Wine Article

When it comes to celebrating
food plays a critical and cross-cultural role. While it may consist of different cuisine depending on where you go
the meal around which families and friends gather unites the world on common ground. Different food comes to mean different things – a holiday meal
a weekly favorite
or a family recipe. But when it comes to celebrating sweetly – especially in the United States – nothing beats a chocolate cake.

For chocolate cake connoisseurs the preferences are as unique as the people themselves – chocolate cake frosted with vanilla icing
chocolate icing
whip cream
you name it. Each family may have a special recipe handed down from generation to generation or a favorite bakery where the chocolate cake can’t be missed. Today’s ever-increasing popularity of chocolate cake would surely have been a surprise to those who first attempted its creation.

The making of cakes in a general nature began shortly after flour was discovered. The recipe then was much less sweet than it is today – displaying more of a bread-like quality. Initially
added to the flour
were milk and yeast; honey or dried fruit were added to sweeten the mixture. Today
eggs are most often used in place of yeast
and
of course
sugar has become our sweetener of choice. Making cake prior to the Industrial Revolution was a complicated and pricey process. But with the advent of mass produced ingredients
cake making became affordable and easy for all levels of bakers.

Chocolate cake was first seen in the United States
the recipe for which was submitted to a Dallas
Texas newspaper in 1957. This particular recipe called for Baker’s German’s Sweet Chocolate which is how the chocolate cake received its name. The response to the printed recipe was immediate and astounding.

Today
the variations to this original recipe number into the thousands
with families adding their own special additions throughout the years. The advent of the boxed chocolate cake has given hope to elementary bakers everywhere whose only responsibility is to add egg and oil and bake. Even still
the most delicious of chocolate cake is that which originates in the homes of our families.

And regardless of whether the recipe calls for icing
nuts
or a variety of other ingredients
the truth remains that chocolate cake is just as popular as ever
starring in birthday parties and celebrations throughout the world.