slice of strawberry cake with garnishing of strawberry
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Chocolate layer cake with chocolate frosting and shaved chocolate topping
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See also
In Spanish: Pastel para niños
