# Cake vs. Pie comedy routine?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cake-vs-pie-comedy-routine/974989
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [November 15, 2022, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cake-vs-pie-comedy-routine/974989 "2022-11-15T23:18:14Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)
#### Post date: [November 15, 2022, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cake-vs-pie-comedy-routine/974989/1 "2022-11-15T23:18:14Z")
Comedian Paul Tompkins has a funny bit about solving the “historic” debate between which is the best dessert. He concludes frosting is more delicious than whipped cream, also arguing when you had a school food drive, people often gave away pie filling but never icing.
Tompkins then argues that the only way pie could be better is if it came with frosting too. He doubts this has never been tried “in the history of dudes getting high”.
But you do not see many frosted pies. Toaster pastries don’t qualify, that’s not what comes to mind when you think of dessert. **Why are not frosted pies more popular? Does he have a point? And which dessert is really better?**
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### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2022, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cake-vs-pie-comedy-routine/974989/2 "2022-11-16T00:07:10Z")
Interesting. “Frosting” is one of my arguments _against_ cake, particularly the American tradition of piling that shit on like it’s a contest.
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2022, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cake-vs-pie-comedy-routine/974989/3 "2022-11-16T00:11:21Z")
Some frostings are better than whipped cream. The sugared Crisco that gets slathered on most cakes, though? No, thank you.
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### Author:  [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2022, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cake-vs-pie-comedy-routine/974989/4 "2022-11-16T00:18:29Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#):
>
> Why are not frosted pies more popular? Does he have a point? And which dessert is really better?
Pies don’t need icing to be delicious. No, he does not. Pie, of the pecan or mincemeat variety. Or apple with a slice of cheddar. Or a tart Key Lime pie. Maybe cheesecake?
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### Author:  [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2022, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cake-vs-pie-comedy-routine/974989/5 "2022-11-16T00:29:09Z")
The outlier is, of course, Boston Cream Pie, which is more like a cake than a pie – it’s even frosted, with CHOCOLATE!
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### Author:  [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2022, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cake-vs-pie-comedy-routine/974989/6 "2022-11-16T00:59:00Z")
> [@Chronos](#):
>
> Some frostings are better than whipped cream. The sugared Crisco that gets slathered on most cakes, though? No, thank you.
De Gustubus. I like the sugared Crisco because it is heavy enough to deliver a lot of flavor, and rigid enough to not squirm out of your mouth and all on to your face. When you combine the two factors, each bite of store bought frosting delivers at least twice as much flavor as the whipped travesties. The only thing they are superior at is looking good, and I am sure that traditional frosting can look just as flamboyant if the makers of them wanted.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2022, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cake-vs-pie-comedy-routine/974989/7 "2022-11-16T02:19:39Z")
He’s making a false equivalence. Frosting and whipped cream are not analogous.
Cake and crust are structural, frosting and filling are where most of the sweetness is.
Whipped cream has nothing to do with anything, and combining frosting and filling would be ruining two good things.
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### Author:  [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2022, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cake-vs-pie-comedy-routine/974989/8 "2022-11-16T08:09:50Z")
Friends of mine insist that in Australian country towns, when they were kids, many cake shops sold an Apple Charlotte. It was a small, one serve apple pie with passionfruit frosting. I would call them liars except the venerable Women’s Weekly has this nice looking recipe for a [large one.](https://www.womensweeklyfood.com.au/recipes/womens-weekly-vintage-edition-apple-charlotte-28643)
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### Author:  [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2022, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cake-vs-pie-comedy-routine/974989/9 "2022-11-16T13:12:42Z")
Frosting is sugar, fat and a little flavoring. If that’s the best part of your cake, your cake sucks.
Whipped cream is sugar, cream and maybe a little flavoring. If that’s the best part of your pie, your pie sucks.
Pies, there’s actually useful variation, a party may have a key lime pie, a pumpkin pie, a cherry pie and an apple pie. Who throws a party with 4 different kinds of cake? I’m not counting cupcakes, because I’m not 8 years old anymore.
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### Author:  [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2022, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cake-vs-pie-comedy-routine/974989/10 "2022-11-16T13:17:25Z")
I’ve been to wedding celebrations with a bride’s cake and a groom’s cake. Hmm, and ones where each layer was a different flavor.
