Here's What Really Gives Foods That Birthday Cake Flavor

Birthday cake has become much more than a dessert baked and eaten to celebrate our earthside arrivals. Birthday cake is now, in fact, a flavor all its own. From ice cream, Oreo cookies, and chocolate bars to cereal, cosmetics, and even vodka and energy drinks, this festive variety is popping up in seemingly countless product categories. But where does this eerily spot-on flavoring come from?

Birthday cake is a mysterious and elusive flavor that has been tantalizing taste buds for decades. As it turns out, the lighthearted, youthful, unique flavor is formulated to replicate a classic vanilla cake with frosting and maybe some rainbow sprinkles for an extra dash of flair. These elements are blended together to create the perfect balance of sweetness and richness many of us know and love, and there's one flavoring in particular that is key to obtaining birthday cake flavor: diacetyl.

Let's dig our forks a bit deeper into the chemistry of this recipe, shall we?

To achieve "perfect" birthday cake-flavored non-cake goods, the answer is simple: Focus on the frosting. Traditional b-day cake frosting is usually made with sweet, creamy, and slightly tangy buttercream. And when you combine that with sugar and good ol' vanilla, you get that signature, unmistakable taste and aroma.

A common ingredient found in a number of artificial birthday cake-flavored products is diacetyl, which is a chemical that is naturally produced during the fermentation process of alcoholic beverages such as beer and wine. It's also used in various processed foods like margarine, microwavable popcorn, and butterscotch candies to add a distinctive, intensely buttery flavor. Diacetyl offers a luscious taste that mimics that of buttercream. It's important to note, however, that diacetyl can become toxic when exposed to heat and inhaled. If you prefer to be on the safe side when shopping for birthday cake-inspired treats, check the label.

Culinary scientists have come a long way when it comes to concocting realistic essences of foods and drinks. Birthday cake, for one, is a nostalgia-inducing flavor that has the power to make anyone feel like a kid blowing out the candles.