How One (Enormous) Gluten Free Cake Could Help With Awareness

Gluten-free labeling that the FDA was required to finalize in 2008 is years past due, so if you can’t get their attention the old fashioned way– why not try to woo them with their taste buds!

By now you may have heard about the 1in133 event in Washington DC on May 4th.  It will be a big event to get legislators and the FDA re-energized and re-focused on finalizing the the gluten-free labeling rules.  If you don’t know about it see my post from yesterday.

But you have to hear about the “piece de resistance”.  The 12-foot gluten free cake — which could become the World’s Largest Gluten Free Cake.  I set to find out what all goes into creating this masterpiece. So grab a cup of coffee, because the sweetness you’re about to hear may just sound good with a cup of Joe.

I talked with Jules Shepard of Jules Gluten Free this week and she gave me some great insider scoop on what it takes to create a cake that will grab so much attention…

Bottom line: it’s no simple task.  The cake layers will be made at the Whole Foods Gluten Free Bakehouse in North Carolina.  That’s where it gets technical: “They need to be of a uniform height and the recipe needs to be dense enough to support itself (with plenty of supports as well) without crumbling,” Shepard told me.  She thought her white cake was up to the task.

Here’s the plan for the World’s Largest Gluten-Free Cake

12 feet

16 tiers

4 layers per tier (each 2 inches tall)

That’s 64 layers of cake!

The cake itself will be approximately 1,800 pounds (not including the structural supports)!

It will contain:
180 pounds of gluten free flour

350 pounds of sugar

700 pounds  of frosting

Impressive!  I can’t wait to see it!

You can see them assemble the cake on May 4th until about 4:30 p.m. at the Embassy Suites where everything will be held.  The big reveal will be for donors, sponsors, the legislators and members of the Food and Drug Administration at 5:00 that afternoon.

This kind of event doesn’t happen for free.  It is estimated to just cover costs, they would like to raise about $10,000.  Additional money will also be donated to the American Celiac Disease Alliance.  Donate now to the cause, sign the petition or send an email to Washington DC by clicking here. Even if your donation just pays for one pound of that frosting, you’re still helping raise awareness.

Tags: advocacy, awareness, celiac, food, gluten-free