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### Author:  [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2022, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cake-vs-pie-comedy-routine/974989/11 "2022-11-16T13:17:32Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#):
>
> He’s making a false equivalence. Frosting and whipped cream are not analogous.
True. But could it also be a floor wax?
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### Author:  [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2022, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cake-vs-pie-comedy-routine/974989/12 "2022-11-16T13:20:48Z")
But i agree with this:
> [@Cheesesteak](#):
>
> Frosting is sugar, fat and a little flavoring. If that’s the best part of your cake, your cake sucks.
>
> Whipped cream is sugar, cream and maybe a little flavoring. If that’s the best part of your pie, your pie sucks.
I like the frosting i make from scratch. But i also like the cake. And i serve some cakes without frosting. I never put whipped cream on pie. The filling should be delicious, that’s the point.
(Sometimes a dollop of ice cream is served aside a chocolate cake or an apple pie, though.)
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### Author:  [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2022, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cake-vs-pie-comedy-routine/974989/13 "2022-11-16T13:24:33Z")
Whipped cream on a pie is there for the contrast. Most pie fillings are dense, intensely flavored, and very sweet. Whipped cream provides a textural and flavor contrast: lightness and mild sweetness.
I’m definitely more of a pie fan than a cake fan.
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### Author:  [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2022, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cake-vs-pie-comedy-routine/974989/14 "2022-11-16T13:26:37Z")
I am amazed that I get this reference.
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### Author:  [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2022, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cake-vs-pie-comedy-routine/974989/15 "2022-11-16T13:38:56Z")
Cake vs. pie? Pshaw. Ice cream is the true answer for best dessert.
> [@puzzlegal](#):
>
> (Sometimes a dollop of ice cream is served aside a chocolate cake or an apple pie, though.)
Ice cream with a baked good is a great pairing-- the combination and contrast of flavors and textures is very nice. I actually don’t have much of a sweet tooth generally, but a scoop of vanilla ice cream over a warmed brownie, topped with some caramel sauce? Yes please.
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2022, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cake-vs-pie-comedy-routine/974989/16 "2022-11-16T14:33:27Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#):
>
> Whipped cream has nothing to do with anything, and combining frosting and filling would be ruining two good things.
You’ve never had my frosting made by mixing Cool Whip, milk, and instant pudding. I do this because we’re diabetic and good sugar free frosting is difficult to find whereas finding sugar free instant pudding mix is really easy.
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### Author:  [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2022, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cake-vs-pie-comedy-routine/974989/17 "2022-11-16T14:37:39Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#):
>
> Comedian Paul Tompkins has a funny bit about solving the “historic” debate between which is the best dessert.
I heard PFT on a podcast a while back talking about how people still come up to him and try to argue with him about how pie is better. And his response is always “you know it was a bit right? I don’t actually have any strong opinions about which is better.”
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### Author:  [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2022, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cake-vs-pie-comedy-routine/974989/18 "2022-11-16T21:22:21Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#):
>
> could it also be a floor wax
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](#):
>
> I am amazed that I get this reference.
[https://s3-prod.adage.com/s3fs-public/styles/1200x630/public/shimmer32.jpg](https://s3-prod.adage.com/s3fs-public/styles/1200x630/public/shimmer32.jpg)
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### Author:  [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2022, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cake-vs-pie-comedy-routine/974989/19 "2022-11-16T21:26:14Z")
Yep, a brief skit from a TV show from circa 1975. Nearly fifty years, and I remember it… Why do I remember this? I have no idea.
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### Author:  [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)
#### Post date: [November 16, 2022, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cake-vs-pie-comedy-routine/974989/20 "2022-11-16T22:29:21Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#):
>
> You’ve never had my frosting made by mixing Cool Whip, milk, and instant pudding.
Cool Whip is an abomination. I actually like whipped cream on cherry pie and sometimes apple. And it has to be whipped cream on pumpkin pie. Does anyone put ice cream on pumpkin pie???
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](#):
>
> Yep, a brief skit from a TV show from circa 1975. Nearly fifty years, and I remember it… Why do I remember this? I have no idea.
I’ve seen it quoted and referred to at least once a year in all those 50 years…and, yes, I saw the original airing.
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