Those of us in the United States, New Zealand, Ireland, Australia and Canada refer to the course after dinner as dessert. Other places use terms like pudding, afters and sweets. The origin of “dessert” stems from the French word “desservir,” which means to clear the table. So, dessert happened after the table was cleared. Thankfully, with the advent of nationwide dessert delivery, we can now enjoy dessert whenever we choose!
The concept of enjoying something sweet at the end of a meal has origins as far back as the 1600s, so it’s not surprising that our traditional confections have lengthy histories. Here are some of the stories behind today’s favorite desserts.
Historic Facts on Two Dessert Faves
Pecan Pie
Pecan pie is a particularly well-loved dessert in the South. Interestingly enough, the claim that many make insinuating that the pecan pie tradition originated in Alabama during the early 1800s, is unfounded.
In truth, recipes for this Southern delight used boiled custard to which pecans were added. This conglomeration was then placed in a pie crust and baked, but the earliest recipes date from 1886.
Well-known cookbooks did not start including recipes for pecan pie until the 1940s, and some believe this is due to its popularization by the founders of Karo syrup. Since then, the pie has been a staple of Southern cooking and has even been included in notable poetry and other pieces of American literature.
If you’re a fan of pecan pie, consider ordering our Bourbon Street Pecan Pie, which features huge toasted pecan halves in an intoxicating filling laced with Kentucky bourbon. Sweet, and flavorful!
Cheesecake
Ancient Greece may very well be the birthplace of cheesecake, though it would not have been the creamy decadence that it is today. However, many people prefer to cite a book from 1390 as proof that cheesecake should be an invention accredited to the English.
Cheesecake is made differently all over the world. Varying cheeses are used, including cream cheese (in the US and Canada), ricotta (in Italy), and quark (in Poland, Germany and the Netherlands).
There is debate over the true identity of cheesecake as well. Some argue that all the eggs in its recipe make it a torte. While others think that the absence of flour, the creamy interior, and separate crust make it a custard pie. One thing is certain, the Greeks called it “cake.”
At Sweet Street Desserts, there are dozens and dozens of fabulous desserts on the menu, which means that selecting just one will be a challenge! If, however, you or someone you know loves cheesecake, feel free to check some of these out:
When you order desserts from us, we will ship your order via FedEx in an insulated container cooled with dry ice to keep the item(s) fresh and protect them during shipping. We want them to reach you and/or your recipients in tip-top shape, no matter how far they have to go.
If the desserts we listed above don’t tantalize your taste buds, we know you’ll find something on the menu that calls your name. Sweet Street Desserts offers dessert delivery nationwide to anywhere in the continental United States. Shop online and find your favorite dessert(s)!
