National Chocolate Cake Day

National Chocolate Cake Day is celebrated on January 27 every year. Chocolate cake is made with chocolate and with other ingredients like fudge, vanilla ice cream, and other sweeteners. Chocolate cake is available in many flavors such as Devil's Food cake, Decorative Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Fudge Cake, German Chocolate Cake, Red Velvet Cake, Joffre Cake, Chocolate Layer Cake, Chocolate Cake la Souffle, Molten Lava Cake, Traditional Chocolate Cake, Black Forest Cake and many more. So, National Chocolate Cake Day is a perfect day to enjoy a taste of your favorite Chocolate Cake with family members, friends and even co-workers.

History of National Chocolate Cake Day

Chocolate cake has been with us for more than 150 years, first appearing in 1764, when it was discovered that grinding cocoa beans between heavy stones produces cocoa powder, which can then become cocoa powder into chocolate. Sixty years would pass before Conrad Van Houten discovered a method by which he could mechanically extract fat from cocoa liquor to produce cocoa butter. In short, this man is the reason chocolate is truly affordable, and we all have to thank him for it!

From this point on, the types of cakes and the techniques involved in making them to expand, so there are dozens of varieties on top of the original 'traditional' chocolate cake. From the Black Forest Cake with cherries to the German Chocolate Cake with a rich coconut pecan topping, new cakes are constantly being invented, and chocolate still reigns as King.

In the early days, people did not consume chocolate as a snack like we are today in the form of bars or cakes. In the era of the 1830s and 1840s, it was mostly a drink that you mixed with water. Moreover, it's not even sweet. Early chocolate drinkers often create a salty, almost bitter beverage that they usually drink early in the morning.

The first chocolate cake recipe appeared in Eliza Leslie's 1847 cookbook. However, the actual recipe was nothing like what we would normally recognize as a chocolate cake these days. Leslie's recipe calls for chopped chocolate chips to be stuffed into a simple sponge, rather than adding cocoa powder to the mix. However, you can imagine how delicious this would be. There must have been small chunks of melted chocolate in its core, providing a melt-in-your-mouth experience that people will still enjoy to this day.

Over the years, authors and chefs like Maria Parloa have added their own twist on chocolate cake. They began to incorporate all the trappings of the modern version that we recognize today. First the frosting, followed by adding the defatted cocoa powder to the flour mixture. Then there's a range of chocolate fillings, designed to make desserts more enjoyable.

By the 1920s, the humble chocolate cake had become mainstream and manufacturers began to sell the recipe as a whole. O. Duff and Sons introduces the first canned, ready-to-eat chocolate cake - no baking required. And in 1947, Betty Crocker released a ready-made chocolate cake mix. Finally, making chocolate cake just got simpler. Almost anyone can do it, even if they are inexperienced in the kitchen.

Chocolate cake became increasingly part of the culture throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries, leading to the development of Chocolate Cake Day. This special day is designed as an opportunity for chocolate and pastry lovers to pay their respects to this accidental invention. Remember that it was only with the discovery that chocolate sweetened made a delicious treat that we even love this dessert most.

How to celebrate National Chocolate Cake Day

The way to celebrate National Chocolate Cake Day is simple and perfect.

Throughout the day, combine as many chocolate cakes as you can! Take the chocolate cake dough and use it to make chocolate pancakes in the morning, topped with caramel syrup and whipped cream. Use the remaining dough to make chocolate cupcakes, place a strawberry in the center of each and bring them to work to share with your co-workers.

Then, when you get home, go out and treat yourself to a large slice of stale chocolate cake for dessert. After all, when it comes to dessert, you really shouldn't wait, who knows what might happen at dinner! Chocolate Cake Day is all about this mouthwatering treat, so don't make yourself shirk an opportunity to wrap your lips around another delicious bite of this cocoa-rich concoction!

However, don't forget Chocolate Cake Day is your chance to be adventurous. You don't have to stick with today's canned cakes or even modern recipes. What about digging into Eliza Leslie's original 1847 cookbook and trying the first official chocolate cake for yourself? You can relive the experience of the first pioneers of the art, experiencing the cakes they enjoyed at the dawn of the chocolate cake era.

Another idea is to create a super contemporary chocolate cake that includes modern flavor combinations. You can try all sorts of combinations, everything from matcha to pistachio. Chocolate Cake Day is your chance to experiment with fun chocolate twists. Then, once you're done with the kitchen, you can serve your creations to your friends to see what they think. Just be prepared for some honest feedback! Everyone has their own idea about the taste of the perfect chocolate cake.

In addition, gather with your friends, family members for a Chocolate Cake themed Party together. Take photos while enjoying Chocolate Cake and share them with others on social media like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using hashtags #NationalChocolateCakeDay.