Main Difference – Cake vs. Brownie
Cakes and brownies are two delicious confections that make our mouths water by just thinking about them. They must be two of your favorite desserts. But have you ever considered the difference between cake and brownie, especially the difference between chocolate cake and brownie. Well, the main difference between cake and brownie is that cakes are light and fluffy and have a smooth even top while Brownies are chewier and have a cracked top. Brownie and chocolate cake are basically made of the same ingredients, so what makes them different? This is what we are going to find out in this article. Here, we are going to look at the difference between cake and brownie and see what causes these differences.
What is a Cake
Cake is a sweet baked dessert; they were introduced as modifications of bread, but in the present world, the word cake covers a whole range of desserts. The basic ingredients of a cake include flour, sugar, eggs, butter or oil and leavening agents such as baking soda or baking powder. Additional ingredients like fruits, nuts, chocolate, flavors are often added to cakes. Frosting and icing are used to decorate outside of the cake.
Cakes are often considered to be a celebratory desert. We eat cake on various happy occasions like birthdays, wedding and anniversaries. Though cake making was a complicated task in the old days, nowadays even an amateur cook can bake a simple cake due to the modern equipment and recipes.
There are numerous cake recipes, cake types; some cakes are simple while some others are elaborate and complex. Some varieties of cake include butter cake, sponge cake, chocolate cake, coffee cake, fruit cake, etc.
What is a Brownie
A brownie is a baked dessert that can be considered as a cross between a cake and a soft cookie with regard to texture. They are flat, dense and normally cut into square-like bars. Brownies were introduced at the end of the nineteenth century in the United States.
The main ingredients of a brownie include flour, butter, eggs, cocoa powder or chocolate and sugar. Chocolate or the cocoa powder can be named as the main ingredient in this recipe. Brownies can be either fudgy or cakey depending on its density. You can also add ingredients like chocolate chips, nuts, icing or other ingredients. They can be served with beverages like milk and coffee or, ice-cream.
It is easy for a person who is not familiar with the Western cuisine, to confuse brownies with chocolate cake since they both contain basically the same ingredients. The main difference between chocolate cake and brownie is the proportions of sugar, flour, and butter. Another difference between cake and brownie is that the leavening agents such as baking powder, or baking soda are rarely used in brownies. In addition, brownies contain are more chocolaty than chocolate cakes. The differences between chocolate cake and brownie can be summarized as below.
Difference Between Cake and Brownie
Basic Ingredients
The basic ingredients of Chocolate Cake include flour, sugar, eggs, cocoa powder/ chocolate butter/ oil and leavening agents such as baking soda or baking powder.
The basic ingredients of Brownie include flour, sugar, eggs, cocoa powder/ chocolate and butter.
Leavening Agent
A leavening agent is essential in making cakes.
Brownies use very little or no leaving agents.
Proportions
Cake recipes call for about twice the amount of flour than brownies.
Brownie recipes call for more cocoa powder or chocolate.
Texture and Taste
Cake is more light and fluffy and has a smooth even top.
Brownie is chewier and has a cracked top.