Cake Types and the Mixing Methods Utilized to Produce Them

Cakes: Broadly defined, cakes are any flat, round disk of food. The earliest cakes believed to have come from ancient Egypt, were quick breads. Cake recipes that are similar to today and contain beaten eggs date from the 17th Century. Most of us think of cakes as a sweet, baked confection made with or without fat (butter, oil, or shortening) and are a mixture or batter of flour, sugar, eggs, flavorings and sometimes a leavener such as baking powder or baking soda. The mixture is then poured into a pan and baked until the exterior is firm with a crust, and the interior sets with a crumb.

There are limitless variations depending on the proportion of their ingredients, the mixing method, the flavorings added to the batter, and the shapes of the pans used in baking. The baker's choice of fillings, frosting and final decorations make every cake unique and an artistic expression of its maker.