Let’s Bake a Cake

Let’s face it I think most people would agree with me seeing a cake is a cause for putting a smile on one’s face and a cause for celebration. Sometimes it is nice just to bake a cake to make a day special. In the modern world it is simple to just buy a cake mix and before you know it you are taking a freshly baked cake out of the oven. However, I still think that nothing can compare to a cake made from scratch. Let these cakes inspire you and happy baking.

Europe

Sweden

Princesstarta is a classic Swedish cake. The cake consists of layers of sponge cake with vanilla-flavored buttercream. The cake is topped with a thick layer of marzipan and whipped cream.

England

Battenburg cake can be called a challenge since once it is baked the inside should have colored squares. Genoise sponge is coated with apricot jam and almond paste on the outside. It is a light sponge cake with the four sections held together by jam. The cake is covered with marzipan. The four sections of this cake represent the four Battenburg princes – Louis and his brothers.

France

Basque cake is a classic cake that includes two layers of shortcrust pastry and a filling of black cherry preserves or vanilla pastry cream. Other flavorings can include lemon zest, rum, or almond extract.

The Netherlands

Boterkoek is a traditional Dutch cake. It is made with butter, flour, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Additionally, almond extract, almond shavings, and lemon zest can be added for flavor. The dough is sticky, brushed with beaten eggs, decorated with a criss-cross pattern, and baked until the top is golden brown.

Germany

Donauwelle is a German and Austrian sheet cake. The cake consists of two pound cakes. One cake is on the bottom flavored with vanilla while the other is on top flavored with chocolate. On top are cherries, buttercream, and chocolate ganache. As the cake bakes the cherries slide to the bottom and make a wavy pattern.

Black Forest cherry cake is a popular dessert. The cake consists of chocolate sponge cake that is coated in whipped cream and topped with kirschwasser-infused cherries. The kirschwasser brandy can also be used to soak the chocolate sponge cake layers.

Czech Republic

Valssky frgal is a traditional round sweet cake. It originated in the Moravian Wallachia region. Almost half of the cake consists of the crumble on the top which consists of sugar, cinnamon, and gingerbread crumbs, or it can be drizzled with butter.

Hungary

Somloi galuska is a delicious trifle cake that consists of several layers of sponge and custard cream. The cake is studded with raisins that have been soaked in rum or sweet Tokaji Aszu wine and topped with whipped cream.

Poland

Karpatka is a popular Polish cream cake. The cake consists of two layers of pate a choux (a delicate pastry dough) and a thick layer of vanilla-flavored pastry cream. The cake is sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Slovenia

Kremna rezina is a tasty cream cake that originated in the Lake Bled area. This cake includes a golden, crispy, buttery pastry as the base and it is topped with vanilla custard, whipped cream, and a layer of thin, buttery dough, Once baked the cake is dusted with icing sugar and cut into cubes.

Romania

Amandine is a traditional chocolate cake. The cake can be filled with either chocolate or almond cream. It consists of four components sponge cake, syrup, filling, and glaze, The sponge cake is prepared with eggs, sugar, butter, vanilla, and cocoa. The syrup consists of water, sugar, and run. Finally, the glaze is made with chocolate and whipping cream.

Greece

Portokalopita is a cake that is made with layered or torn phyllo sheets blended with creamy, orange-flavored yogurt custard. The cake is doused with a thick sugary orange-spiked syrup.

Italy

Castagnaccio is a traditional Italian chestnut cake. It is made with chestnut flour, olive oil, rosemary, raisins, and pine nuts. Since this cake does not require any other flour or sugar it is gluten-free and sugar-free. Occasionally other ingredients can be added like dried fruit but the traditional version has only raisins.

Torte Caprese is a delicious dark chocolate cake that is made without flour. The cake originated on the island of Capri. It is prepared with dark chocolate, eggs, sugar, almonds, and butter. The cake is garnished with halved strawberries or raspberries.

Spain

This delicious Basque cheesecake is known as tarta de queso or gazta tarta. It is the specialty of the La Vina Bar in San Sebastian. This creamy cheesecake is made with sugar, heavy cream, eggs, and cream cheese. It is baked on high temperature leaving the outside firmer and darker and the center gooey.

Asia

Indonesia

Kue lapis or kuih lapis is a traditional cake that I would personally call a rainbow cake. It is prepared with a moist layered pudding-like cake. The cake is made with rice flour, sago, sugar, salt, coconut milk, and red, green, and pink food coloring.

Philippines

Sans rival has French origins. This cake is made with layers of dacquoise, a crispy, baked meringue sandwiched together with pate a bombe, a rich French buttercream.

North America

The US

Pineapple upside-down cake is a classic American dessert. This cake consists of a layer of canned pineapple slices, Maraschino cherries, brown sugar, and butter. These ingredients are poured over a cake batter once baked the cake is flipped around so that the pineapple and cherry layer is on top.

Mississippi mud pie is an amazing dessert. It consists of a cookie crust filled with biscuits, ice cream, pudding, whipped cream, liqueur, and marshmallows. It is layered and topped with almonds, pecans, chocolate syrup, and marshmallows. It originated in the Vicksburg-Natchez region.

Texas

Texas sheet cake is an amazing chocolate dessert. It is made with buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, baking soda, sugar, flour, butter, and cocoa. The ingredients are combined and spread into a sheet pan, After baking the cake is topped with crunchy icing that includes chopped pecans.

South America

Argentina

Chocotorta is an amazing no-bake cake. The cake consists of chocolate biscuits, dulce de leche (carmalized milk), and cream cheese. The chocolate biscuits can be soaked in chocolate milk, coffee, or coffee liqueur. The cake is layered to make this absolutely delectable creation.