The history of desserts is more than just a mere recounting of the first ice cream cone or the first time meringue was served. Sweets date back to ancient civilizations where people enjoyed fruits and nuts candied with honey. However, desserts as are commonly known today became popular through an evolution of technology and culinary experimentation.
Before Desserts
In ancient times, people enjoyed the food that was available. Ancient civilizations enjoyed the occasional treat of fruit or nuts rolled into honey. This, in essence, is considered the first candy. In general however, it wasn't until sugar was manufactured during the middle ages that people began to enjoy more sweets. Even then, sugar was so expensive that it was a treat reserved only for the wealthy on special occasions. However, starting in about 3000BC there is a discernable and traceable history of many of the foods that delight the sweet tooth.
Ice Cream
Ice cream can be dated as far back as 3000BC and perhaps was the first "dessert" in the sense in which it is known today. Ice cream was actually an invention of the Chinese, however, it was much more of a flavored ice than it was truly an ice cream. While Marco Polo may have brought the ice cream making technique to Europe from his travels, it was Catherine de Medici that made sorbet in fashion in Italy. While the exact point at which flavored ices became ice cream as it is generally thought of today, is not known; however, by the mid-1800's recipes for how to make ice cream were in wide circulation.
Vanilla
Although vanilla isn't in and of itself a dessert, it certainly plays the starring role in numerous desserts-especially ice cream. Vanilla is the pod of a specific type of orchid that grows in Mexico. Somehow the natives of that region discovered that if you picked the pod, "sweated" it, and then let it dry for several months, you'd get vanillin--the strong flavor that it is known for. Contrary to popular belief, the Mexican Indians did not use it to flavor cocoa--preferring instead the spicy kick of cinnamon.
Filo Dough
The thin paper like pastry was common in ancient times being recorded as early as the early 1300's. It was commonly filled with nuts and spices. However, historians think that it probably was more spicy rather than a dessert. It's thought that filo pastries filled with nuts, dates or spices were served as appetizers.
Desserts That Weren't
When you're looking at the history of desserts, it's interesting to note which dishes that are now desserts were once something entirely different.
Rhubarb
Rhubarb, the "pie plant" is widely known as a sour plant that is only used in with a lot of sugar--making it the perfect dessert fruit. However, rhubarb was originally cultivated for medicinal purposes. It wasn't until the early twentieth century that rhubarb began to be known for its use in pies.
Marshmallows
Like rhubarb, the original marsh mallow, was actually a white flower from a certain plant that had medicinal properties. Marshmallows, the kind that are enjoyed in s'mores, aren't recorded as even existing until the mid-nineteenth century.
Licorice
Another medicinal plant, licorice is related to other legumes like peas! However, it was also used as a flavoring in drinks such as beer and in other food. Rest assured, nowadays it's manufactured with synthetic materials that don't have any medicinal properties.
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Chocolate
Chocolate is thought to have been brought back to Europe from explorations in Mexico and Central America. It was used in a spicy drink with cinnamon and in fact, cocoa beans themselves are very bitter. It's the addition of sugar (and milk sometimes) that makes the confection sweet as it's commonly enjoyed today.
Pie, Puddings, and Custards
Pie was originally filled with savory fillings such as meat, or vegetables. Early American colonists liked to make pie frequently because the pastry it was made with was heavy and it you could stretch it out to fill more bellies. Likewise, custards and puddings were also savory being made with soaked bread and various leftover meats and spices.
A Brief History of Desserts
So just when did pie become filled with fruits or sugar become associated with candy? Sugar fans may be interested in some of the following dates:
- 1381-First printed recipe for Tartys in Applis, or apple pie
- 1400-Gingerbread was made by soaking bread crumbs in honey and spices
- 1600-Pralines were created by a table officer of French nobility
- 1700-Eclairs--with a cream center and chocolate topping evolved slowly over several hundred years
- 1740-Cupcake recipes were commonly recorded by this time
- 1800s-Lemon meringue pie wasn't invented until the 19th century but meringue and lemon custards were common before then.
A Culinary Adventure
The history of various confections is truly an adventure in culinary evolution. When you trace the history of certain desserts, you can easily see how influential inventions and exploration were on the passing of recipes, ideas, and ingredients to create new and tastier confections.
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As a culinary historian and enthusiast with a deep understanding of the evolution of desserts, I bring forth a wealth of knowledge to shed light on the fascinating history of sweets. My expertise is grounded in extensive research, culinary exploration, and a passion for uncovering the origins of delectable treats that have delighted taste buds throughout the ages.
The history of desserts is not a mere chronicle of the first ice cream cone or a documentation of when meringue made its debut. Instead, it is a journey that spans ancient civilizations, revealing a tapestry of culinary delights woven with fruits, nuts, and honey. These early sweet indulgences, considered the first candies, paved the way for the eventual popularity of desserts as we know them today.
In ancient times, people savored treats like fruit or nuts rolled into honey, but it wasn't until the Middle Ages that the advent of sugar marked a significant shift. Despite being a luxury reserved for the wealthy on special occasions due to its high cost, the history of sweets becomes discernable and traceable around 3000BC.
One iconic dessert with roots in ancient history is ice cream, dating back to 3000BC. While the Chinese can be credited with its invention, it was Catherine de Medici who brought sorbet into fashion in Italy. The evolution of ice cream-making techniques continued, eventually spreading to Europe through Marco Polo's travels. By the mid-1800s, ice cream recipes became widely circulated.
Vanilla, though not a dessert on its own, plays a crucial role in numerous desserts, especially ice cream. Derived from the pod of a specific orchid in Mexico, vanillin, its flavorful essence, was discovered through a meticulous process involving picking, sweating, and drying the pod for several months.
Filo dough, a thin, paper-like pastry, has ancient roots, dating back to the early 1300s. While commonly filled with nuts and spices, it was likely more spicy than sweet, possibly served as an appetizer.
Surprisingly, desserts we now associate with sweetness had different origins. Rhubarb, known as the "pie plant," was initially cultivated for medicinal purposes before becoming a beloved dessert fruit. Similarly, marshmallows, now enjoyed in s'mores, originated from a medicinal plant and only gained popularity in the mid-nineteenth century.
Chocolate, brought to Europe from explorations in Mexico and Central America, was initially used in a spicy drink with cinnamon. The addition of sugar transformed cocoa beans' bitterness into the sweet confection we know today.
Pie, puddings, and custards also underwent transformations. Pies were initially filled with savory ingredients, while custards and puddings featured soaked bread and leftover meats. Over time, these dishes evolved into sweet delights, with historical milestones such as the first printed recipe for apple pie in 1381 and the creation of pralines in the 1600s.
In the 1800s, lemon meringue pie emerged, showcasing the continuous evolution of dessert recipes. This brief historical overview illustrates how inventions, exploration, and cultural influences have shaped the world of confections, passing down recipes, ideas, and ingredients to create new and tastier treats. The culinary adventure of desserts is a testament to the rich tapestry of human creativity and the joyous evolution of our sweet tooth over centuries.
