The Delicious History Of Single-Serving Cakes

Fairy cakes, also known as patty cakes, are popular desserts which are designed to be served to one person. These dainty delicacies have a long history. Their earliest known description dates back to 1796, when the recipe was included in a cookbook written by Amelia Simmons. The common name for these popular and tasty treats was first coined during 1828, by Chef Eliza Leslie, who documented the name in her dessert cookbook.

Modern pastries are commonly baked in muffin tins which have been individually lined with small aluminum or paper cups. However, before the early 19th century, bakers used glazed ceramic bowls (ramekins), heavy pottery cups or molds to produce the cakes. Some of today's retro-bakers choose to skip the muffin tins. Instead, their cooking vessels of choice are small stoneware coffee mugs, ramekins and other pottery dishes which are over-proof.

Cake liners serve several purposes. They keep the cake moist, make removal from the tin more simple, and reduce the amount of clean-up that is necessary after baking. Also, since these little treats tend to be passed out during group events, the liners help facilitate sanitary conditions by protecting the cakes from the germs of multiple hands.

Liners are available in a wide range of sizes. Miniatures usually have base diameters of just over an inch and stand about 0.75 inches in height. Standard size liners are generally two inches in diameter at the base and stand one and a-half inches tall. Bakers in Sweden and Australia typically use liners which are taller and slightly wider than the standard size.

Silicone and foil liners have become popular among modern bakers. They are strong enough to retain their shapes on baking sheets, thus do not require the support of muffin pans. However, two or three paper liners may be nestled together to simulate the strength of aluminum and silicone.

Cupcakes Sydney locals enjoy perpetuates a tradition which has been part of popular culture around the globe for two centuries. The treats have undergone many variations since their earliest days. The cake-in-a-mug option appears in many online baking forums. Since the mug is the cooking vessel, a cake can be made in a microwave in less than five minutes. Gourmet varieties tend to be larger, and are filled with an assortment of flavors, such as tiramisu or cappuccino. Some creative bakers use standard-sized cupcakes to create artwork. They bake and frost the cakes, then arrange them into large designs, creating images such as bouquets of flowers, hearts and animals.