To continue with our baking information series, here is another installment of baking trivia for you to enjoy.
Pound Cakes – no, these are not cakes that weigh one pound but are actually bread-like cakes that used to be made with a combination of one pound each of the ingredients usually used for baking cakes. This used to be made using one pound each of flour, eggs, butter, and sugar. In the old days, baking soda or baking powder was never used in these things, but rather air was beaten into these to make them rise. These cakes are usually dense and rich. While pound cakes these days are still pretty dense, these are lighter than their predecessors. These also no longer carry the one-pound-each-ingredient tag to it and are made in many different ways with many different recipes.
Scones – you may have heard of these types of baked products from those who have been to Europe, or those who are fans of Europe-based pastries. Scones are essentially small cakes that have a bread-like consistency and are often round and small like biscuits. These can be made in many different ways and can be either sweet or savory. It is believed that this originated in Scotland, and was first created using oats instead of flour. Today, a typical scone is made out of flour, butter, milk, baking powder, and host of other ingredients.
Shortbread – while the name may fool you into thinking this is a bread, it is actually a biscuit. Once served only during Christmas, this is now being served in coffee shops worldwide as a great pair for coffee. These are called shortbreads mainly because these do not rise as much as their counterparts, and are essentially pretty flat looking. These are butter based pastries and can be made using many different ingredients and flavorings.
Tiramisu – this is a very popular coffee-based dessert and is probably one of the favorites of those who enjoy chilled desserts. This is an Italian dessert that is made out of ladyfingers or sponge cake slices, espresso, rum, and a custard-like mixture that is placed in between the layers of cake or biscuit. Each layer is also sprinkled with grated chocolate or dusted with cocoa powder, then a layer of whipped cream is placed on top, then the next layering of ingredients is begun. This is oftentimes served in individual serving containers, usually in goblets or wine flutes.
