What's New in the World of Bread

Crusty baked bread, delicious cakes, cute fruit tarts, …baking is an art this world would just not be the same without. Do you even know anyone who could honestly say they don’t have deep, unconditional love for at least one of the above? We thought not! This World Baking Day, it’s time to dig out that rolling pin and prepare something delicious! Surprise a friend, coworker, neighbor or relative with a delicious sweet or savory treat to let them know how much you care, or just make something to enjoy in your own home. However you decide to celebrate this day, make it deliciously unforgettable!

History of World Baking Day

World Baking Day was created by the folks over at worldbakingday.com, who decided it was high time to spread the joy of baking all around the world, especially to those who perhaps don’t bake too often and are not particularly experienced at it. This day is meant to show people just how much fun it can be to make a cake or some cookies, and baking can be a great way to spend time with family and friends. Not to mention how much fun it is to eat what you’ve made once it’s done!

It’s incredible that we’ve managed to go so long without a World Baking Day. We discovered evidence that baking has existed for over 14,000 years, proving that we simply can’t live without it! In fact, the first bakers in Jordan created flatbreads, which they then wrapped around meat – potentially the first-ever sandwich in existence. Roman times saw the birth of the artisan baker. Lovers of all things decadent, Romans prized the pastry chef, and those who brought new baked goods to the world were ever-popular at feasts and banquets.

In the United Kingdom, by the Middle Ages, baking went commercial, with many trading regulations and rules governing how to bake and sell bread. But everyone’s got to eat, so anyone with an oven was baking bread to feed their families. The delicious, mouth-watering cakes we eat today started to emerge for the upper echelons of society from the Middle Ages onwards.

Technology also helped upgrade the ovens to help bring better-baked goods to the masses, especially in the nineteenth century. Food was easier to preserve, too, so many people could order in meats and milk from across the country rather than relying on their backyard cows or chickens. Cans also cultivated a new innovation for baking, as meats and veg could be canned and exported from places like Australia.

New baking innovations arrived during WWI and WWII. In America during the wars, baking thrived as people moved to the US, and rationing saw the need for increasingly crafty creations. In America, different flavors from across the world arrived, from Italian cannolis to Mexican Tres Leches. When people couldn’t find fat or eggs during the wars, Applesauce Cake was baked into existence, which is still made today and used as an alternative to eggs and fat in vegan baking.

The increase in prosperity after the war allowed baking to flourish into the foods we love today, all culminating in this event. Enjoy the chance to bake, eat, and be merry with friends and family during this day.

How to Celebrate World Baking Day

You don’t have to be a pastry chef specializing in fancy tortes to celebrate this holiday. All you really need is a little flour, sugar and butter and a sense of adventure! One of the best things about baking is that there are thousands upon thousands of recipes to choose from, so everyone is sure to find something to suit their specific tastes. Are you a fan of all things chocolate? Why not make some brownies? Rocky Road Brownies, for example, combine the richness of chocolate with the crunchiness of walnuts and the softness of marshmallows. But perhaps the best news about brownies is that almost all brownie recipes can be made in just one bowl!

If you’re more of a health food buff, there’s no reason for you to feel left out—there are plenty of baked goods that are decidedly good for you, like apple-cinnamon bran muffins or date and oatmeal muffins, and many more. Do you have a rambunctious child who is curious about the world? Why not share the magic of baking with them by making some creatively decorated cookies? Chocolate cherry thumbprint cookies, for example, are both easy and fun to make. Sugar cookies are also very simple to make and lots of fun to decorate with colorful icings and sprinkles. Or are you a bit more experienced at baking? If so, there are also many torte recipes that you could hone your skills making. Apricot Almond Torte, for example, requires you to make your own marzipan. And who wouldn’t want to know how to make their own perfect marzipan?

Or are you a fan of baking but prefer savory to sweet? Why not bake that bread, or create those mouth-watering pies and pastries that we all love so much? Fill your creations with delicious savory treats, like cheese or meat. Vegan or vegetarian? Browse your favorite recipe books for inventions made with flour, salt, applesauce, and sunflower oil. If you’re a budding savory baker, crustless quiches are the perfect way of incorporating delectable fillings in a quick and easy way.

If you don’t have time to bake, you could visit a local bakery instead of buying yet another package of mass-produced, sugary cookies devoid of flavor. Nothing is quite as relaxing as sitting back with a cup of coffee or tea and perhaps a book, enjoying a piece of pie.

If you want to share the baking joy with your nearest and dearest, why not invite some friends over for a baking party? It’s the perfect excuse to share your cakes and cookies (or at least the recipes). You can ask them to bring round their favorite cookie cutters and recipe ideas and you can all whizz up a storm in your kitchen. Or you can order in from your local bakery, put on a cooking competition and binge-watch and eat at the same time.

However you decide to celebrate this day, make sure you and your nearest and dearest enjoy it and all of its sweetness to the fullest.