Do you know what has been trending in cakes this year? If not, here is what has been popular in cake design and decorating in 2020.
1. Hyper-realistic cakes (and cake memes)
Hyper-realistic looking cakes really became “a thing” in the summer of 2020. The concept is to trick the onlooker that a particular item on display is real. Then, using a knife, you slice the item to reveal that it is, in fact, a cake. The 2020 cake meme became popular in July shortly after BuzzFeed Tasty shared various videos on Instagram of a Turkish baker cutting into what looked like a Croc shoe, a bottle of hand lotion, toilet paper and other everyday items. The idea of slicing a roll of toilet paper and unexpectedly seeing that it is actually something edible, can be mind-blowing. In the midst of a global pandemic, we all needed some entertainment and comic relief.
2. Cupcakes
It has been 20 years since the world started going crazier for cupcakes. It has been that long since the main characters in the Sex in the City TV show ate these delicious snacks in front of a now well-known cupcake shop. Cupcakes were certainly not invented in 2000. However, this TV show has been credited for sparking a renewed world-wide fascination with cupcakes! Since then, several cupcake bakeries have popped up in many countries. We continue to see reality shows, such as Cupcake Wars, with bakers dueling for thousands of dollars and cupcake champion bragging rights. Even now, as cakes become more extravagant in design, their mini counterparts are not being left out. Cupcakes with unique designs, messaging and even branding have been part of corporate marketing campaigns and are no longer seen as only kids’ fare.
3. Novelty cakes
Novelty cakes are here to stay. And if there was one cake that symbolized every little girl’s birthday cake dream in 2020, it would be a unicorn cake! I’m not sure where the fascination with mythical creatures (unicorns, mermaids) came from. However, it is exciting to see how they have captured bakers’ imaginations. You can see many unicorn cake variations on the internet, with the signature golden horn, ears, cascading icing decorations and the signature eyelashes. They’re so cute … who ever said unicorns aren’t real?
4. Alcohol infused cakes
No little girls allowed here for these cakes … these are certainly for the grown-ups. Choose your favourite alcoholic beverage/spirit and you can upgrade your regular cake to superstar status in minutes.
5. Semi-naked cakes
You are probably wondering what in the world is a naked cake. According to thekitchn.com, a naked cake is “easily recognized by its absent or minimal outer layer of frosting, which shows off the cake’s natural texture and filling.” Basically, naked cakes have no frosting on the outside, while “semi-naked” cakes have a little frosting on the outside. Not only are they visually appealing, but they are perfect for persons who do not want the extra calories of a fully covered cake.
Bonus trend: Fault line cakes
Who would have thought a cake design would be inspired by geology and earthquakes? Well, that’s what a fault line cake essentially depicts. The outer icing gives a peek into the embellished “inside” of a cake through what appears to be a wide crack or fault in the cake’s design. Check out these fault line cakes on Pinterest. This interesting decorative element is sure to continue well into 2021 as bakers become more creative.
What other cake trends do you think will hold or make a return in 2021?