How many different types of cake are there?

There is no definitive answer to how many different types of cake there are. This is because:

* Continuously evolving recipes: New cake recipes are constantly being created, making it impossible to count them all.

* Regional variations: Different cultures and regions have their own unique cake traditions and recipes, adding to the vast variety.

* Subjective categorization: What constitutes a distinct "type" of cake is somewhat subjective. For example, is a vanilla cake with chocolate frosting a separate type from a plain vanilla cake?

However, we can broadly categorize cakes based on various factors:

* Ingredients: Sponge cakes, butter cakes, chiffon cakes, pound cakes, etc.

* Flavor: Chocolate, vanilla, fruit-based, etc.

* Texture: Dense, light, chewy, etc.

* Shape: Round, square, layered, etc.

* Decoration: Icing, frosting, ganache, etc.

Therefore, the number of cake types is vast and constantly growing. It's safe to say that there are thousands of different types of cake around the world.