National Sponge Cake Day

Supriya Jain
Dec 22, 2023 By Supriya Jain
Originally Published on Feb 16, 2022
Fact-checked by Sudeshna Nag
National Sponge Cake Day is celebrated by cake lovers across the world.

Where is National Sponge Cake Day celebrated?

National Sponge Cake Day is celebrated in the United States. Bakers who love baking cakes also take part in celebrating the delicate dessert.

Who is National Sponge Cake Day celebrated by?

National Sponge Cake Day is celebrated by cake lovers and bakers who put their everything into perfecting their cake batter to give us the softest sponge cake. 

To make National Sponge Cake Day more fun, bake with your friends.

When did National Sponge Cake Day first start?

There is no information as to when National Sponge Cake Day first started but August 23 of every year is celebrated as National Sponge Cake Day.

Who started National Sponge Cake Day?

The founder of the day remains unknown.

No one is quite sure where the recipe for sponge cake originates from. Some say the history of sponge cake began when an Italian pastry chef baked this cake for the first time to please their Spanish lord while some claim sponge cake is a Caribbean dessert.

What we know is this soft delicacy has been a household favorite since the 1600s.

History and Timeline

The soft and light texture of sponge cakes complements everyone's favorite cream tea making it an inseparable part of afternoon tea. Here are some aspects related to its history over the years.

Traditions And Customs

Sometimes people mistake sound cakes for sponge Cake. They may both appear similar however, there is a slight difference between the two sponge cake recipes.

The traditional sponge cake batter is prepared without using baking powder. To make it soft, the air is beaten into the eggs making it light and then layered with the flour while the other cake depends upon baking agents for air leveling hence the recipe contains baking soda or baking powder and butter to achieve a fluffy texture.

People in the UK have a tradition of high tea and afternoon tea where they offer biscuits, slices of sponge cake, and pastries. Yule Log is a type of sponge cake that is presented during Christmas festivities.

Sponge cakes are the first choice for a Passover feast as no leaving is done with yeast. Passover observes the migration of Jewish people from Egypt to escape the clutches of slavery as mentioned in the Old Testament.

Ways To Observe or Celebrate National Sponge Cake Day

What’s better than baking a sponge cake to celebrate National Sponge Cake Day. Invite your friends for a fancy Victorian theme tea party and enjoy the Queen’s favorite soft delicate sponge cake. Make baking fun and try making classic sponge cake in a traditional oven instead of a regular electric oven.

Facts and Stats

  • On this day, you can learn the origin of the Berwick sponge cake, the dessert which was loved by Charles Dickens!
  • While making sponge cakes on this day, remember that no yeast is used to bake the cake.
  • Queen Victoria's reign is known for many inventions, including the sponge cake. The Queen liked her cake filled with raspberry jam and vanilla cream and thus was born the Victoria sponge cake, a must-try on this day!

Mention In A Cookbook

The history of sponge cake can be traced back to English author Gervase Markham in his 1615 book ‘The English Huswife’ which talks about the qualities of a good housewife, mentions the recipe of the sponge cake.

1615

Biscuit Bread

Sponge cakes were baked as cookie-shaped biscuits in Europe, also known as sponge fingers sometimes. In Italy, biscuit bread was called ‘Sweetbreads’.

1800s

Frances Virginia Tea Room

Sponge cake covered in boiled icing became a mass favorite in America during this decade making it more expensive than any other pie. In Atlanta, Virginia Tea Room serves sponge cake filled with lemon zest and boiled icing.

'20s and '30s

National Sponge Cake Day

Every year on August 23 National Sponge Cake Day is celebrated to honor the legacy of sponge cakes.

August 23

What day is International Cake Day?

There is no such day. However, National Cake Day on November 26 is a celebration of cake.

Who invented the concept of National Sponge Cake Day?

It is unknown who started National Sponge Cake Day.

When was the first time National Sponge Cake Day was celebrated?

National Sponge Cake Day is celebrated on August 23, the year of the first celebration is not known.

Why do families celebrate National Sponge Cake Day?

Families celebrate National Sponge Cake Day as an excuse to eat meals and desserts together and bond over food.

Why do most people like celebrating National Sponge Cake Day?

Everyone likes celebrating this event as they get to throw classic tea parties and munch on yummy slices of sponge cake.

When Is This Day Celebrated

  • Sunday, August 23, 2020
  • Monday, August 23, 2021
  • Tuesday, August 23, 2022
  • Wednesday, August 23, 2023
  • Friday, August 23, 2024

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Written by Supriya Jain

Bachelor of Commerce, Master of Business Administration specializing in Marketing

Supriya Jain picture

Supriya JainBachelor of Commerce, Master of Business Administration specializing in Marketing

As a skilled member of the Kidadl team, Shruti brings extensive experience and expertise in professional content writing. With a Bachelor's degree in Commerce from Punjab University and an MBA in Business Administration from IMT Nagpur, Shruti has worked in diverse roles such as sales intern, content writer, executive trainee, and business development consultant. Her exceptional writing skills cover a wide range of areas, including SOP, SEO, B2B/B2C, and academic content.

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Fact-checked by Sudeshna Nag

Master of Arts specializing in History

Sudeshna Nag picture

Sudeshna NagMaster of Arts specializing in History

Having earned a Master's degree in History from the Presidency University in Kolkata, Sudeshna was able to refine these skills and broaden her knowledge base. Not only is she an accomplished fact-checker, but she is also deeply invested in gender research, societal interactions, and mental health. Her professional repertoire also includes experience in translation between Bengali and English content

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