Birthday celebrations feel lost without some cake. From childhood to the cusp of adult life, if there is one thing that we have learnt about birthdays, it is the necessity of ‘cutting birthday cakes.’ In fact, a cakeless birthday party is ridiculed by peers, family members and even close friends. The reason behind this ‘trend’ is that the celebration of birthdays has existed since time immemorial, and the tradition of ‘cutting the cake has more or less been ingrained in every community. But what if the person whose birthday you are celebrating is not a fan of cakes?
Is there a better alternative to birthday cake? And if so, which ones? Keep on reading and find out the different birthday dessert alternatives.
Payees or payasam
An Indian dessert that resembles rice pudding, this dish is prepared by thickening milk (traditionally made with cow or buffalo milk due to their fat content) and adding short aromatic rice along with a sweetening agent like jaggery (gur) or sugar. The consumption of this dessert has been associated with good luck, and what can be a better time to wish your loved ones all the luck in the world than on their birthday?
Mochi cakes or balls
A preparation that is made with a concoction of glutinous short-grained rice, water and sweet additives, it is pounded heavily and turned into a sticky paste which is further beaten in low heat. The process leaves this mixture in a sticky doughy state, which is then shaped according to the preference of the consumers. Popular in Japan, Mochi balls or cakes are also available in a variety of colours and served in different shapes and assortments. The consumption of this sweet dessert is often accompanied by sweet bean paste, powdered soybean or sugar dust that gives it a signature flavour. Mochi is a hassle-free birthday dessert that triumphs over all other birthday desserts in Japan.
Alfajores
This popular birthday dessert from Ecuador is essentially a cookie filled with a creamy jam-like substance called dulce de leche (also known as candy from milk – the process of making this inner filling is done by slowly and cautiously heating milk, thickening it with some sugar or honey till the point it turns into a brown caramel mixture). Alfajores thus are quite crumbly cookie-like. For special occasions like birthdays, this dessert is dusted with powdered sugar and enjoyed with the family during evening tea, just before the birthday dinner.
Vlaai
Popular in The Netherlands, Vlaai is a dessert that honours the birthday individual and celebrates their accomplishments wholeheartedly. According to the traditions, this dessert is a sweet pie that is baked as a surprise ceremonial unveiling by the birthday person. The stuffing inside is made of sweet fruit fillings ranging from apples, peaches, apricots, etc., to different kinds of berries. The dessert filling is not disclosed to the celebrant, and they are urged to take a wild guess, making this dessert playful and fun for the birthday celebrations.
Oto
If there is one thing that stands out among the rest of the items on the list, it is this one. Oto, a birthday breakfast dish from the country of Ghana, is super famous for its traditions. People in this region believe in the importance of starting the day heartily, and what can be a better way to start the day other than the most important meal of the day? For this soul reason, Oto came to be a very important tradition and the part that is associated with birthday celebrations. This sweet (sometimes savoury) dish is made from yams which are mashed and mixed with some simple seasoning. The addition of eggs is an important component of this dish because, according to Ghanian traditions, it is a symbol of purity and fertility.
There are many more worldwide traditional birthday desserts and dishes that are deeply associated with good luck, prosperity and wealth in cultures. The point of this article is, loved ones have and will celebrate birthdays in accordance to their culture, but there is no harm in celebrating this day with some cake online Mumbai delivery at your doorstep as well.
