Description

Cakes may be classified according to the occasion for which they are intended such as wedding cakes, birthday cakes and many others are identified primarily according to the celebration they will end up to. The cutting of a wedding cake constitutes a social ceremony in some cultures.

A finished cake is often enhanced by covering it with icing, or frosting, and toppings such as sprinkle. Frosting is usually made from powdered icing sugar, sometimes a fat of some sort, milk or cream, and often flavorings such as vanilla extract or cocoa powder. Sometimes, a rolled fondant icing is used. Commercial bakeries use lard for the fat and often whip the lard to introduce air bubbles. This makes the icing light and spreadable. Home bakers use lard, butter, margarine, or a combination of all types of fat. In the late 20th century, new cake decorating products became available to the public. These include several specialized sprinkles and even methods to print pictures and transfer the image onto a cake.

Special tools are needed for more complex cake decorating, such as piping bags and various piping tips, syringes and embossing mats. Royal icing, fondant icing and buttercream are used as covering icings and to create decorations. Floral sugar-craft or wired sugar flowers are an important part of cake decoration. Cakes for special occasions, such as wedding cakes, are traditionally rich with fruit. They are finished with piped borders and royal icing.