History

Cakes are made from various combinations of refined flour, shortening, sugar, eggs, milk, leavening agent, and flavoring. There are many different cake recipes in the world all for different types of occasions. Some recipes are bread-like and some are rich and elaborate in taste.
Cake making is no longer a complicated procedure because people over the course of time have perfected and simplified baking utensils and directions so even the most amateur of cooks can make the most incredible cakes.
Cakes date back a long ways. People began making cakes once they discover flour and the use of it. Cakes first began as sweetened bread that was a dessert that they only got on rare occasions because it cost so much to make it. What they called a cake back in early history we would consider more of a biscuit or a cookie. Through out cake history the terms "bread" and "cake" became interchangeable. People referred cakes to smaller sweetened breads. Cakes were made with the best ingredients and the wealthier you were the more likely you were to have cake more often.
Over time cakes became more and more popular, but it wasn't until the 19th century during the Industrial Revolution when cakes became more affordable for the common person and more people would have cake more times a year. People were able to afford more because of mass production, there was more supply of baking ingredients which made them more affordable. They also invented new leavening agents such as baking soda and baking powder.
With out new ingredients and technology, we wouldn't have the wonderful cakes that we have today. As time goes on new technology will help make making cakes even easier and simpler than it all ready is. Over the years cakes have evolved into the wonderful creations that they are today and they will keep evolving as time goes on.