Cake

Ending a meal with a slice of cake has a separate feel to it than just any other dessert. Perhaps it is because we seldom order cake as dessert as a family. My dad always opts out of dessert when we go out to eat; he much prefers his piece of dark chocolate that he keeps on his bedside table. That being said he always has a few bites of what my mom and I end up ordering...My mom and I always gravitate towards either rich, caramel, custard-like desserts such as crème brûlée, toffee puddings, apple crumbles, and so ordering a slice of cake is quite the feat for the family. Whether it be a buttery pineapple upside-down pastry, soft Victoria sponge slathered with fresh cream and jam or even something as simple as a warm chocolate fudge cake, cake itself has the ability to make any meal a special occasion.

One of the most difficult decisions I have had to make in my 22 years is choosing a birthday cake. I am faced with this predicament every year, right as my birthday approaches, and every year my craving is different. While I've mostly always had a chocolate on chocolate cake for my birthday, on my 21st I requested a vanilla cake with chocolate buttercream frosting. And sprinkles. The sprinkles were very important. While I was turning 21, and was officially legal to drink, I still desired a child-like cake. The simplicity of a yellow cake with a fluffy, thick chocolate frosting appealed to me the most. It reminded me of every childhood birthday party I attended. The cake was moist, soft and buttery...The chocolate frosting was just sweet enough and silky smooth to touch. The crunch of the sprinkles added that extra special element to the cake. The reason why a yellow cake with chocolate frosting is so reminiscent of a birthday is because you can seldom order this as a dessert at a restaurant. Restaurants always have some version of the standard chocolate cake. Either a chocolate molten, with a rich fudge-y center, a chewy brownie served with ice cream, or even a chocolate mousse cake, there is always chocolate cake on dessert menus. You could eat a slice of chocolate cake whenever you desired. But, a yellow cake? With chocolate frosting? AND sprinkles? Now that is a special occasion cake. Probably because you would have to order a whole cake, and might need some help finishing it. For those of you thinking you don't need any help finishing an entire cake, I am here to tell you that eating cake all day is not a good idea. I was 22 years old when I learned that lesson after only eating cake all day on my birthday from 8 AM to 7 PM...The headache from sugar was more painful than those I have felt from my worst hangovers...

Anyway, I digress.

Chocolate cake is delicious, if it wasn't, it would not be so popularized. That being said, there are a variety of delectable cakes that are rarely given the same clout that chocolate cake has. For your birthday this year, or even just a special occasion, I will you to be different. There is always an opportunity to eat chocolate cake, but take your special day and choose a red velvet with luxurious cream cheese frosting... a hummingbird cake, studded with chunks of pineapple, pecans and shredded carrots...a delicate angel food cake topped with a fruity compote...or even a decadent cheesecake. Take full opportunity to highlight your special day with a unique cake, and it will guaranteed be remembered.