November 26th is National Cake Day #nationalcakeday which makes sense with #Thanksgiving right around the corner when everyone is #baking. Except for me I plan on returning to Kroger’s and Sam’s Club to see if they have a Hummingbird Cake for David and I. As well as a Chocolate Cake for Charlie I can add Walnuts to. If I can’t find a #HummingbirdCake I’ve shared a recipe below because you should try this amazing Cake.
National Cake Day takes place on November 26th each year. Cake is a baked food usually made out of Flour, Sugar, and other ingredients. In their oldest forms, Cakes were modifications of Bread, a more sophisticated type, but these days, Cakes cover a wide range of baked sweets including Pastries, Pies, et cetera. Cake is often served on ceremonial occasions, including Weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays. There are numerous Cake recipes, many of which are centuries old.
Our favorite confection, the Cake, has a pretty long history. The word ‘Cake’ itself is of Viking origin, and is derived from the Old Norse word ‘Kaka.’ The Greeks also had their own Cake which was baked using Flour mixed with other ingredients including Eggs, Milk, Nuts, and Honey. They also had a Cake called ‘Satura,’ which was flat and had a heavy consistency.
The word “Cake’ took on a different name during the period of Roman rule, and that was ‘Placenta,’ a Greek dish derived from their term for Cake. A Placenta was made from many layers of Dough and was typically baked on a pastry base or inside a pastry case.
The Greeks used Beer to leaven the Placenta and included in the mixture was Cheese made using Goat’s Milk. The basic Bread Dough was sometimes enriched with Butter, Eggs, and Honey, as a sophisticated kind of Bread that produced a sweet and Cake-like baked good. This way of cooking was a common ancient Roman practice.
Early Cakes in England also started off as regular Bread, with the most obvious difference between them being their shape, that is, the more rounded, flat shape of Cakes. Another difference is the method of production, where Cakes are turned over while baking, as opposed to Bread which was left upright throughout the baking process.
International Cake Day Activities
- One of the best ways to celebrate National Cake Day is to bake a Cake. There are many online recipes that are readily available, so you don’t have to bother finding a cookbook.
- You should enjoy Cake on National Cake Day because it would be an absolute shame if you didn’t.
- Whether it’s a recipe you came up with, a video of you making a Cake, or a picture of you enjoying a yummy slice of Cake, don’t forget to share what you do on Social Media. Use the #InternationalCakeDay hashtag to share and ask everyone to do the same.
Decadent Facts About Cakes
- Cupcakes as we know them today were first referred to as Cupcakes in the 19th Century.
- Did you know Cakes were referred to as Placentas during Roman times because of their flat shape.
- The world record for eating Cupcakes is a staggering 72 Cupcakes in six minutes.
- Here is fun fact for you. Cakes are pretty much a sophisticated form of Bread. The major difference is in the ingredients, method of preparation, and varieties.
- The only difference between Biscuits and a Cake is Cakes harden when stale, while Biscuits do the opposite and soften over time.
Why People Love International Cake Day
People love National Cake Day because Cakes are quite healthy when consumed appropriately because Cakes contain a high nutritional value. I didn’t know that did you?
We all know Cakes are very delicious when made properly and on National Cake Day you should indulge in as many Cakes as you desire on International Cake Day.
Cakes literally provide happiness which is so much more than a myth because eating Cakes releases Oxytocin which is responsible for causing happiness.
Recipe for Hummingbird Cake
Ingredients
Cake Layers:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 tsp. table salt
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 (8-oz.) can crushed pineapple in juice, undrained (such as Publix Crushed Pineapple in Pineapple Juice)
- 2 cups chopped bananas (about 4 medium bananas)
- 1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
- Vegetable shortening
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 2 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 (16-oz.) packages powdered sugar
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
Additional Ingredient:
- 1 cup pecan halves, toasted
Directions
- Make cake batter: Preheat oven to 350°F. Whisk together flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon in a large bowl; add eggs and oil, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in vanilla, pineapple, bananas, and toasted pecans.
- Add batter to cake pans: Divide batter evenly among 3 well-greased (with shortening) and floured 9-inch round cake pans.
- Bake cake layers: Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks, and cool completely, about 1 hour.
- Prepare the Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer on medium-low speed until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at low speed until blended after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Increase speed to medium-high, and beat until fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Assemble Cake: Place first cake layer on a serving platter; spread top with 1 cup of the frosting.Top with second layer, and spread with 1 cup frosting. Top with third layer, and spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Arrange pecan halves on top of cake in a circular pattern.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
