Across centuries, cakes have symbolized opulence and status, marking class divides with their ingredients and elaborate designs. They’ve become metaphors for life’s milestones, from the exuberance of youth to the quiet contemplation of aging—and even our reckoning with mortality.

At their simplest, cakes remain symbols of joy, moments of sweetness that brighten a day. But in their complexity, they hold the power to communicate themes as profound as memory, identity, and love.

Like crumbs coming together to form a complete slice, the stories, histories, and emotions tied to cake reveal something essential about who we are.

Crumbs invites you to savor these fragments and perhaps take a bite of something unexpectedly profound.