[Avodah] taking 'halah from cake

[Arie Folger]

It was reported that even though 'hallah should be separated from ckae, 
provided a large enough quantity was produced, the separation is made without 
a berakhah. That is based on the Shakh YD 329:9. However, that is a metter of 
dispute even among the A'haronim. Please see Pit'hei Teshuvah s"k 2 there, 
where he says that cake made with honey or another one of the 7 kinds of 
liquids that make foods become meqabel tum'a should have the 'hallah taken 
with a blessing. Now the oil that may be used in making cakes is likely not 
olive oil, and margarine, if used, is not a mashkeh (and neither are eggs one 
of the 7 mashkaot), so in usual cases, our cakes might still not be 
necessitating a berakhah, but he also writes:
veshelo kedin nahagu ha'olam shenotlim 'hallah min lekech (sponge cake) belo 
berakhah. (source is Mateh Efraim)

Thus, this matter seems in dispute. Since I don't own a Mateh Efraim, I'd 
appreciate someone posting an analysis of his argument.

KT

Arie Folger