What’s Behind Desserts?

How did the idea of having something sweet after a meal begin?

Thanks to Trivia Genius, we learnt that, “Desserts have long reigned as the pièce de résistance of suppertime, encouraging picky eaters to clear their plates in anticipation of a bubbling pie, warm cookies, or decadently sweet puddings. While the dessert course seems like an ages-old staple, finishing off a meal with dazzlingly decorated cakes and sugary sweets is a relatively new concept attributed to French royalty. 

Turns out, the word “dessert” —  meaning “to clear the table” after a meal — didn’t even hit the modern lexicon until the 17th century, a time when French nobles feasted on a post-dinner selection of preserves, jams, and cookies, calling the course “le fruit.”

Renaming the serving of sweets gained popularity as chefs crafted painstakingly designed sugar sculptures, cakes, and treats — though the term wouldn’t take off until the French Revolution, when commoners more easily gained access to sugar.

By the late 1700s, the idea of dessert had spread through Europe and to young America, where home cooks were dishing up cakes, cookies, and tarts once only seen in aristocratic dining rooms. In the centuries since, some sugary dishes have come and gone (like tomato soup spice cake and mock apple pie), while others have maintained their place in dessert history. “

Your Two Chums happen to be great ice cream lovers but, to be honest, we are lovers of all desserts. It always seems like a great idea to have “a little something sweet” after a great meal, even if you feel really full!

Sweetness!