Later, during the post-war boom, other American companies developed this idea further, marketing cake mix on the principle of convenience, especially to housewives. When sales dropped heavily in the 1950s, marketers discovered that baking cakes, once a task at which housewives could exercise skill and creativity, had become dispiriting. This inspired psychologist Ernest Dichter to find a solution to the cake mix problem in the frosting. To avoid crumbs in your frosting, brush the cake layers with a pastry brush. Spread about a ½ cup of frosting over the first layer, then carefully top it with the next layer.

Enjoy the scraps of cake for yourself, or make a few cake truffles with the extra cake and frosting. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or a clean mixing bowl with a hand mixer, beat the egg whites on high until stiff peaks form.

“There’s only one or two of us that I know of who make black cake in my area so it’s important that I continue,” Ms. Spencer said. For those who consider black cake a particular memory of home, only homemade will do.

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Read more about apple pecan cheesecake here.

Double Chocolate Layer Cake

These cakes often have a crumb topping called streusel or a light glaze drizzle. The ancient Greeks called cake πλακοῦς , which was derived from the word for “flat”, πλακόεις . It was baked using flour mixed with eggs, milk, nuts, and honey. They also had a cake called “satura”, which was a flat, heavy cake. During the Roman period, the name for cake became “placenta”, which was derived from the Greek term. A placenta was baked on a pastry base or inside a pastry case. Dry ingredients usually include flour, baking powder and/or baking soda, and salt.

Royal Caribbean sells roughly 500 black cakes every holiday season, ranging in price from $40 to $100. Ms. Jackson, who finds clients through the Caribbean community and Facebook, can make upward of 300 cakes per year at $20 per pound in the same time frame. You can substitute diet cola for full-sugar soda with good results in cakes. However, for the best flavor, look for one without artificial sweeteners. Place one cake on a large cutting board; spread top with frosting. Baking pans with parchment and grease the paper. Before serving, gently remove the parchment strips under the cake.