Every year, we heartily celebrate National Chocolate Cake Day on January 27th. This enjoyable day is dedicated to appreciating the beloved chocolate cake, a world-renowned and loved dessert. The holiday offers an irresistible opportunity to satisfy your craving for something sweet and relish the delightfully lavish taste of different variations of chocolate cake.
Regardless its form – layered, sprinkled with chocolate ganache, or adorned with a silky chocolate buttercream frosting, this day is entirely about rejoicing the heavenly richness of the choicest dessert, the chocolate cake.
History of National Chocolate Cake Day
Chocolate cake dates back to the 17th century when cocoa powder from the Americas was introduced to cake recipes. The evolution of chocolate cake was significantly influenced in 1828 by Coenraad van Houten, who crafted a mechanical way of extracting fat from cacao liquor, transforming chocolate from a luxury to a common snack.
A process for creating silkier chocolate, called conching, was later developed in 1879, making chocolate easier to bake with. However, it wasn’t until 1886 that American cooks began adding chocolate to cake batter. In the mid-1930s, the Duff Company introduced the concept of Devil’s food chocolate cake mixes, but World War II delayed its debut.
The modern era brought diversity in chocolate cake trends. In the 1980s, ‘chocolate decadence’ cakes were all the rage in the U.S., followed by the 90s trend of single-serving molten chocolate cakes. The exotic infusion of flavours, such as tea, curry, red pepper, among others, added to the trend.
Through the years, chocolate cake has evolved with numerous variations including chocolate éclair cake, flourless fudge cake, molten chocolate cake, German chocolate cake, and many others. Each variation utilizes chocolate in different forms, either solid, melted, or cocoa powder, and bring about different textures and degrees of sweetness.
National Chocolate Cake Day Timeline
Origins of Chocolate Cake
The history of chocolate cake goes back to the 17th century, when cocoa powder from the Americas was added to traditional cake recipes.
Conching Chocolate
Rodolphe Lindt developed a process for making silkier and smoother chocolate called conching.
First Chocolate Cakes in the US
American cooks began adding chocolate to the cake batter, to make the first chocolate cakes in the US.
Devil's Food Chocolate Cake Mixes
The Duff Company of Pittsburgh, a molasses manufacturer, introduced Devil's food chocolate cake mixes.
Popularity of 'Chocolate Decadence' Cakes
In the U.S., 'chocolate decadence' cakes were popular in the 1980s.
Infused Chocolates and Molten Chocolate Cakes
Molten chocolate cakes with liquid chocolate centers and infused chocolates with flavors such as tea, red pepper, passion fruit, and champagne were popular.
Chocolate Lounges and Artisanal Chocolate Makers
Chocolate lounges and artisanal chocolate makers were popular in the 2000s.
Flourless Chocolate Cakes
Rich, flourless, all-but-flourless chocolate cakes are 'now standard in the modern pâtisserie', according to The New Taste of Chocolate.
Ideas to Celebrate National Chocolate Cake Day
Bake Your Favorite Chocolate Cake
Why not celebrate National Chocolate Cake Day by taking the time to bake a cake all on your own? Choose your most loved recipe, gather your ingredients, pour love into the preparation and feast on your beautiful creation.
Cake Decorating Contest
Add a splash of fun to the day by inviting a handful of your close ones for a friendly competition. Channel your inner artist and see who can decorate the most creatively appealing chocolate cake!
Suprise Delivery
Bring a smile on somebody's face by ordering a delicious chocolate cake from your preferred bakery and having it delivered as a surprise. What a sweet way to share the spirit of National Chocolate Cake Day.
International Chocolate Cake Exploration
Stretch your culinary skills by exploring the international kitchen. Look up international chocolate cake recipes online and try them. It's a fun method to understand other cultures via their love for chocolate.
Host a Chocolate Cake Workshop
Why not run a workshop, teaching kids or adults how to bake and garnish a chocolate cake? It's a creative and educational activity that everyone can enjoy.
Photographing Chocolate Cakes
Capture the beauty of different chocolate cakes you run into today - homemade, store-bought, extravagant designs, simple ones, etc. Share these on your social media to add to the online buzz around National Chocolate Cake Day.
6 Interesting Facts About Chocolate Cake
Devil's Food Cake
Devil's Food Cake is a rich, dark chocolate cake that has its roots in America. Its name is derived as being the opposite of Angel Food Cake, known for its light and airy texture.
Popular Flavor for Birthdays
Across the globe, chocolate cake takes the crown as the most favored cake for birthday celebrations.
Red Velvet Cake
While it's known for its vibrant red hue, the Red Velvet Cake is essentially a variant of a chocolate cake. The iconic red is achieved by mixing vinegar and buttermilk with cocoa, unveiling the cocoa's red anthocyanin.
German Chocolate Cake
Contrary to what the name suggests, German Chocolate Cake didn't originate in Germany. It's actually named after Sam German, an American who developed a specialized dark baking chocolate for this particular cake.
Chocolate Festivals
Every year, various locations around the world host festivals dedicated to chocolate, where chocolate cakes and other cocoa-based delicacies are celebrated.
Nutritional Facts
Thanks to its cocoa content, a slice of chocolate cake can offer necessary vitamins and minerals like calcium and iron. Particularly, cakes made with dark chocolate could have health benefits derived from the antioxidants in cocoa.
National Chocolate Cake Day FAQs
Next National Chocolate Cake Day Dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | January 27th | Friday |
| 2024 | January 27th | Saturday |
| 2025 | January 27th | Monday |
| 2026 | January 27th | Tuesday |
| 2027 | January 27th | Wednesday |
| What is the pattern? | Every January 27th | |
National Chocolate Cake Day Word Search
- Chocolate
- Cake
- Frosting
- Bake
- Dessert
- Cocoa