Cheesecake has become one of the most popular desserts of all time. After making its way through almost all parts of the world, it has been warmly welcomed in India as well. This dessert, which has a cracker layer and cream cheese filling, has now found its way into every aisle of a bakery and cafe.
But where did it come from? The dessert that is now very frequently made by a baker and enjoyed by everyone fond of relishing something sweet has a rich history. Here’s everything you need to know about the rough ride Cheesecake had to take to reach you. Also, explore the types of cheesecakes you can bake at home or try at your nearest bakery.
A Brief History Of Cheesecake
The earliest traces of cheesecakes can be traced back to the 5th century in Ancient Greece. However, back then, they were called "plakous," made with crumbled cheese, flour, and honey, and baked on hot stones. But even in its rudimentary form, cheesecake caught the eye of everyone and was even served in the Olympic Games in 776 BC. Greeks also enjoyed the rich cheese-based dessert at their special events like weddings and ceremonies and considered it to be a good omen for the newlyweds.
When the Romans conquered Greece, they adopted the cheesecake recipe, incorporating their own cheeses and flavours. They introduced a crust to the Greek version of the cheesecake, which was somewhat similar to the cheesecake of today’s time. But the modifications didn’t stop there. After the recipe reached Europe, different cultures made several variations as per their traditions.
For example, England added spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, while the French replaced Greek cheese with their own curd cheese. But in no time, cheesecake gained much popularity. Even the first English cookbook, "The Forme of Cury" which was published in 1390, featured a recipe for a cheesecake flavoured with rosewater and elderflower.
The Modern Version Of Cheesecake
The cheesecake travelled with the Britishers to each one of their colonies. But the most important variation to the then cheesecake was America’s twist. The traces of new recipes for cheesecake can be found in America in the 18th century when they started to use ricotta cheese replacing the European versions. As time passed by, there were many experiments made with the dessert that made today’s classic – New York’s cheesecake. As of now, you can enjoy the creamy and smooth transitional New York cheesecake and its varied toppings like caramel, Nutella, brownies, and many more.
Popular Types Of Cheesecakes
New York Cheesecake: Starting with the classic and the most renowned, the traditional New York Cheesecake. It has a graham cracker crust and a thick cream cheese filling. Some people like no toppings, while others like to add a layer of blueberries or chocolate sauce.
Chocolate Cheesecake: It is a mandate to have a chocolate version of any classic dessert to satisfy the chocoholics. The chocolate cheesecake usually has a crust of chocolate biscuits with chocolate infused in the cream cheese filling.
Caramel Cheesecake: Caramel cheesecake is another popular type of cheesecake that has caramel sauce in the filling and as a shiny topping.
Brownie Cheesecake: For a more decadent and sumptuous cheesecake, people like to add pieces of brownies drizzled with chocolate sauce on top of the classic cheesecake.
Fruit Cheesecake: Fruits like strawberries and blueberries in between the cream cheese filling are popular choices for fruit cheesecakes. They are also used as a topping to add a fruity flavour to the cheesecake.