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A Brief History of Cheesecake

ou’d have to search back pretty far to find a time when the Earth was without cheesecake.

In fact, back in 776 BC, the Greeks are said to have served cheesecake to the athletes at the first Olympic games. The Romans soon caught on and spread the divine taste of cheesecake throughout Europe. From there it was only a matter of time before European immigrants brought their cherished cheesecake recipes to America.

It seems that every region of the globe has embraced cheesecake in one form or another, adapting the recipe to local tastes and adding local flavors.

In America, cheesecakes are typically made with a cream cheese base, but we even vary the recipe by region. New York cheesecake is famous for its ultra-smooth texture and decadently rich flavor– achieved by adding extra egg yolks and a hint of lemon. Other regional variations include Chicago-style and Pennsylvania Dutch. Many American bakers add sour cream for a creamy cheesecake that can be frozen without compromising taste or texture.

With every imaginable flavor and topping, you’d be hard pressed to find a culture that doesn’t – or didn’t – enjoy a good cheesecake!