From humble bready beginnings to towering monstrosities of confection, we love cake.

The word ‘cake’ comes from Scandinavia: in Swedish, ‘kaka’; in Danish, ‘kage’.

Back in the old days, cake used to mean a small round roll^. It was nothing like the delicious sugary treat we gobble down today. When refined sugar became mainstream, and icing was invented (in the 17th century), the modern-day cake was born.

Quotes about cake

“Let them eat cake!”– Marie Antoinette

Accused of uttering this callous exclamation, Marie Antoinette did not, in fact, say “Let them eat cake.” This quote first appeared in Jean-Jacques Rosseau’s ‘Confessions’, attributed to a ‘Great Princess’ who was actually fictional^. His book was written in 1762 when Marie Antoinette was 9 years old at the time.

“You can’t have your cake and eat it too.”

Ridiculous. Of course you can. This oft-misquoted line should read: “A man cannot have his cake and eat his cake.” first written in a letter from Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, to Thomas Cromwell in 1538^.