Alongside brownies and cookies, cheesecake features on the classic American dessert list, yet its history goes way back – long before Uncle Sam appeared on the world culinary map.
A thin layer of crushed biscuit, a rich creamy filling and a luscious topping to bring it all together: the simplicity of the cheesecake makes it the ultimate comfort dessert that everybody can make and enjoy. While it has become remarkably popular in recent years, this sweet treat finds its roots in ancient times.
According to historians, an early form of baked cheesecake was a popular dish in Ancient Greece and may have been given to the athletes at the first Olympic Games in 776 BC to replenish their energy levels. While the Greek physician Aegimus (5th century BC) is said to have written a book on the art of making cheesecakes, the earliest extant recipes can be found in Cato the Elder's De Agri Cultura. Composed around 160 BC, this Roman tome includes recipes for three cakes, libum, placenta and savillum, all made with a cheese base. With a crust baked separately, placenta (which means flat cake in Latin) can be considered the ancestor to our modern cheesecakes.
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