Devil’s Food Cake Is So Named Because It’s Decadent And Sinful

Observed annually on May 19, National Devil’s Food Cake Day is enjoyed by chocolate cake lovers throughout the country and around the world.

Devil’s Food cake is a heavenly chocolate cake. It differs from a regular chocolate cake by its darker color and tends to be more moist and airy. Devil’s Food cake recipes use hot or boiling water as the primary liquid. Cocoa is typically utilized in the batter, as opposed to chocolate, and coffee can be added for a distinctive flavor. A delicious chocolate frosting usually accompanies the cake. Recipes for Devil’s Food cakes often appeared alongside recipes for Angel Food cakes. Devil’s food cake is considered a counterpart to the white or yellow angel food cake. Devil’s food cake is generally more moist and airy than other chocolate cakes, and often uses cocoa as opposed to chocolate for the flavor as well as coffee. Devil’s food cake was introduced in the United States in the early 20th century with the recipe in print as early as 1905. A similar cake, the red velvet cake, is closely linked to a devil’s food cake, and in some turn of the century cookbooks the two names may have been interchangeable. Devil’s food cake incorporates butter (or a substitute), egg whites, flour (while some chocolate cakes are flourless) and less egg than other chocolate cakes. The proverb ‘you can’t have your cake and eat it’ first appeared in the early 16th century. The proverb ‘a piece of cake’ was not coined until the 20th century. More than 29% of U.S. school districts have banned bake sales due to anti-obesity regulations. The first birthday cake was originally a cake given as an offering on a person’s birthday. The first reference to ‘birthday cake’ came in 1785. During the 17th century, in England, people believed that keeping fruitcakes under the pillow of those who are unmarried will give them sweet dreams about their fiancee. Devil’s Food Cake is so called because it’s decadent and “sinful”, the opposite to the light and fluffy “Angel Food” cake. Black Forest Cake is called “Schwarzwälderkirschtorte” in German In 1764 Dr James Baker discovered how to make chocolate by grinding cocoa beans. It was soon after that chocolate was incorporated in to cakes and baked goods. In the 1930s The Duff Company, from Pittsburgh, introduced the first chocolate cake mixes, and after the war Duncan Hines and General Mills followed suit.

Sources:

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Joy of Kosher