Cake Decorating : History Of Cake

Decorating
The history of cake decorating is long. However, to cut to the chase, the cake is the
ever present item when it comes to party. We can not think about any celebration
with out the cake. May that be a birthday, wedding, anniversary or baby shower
cake is always present as a part of our celebration. Every occasion in our life is
celebrated by baking and decorating the cake.

Even though in ancient times the Egyptians knew how to bake a cake the history of
cake decorating can be traced back to the 17th century. At that time the pans to
bake the cake were introduced across the Europe.

Even though cakes were baked in the mid 17th century, elaborately decorated cakes
were the monopoly of the rich and famous. Europe's aristocracy would display
elaborately decorated cakes at their banquets.

History of cake decorating took another turn after 200 years. Around mid 19th
century the French began to include a decorated cake as a part of dessert at the end
of the meal. It was a sweet course after your meal is over. This started the tradition
to eat cake as a dessert. Delicately decorated cakes began to make their appearance
at the dining tables. Initially it was just France but it quickly spread across Europe.

As people were trying out new things in technology, during 1840 production of
baking soda and baking powder had started and with the help of these things baking
became that much easier. Around that time temperature controlled ovens started to
come in the market. Temperature controlled ovens with the availability of baking
soda and powder made cake baking become all the more easy.

Over the years cake baking evolved and people began to identify the cake
decorating with different methods. The Lambeth Method of decorating the cake uses
dimensional over piping of borders which are very intricate. It uses one layer of
icing over the other to get three dimensional effects. Joseph Lambeth published a
book titled 'the Lambeth Method of Cake decoration and practical Pastries'. In this
book he described step by step instructions for piping embellished borders.

Wilton Enterprises started a school for cake decorating for interested people in
1929.Dewey McKinley Wilton was a sugar artist who began the cake decorating
business during the great depression. He began to decorate the wedding cakes for
famous hotels and clubs. As the Wilton method became popular, in the year 1947
the Wiltons began to market the cake decorating products.

As more and more people began to decorate the cake many manufacturers came out
with cake decorating kits of their own. With the help of these kits the job of cake
decorating became easier. Apart from the cake decorating kits the icing also can be
bought ready made. All that was left is to use the material and create a beautiful
looking cake.

Even today the cake decorating industry is thriving. It is an integral part of the sugar
craft industry. It is becoming a popular art form. In the North America unique styles
of cake decorating has been developed. So is the case with Australia, South Africa
and North Western Europe.