If one eats cake at the end of his meal for dessert, must he recite the Beracha of Mezonot, or is it covered by the Beracha of HaMotzih recited at the beginning of the meal?
According to the final Halacha, one would not recite Mezonot over cake eaten as dessert, as he may instead rely on the Beracha of HaMotzih recited over bread at the beginning of the meal. Given the many uncertainties and disputes surrounding this issue, if one knows when beginning his meal that he will eat cake for dessert, he should have in mind when reciting HaMotzih over the bread that it should apply even to the cake he will eat later.
There is, however, one exception to this rule, and that is when one eats a wafer for dessert. The reason why a wafer differs from cake with respect to this Halacha stems from a debate among the Poskim as to what kind of baked grain products are not covered by the Beracha of HaMotzih recited at the beginning of a meal. Maran (author of Shulchan Aruch) cites three opinions on the subject. The first holds that any product that is kneaded with honey and/or sugar before baking requires the recitation of Mezonot during a meal. Others contend that this is required only for foods made with pockets in the dough filled with nuts or other ingredients. Finally, the third view maintains that only crunchy items require a separate Beracha of Mezonot during a meal. In light of this debate, we generally do not recite the Beracha of Mezonot over baked grain products eaten during a meal, and rely on the Beracha of HaMotzih recited at the beginning of the meal. (A fundamental principle in Halacha mandates that we must refrain from reciting a Beracha if there is any question as to its obligation.) A wafer, however, satisfies all three opinions: it is kneaded with sweet ingredients; it satisfies the second opinion that it is like a pocket; and it is crunchy. According to all views, then, a wafer would require a Beracha of Mezonot when eaten during a meal, and it is not covered by the HaMotzih recited at the beginning of the meal. Most other desserts, however, such as cake and the like, do not require the recitation of a Beracha and are covered by the Beracha of HaMotzih.
In summary, then, one who eats a meal with bread and eats cake or the like for dessert does not recite Mezonot over the dessert. Preferably, one who knows that he will eat cake for dessert should have in mind when reciting HaMotzih that this Beracha should cover his dessert, as well. This Halacha does not apply to wafers, which indeed require the recitation of Mezonot when eaten as part of a meal.
