Out of all celebrations, birthdays leave us with some of the best memories. To make it an event to remember, the essential food has to be included – the birthday cake.
Birthday celebration cakes add a splash of colour and taste to the celebration and are a customary part of this event to people of many different cultures, ages, and walks of life. Let us take a look at the fascinating birth of the birthday cake.
History of cakes for birthday
We first find the birthday cake in the history of the ancient Greeks. As part of their birthday parties in early Greece, they would cook honey cakes and bake bread for the special meal. Next, we see three kinds of events for birthdays in the history of Roman culture. There was the private celebration with family and friends at home, city carnivals and festivals that were similar to a birthday celebration, and a similar event as we saw in ancient Greece, with cooking honey cakes and bread, to celebrate royal birthdays, birthdays of the imperial family, and celebrating current and previous sovereigns and emperors.
It was not until the middle ages that birthday cakes became the rage everywhere else. Sweetbread, making use of the typical flour recipes we know today, was a set fixture in Germany, with the bread formed to look like a baby Jesus to honour His birthday during Christmas. This was the root of the modern day birthday cake in modern Germany today to celebrate birthdays.
We then see the birthday cake evolving in England, where valuable and figurative items were cooked along with the cake. In the mediaeval period, money and thimbles were mixed in with the cake mix as part of the specialised birthday recipe. This was because of the common belief of the time that those who found the money could expect to become wealthy, but landing up with the thimble suggested you would end up a spinster. You still see this tradition with some people today, where they embellish the cake with sweets, candy, and replica coins on top.
Another common practice is lighting birthday candles, which are placed on top of the cake for various reasons, including the simple joy of blowing out the flames, the chance to make a wish, or a prayer to God, as an accessory, or simply to celebrate the years of life that a person has reached.
So now that we have traced back the significance and evolution of celebratory birthday desserts, let us browse through the best cakes for birthday celebrations, which can be considered.
Gulaab jamun cake
This cake is the true embodiment of desi taste with videshi concept. This signature dessert is made for cake lovers who are daring and confident enough to try the yummy subtle flavour of famous Indian sweet – gulaab jamun.
Hazelnut coffee cake
Usually, cakes with a coffee flavoured base get paired up with either chocolate or vanilla flavouring. This is done to enhance the signature undertone of coffee. In this cake, the earthy nutty taste of hazelnut along with chocolate cake and coffee cake base is divine, making it the most perfect dessert on birthday.
Pinata Gems cake
Spice up the party with this very popular pinata cake. Available in multiple flavours, designs and types, these cakes are truly a surprise waiting to be unveiled. Colourful Gems and other pops are placed in the centre of the cake, which spills out upon cutting it.
Coconut lemon cake
For those who dream of tropical vacations, there can be no better cake than this interesting combination. Made with zesty lemony freshness and topped with coconut shavings and sprinkles, this cake is a wonderful combination of sweet and tangy elements.
Gingerbread cake
For birthday boys and girls who are avid fans of the Christmas wonder bake Gingerbread, here is a new kind of dessert to relish! The cake is made from many different signature baking methods of gingerbread. Shapes and sizes can be altered, designed and remade with frostings and garnishes of many kinds. Overall, this is a fun filled treat that has made its way to the top 5 best cake designs for birthday celebrations spot.
