America is the land of opportunity – and really great desserts.
Nothing screams freedom quite like dessert parlors and shops around every corner, and dessert menus the size of the actual menu. That’s because American culture and childhoods across the generations have been obsessed with sweetness.
Tons of desserts from across the globe have fallen in to the American melting pot, and have now become American staples that we can’t imagine life without – nor do we want to.
Here’s a list of just five desserts which have transcended the ages in American history and become part of the nation’s identity.
- Cheesecake
This rich and creamy dessert has its roots in ancient Greece, where Olympics athletes enjoyed these as quick energy boosts after a demanding event.
By far the most iconic iteration of the dessert is based right in the heart of New York City where it’s made with cream cheese, sugar, eggs, cream and a graham cracker crust.
One of the most popular cheesecake chains is, of course, the Cheescake Factory – where the White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake reigns supreme.
- Apple Pie
The phrase “as American as Apple Pie” comes to mind…
This rich and decadent dessert made its debut after European immigrants brought the recipe to the American heartland. Now, the Apple Pie is a symbol of the American spirit – frequently enjoyed after burgers and hot dogs on the 4th of July.
After all, nothing beats a warm apple pie topped with a scoop of rich vanilla ice cream.
- Jello
Gelatin has been popular in the United States since its appearance in every grocery store’s shelves under the brand name Jello.
Not only is it simple to make, it’s extremely fun to eat because of the way it jiggles. As an added bonus, the dessert barely makes a mess and is perfect to eat when the new braces come in or the dentures come off.
- Chocolate Cake
Chocolate wasn’t added to cake until the late 17th century. Back then, chocolate was a relatively new creation which was introduced by Spanish explorers who found it in the New World.
Today, it’s the most popular cake in the entire world. Perfect in its simplicity, the sponginess of cake served to be the perfect platform for rich, decadent chocolate to flourish.
- Ice Cream
We’ve saved the very best for last.
Ice Cream is unmatched in America as the nation’s very favorite dessert. Of course, ice cream goes back many centuries all the way to even 3000 B.C., where the Chinese added flavor to clean ice or snow. It became popular amongst European elites not long after Marco Polo brought the recipe back from the Far East.
In America, the dessert became extremely popular at the turn of the century when technology made it possible to create ice cream on mass at ice cream parlors throughout the country. During World War II, ice cream was used as a morale booster for allied soldiers.
After the war was won, Americans celebrated with their favorite frozen treat – consuming up to 20 quarts per person on average in 1945!
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