Have you also wondered what the difference is between bread and cake? Making bread and cake requires a certain precision and finesse for every step. When done right, the process results in two delicious baked goods that are similar yet different simultaneously. But what makes bread different from a cake? Let´s compare bread vs. cake in this article to see how they differ.
Comparing Bread vs. Cake
Bread At A Glance
The first thing that comes to many people’s minds when talking about bread is white, whole wheat, or multigrain bread. These are the common staples that you can find in almost any home. Bread is also a food that people can enjoy at any time of the day. At our home, a meal plan can include toast for breakfast, a baguette for lunch, and focaccia for dinner. Yes, we love bread!
Nutritional Benefits Of Bread
Home-baked bread can be as nutritious as you make them! Remember that the nutrient profile can vary widely across different types of bread.
In general, the nutritional benefits of bread are:
- It is a good source of fiber.
- Has low-fat content.
- The carbohydrates in bread are an excellent fuel source.
- Can provide vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants.
When Does Bread Become Unhealthy?
- Consuming too much white bread with high sugar content contributes to obesity.
- Wheat products like bread contain gluten, and some people cannot tolerate it. (However, you can bake gluten-free bread!)
- Bread can contain high content of carbs.
- When Store-bought bread contains sugar substitutes.
What About Cakes?
Cakes are more known as sweet food. They are common as an after-dinner dessert or a snack paired with either coffee or tea. Unlike bread, which you will find in most pantries, cakes are more common when there are special occasions.
Nutritional Benefits Of A Cake
Can cakes be healthy? There are so many different types of cakes, and yes, they can be healthy but it all depends on the ingredients. More generally, these are the nutritional benefits of cake:
- A cake has a good amount of carbohydrates.
- Milk and eggs – two of the main ingredients in making a cake – provide protein.
- Fruit cakes aid in digestion.
- Chocolate cake increases the body’s endorphin level.
When Does A Cake Become Unhealthy?
- Cake normally contains a lot of sugar which can cause health issues.
- Eating too much cake can cause weight gain due to high-calorie intake.
Bread Vs. Cake: An In-Depth Comparison
One of the most notable differences between bread and cake is the taste. You may say that cake is generally sweet, while bread comes in savory, salty, and many other flavors. But more than the taste, other factors make bread different from a cake.
Ingredients
When comparing bread vs. cake, you will notice that the raw materials used to make them are very similar. These similar ingredients are flour, sugar, salt, and oil. However, there are also cake ingredients that you cannot find in bread.
A cake often contains different protein sources like milk and eggs. Apart from sugar, this baked good also has additional sweeteners like cocoa and flavored syrups. If the extra flavor is what you want in baked goods, then the cake is the clear winner due to its additional ingredients and flavorings.
Preparation
Another area where bread and cake differs is preparation. There are different methods for baking bread, but more traditionally, making bread requires mixing flour, water, and activated yeast. Most bread recipes include yeast, which gives rise to the bread and creates an open and airy texture.
Meanwhile, making a cake requires a different step-by-step process and does not commonly include yeast. We say this because you will find some recipes that call for yeast, but in general, cakes do not.
In baking a cake, you stir the dry ingredients together. In a separate bowl, mix them with the wet ingredients. Often after mixing, you need to add your eggs one by one. Once all the ingredients are well mixed, that is when you can bake your cake. You don’t need to leave the dough to rise before it hits the oven.
After comparing the preparation of bread vs. cake, we can conclude that generally, a cake requires less time to prepare. This is because it does not need time to rise. That said, it doesn’t mean it has to be easier to make one or the other!
Calories
The calorie content of bread vs. cake can vary significantly due to the ingredients used for making them. A regular piece of bread contains approximately 69 calories, as bread does not have many sweeteners.
On the other hand, a slice of cake has about 235 calories. Milk, sweeteners, butter, and eggs are sources of calories, thus making cake high in calories.
What Makes Bread And Cake Stand Out Against Each Other?
- Frosting & Decoration – It is common for people to serve cake on special occasions like birthdays and weddings. So, bakers decorate cakes with frosting and decorate them to match an event’s theme. The frosting also makes a cake look more delectable. Such is something that bread lacks.
- Yeast – Bakers use yeast as a leavening agent when making bread. It lifts and aerates the dough, which gives bread its fluffy texture. Yeast also strengthens the dough, preventing it from losing shape once you bake it. Meanwhile, a cake has baking soda or baking powder as a leavening agent, so it is not as airy as bread when baked.
The Takeaway
So, thinking about the differences between baking bread and cake, we can conclude there are few. We can not argue that one is better than the other but just different. We eat bread and cake on distinct occasions, and they are prepared differently. When comparing and choosing between bread vs. cake, you must consider your preferences and diet. Many bread types are savory, while some are sweet, so you will have endless choices with this baked good.
You may prefer eating bread if you want something versatile to match other food like jams, meat, cheese, and spreads. Likewise, if you favor baking something that does not require many ingredients.
A cake is often served for a special occasion and can be as creative as you want. With frosting and decorations, you can make the most amazing creations. The cake is also your choice if you have sweet tooth and favor dessert over savory additions to your meals.
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