Ah, “cake” in the context of born from necessity—that’s interesting!
Historically, many types of cake were indeed born from necessity, not just indulgence:
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Sponge cakes – Early versions were made when cooks needed a way to stretch limited ingredients like eggs, sugar, and flour into something filling.
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Fruitcakes – Originally created to preserve fruits and nuts for long periods; it was a way to make seasonal ingredients last.
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War-time or ration cakes – During shortages (like in WWI & WWII), “desperation cakes” were made without eggs, butter, or milk. People used what was available—sometimes just flour, sugar, and water.
So in a way, cake can be literally born from necessity, not just celebration.
If you want, I can tell you about the most extreme “cakes born from necessity” in history—some of them are surprisingly creative. Do you want me to?