There are so many popular Christmas foods, especially desserts. I’ve limited it down to about five of the most popular Christmas desserts but, do you seriously know how we got them or how long we’ve had them for? Well now you’re going too.
Coming in at number five, fruitcake. Modern fruitcake can be traced back to the Middle Ages just around 1400-1450 years ago. It’s a Roman treat designated in Italy to preserve food by drying it in sugar. Although, around the 18th century in Europe they started soaking it in alcohol.
Next, at number four peppermint brittle. Peppermint brittle is more commonly known as peppermint bark. where it comes from is unknown along as its year as well but, it has been around since 1966. However, Williams Sonoma made a more modern version around the time of 1998.
At number three we have sugar cookies. Sugar cookies are believed to have originated in the mid-1700’s in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Sugar cookies used to be known as Nazareth cookies.
At number two is Cheesecake. Cheesecake was made by the Greeks. This was on the Island of Samos in the 5th century BCE (500 BCE – 450 BCE).
And finally at number one, we have Gingerbread Cookies. Gingerbread Cookies originate from China and Europe, as they had both developed their own recipes in 2400 BCE (Greece), and in the 10th Century (China). These treats were a staple at Medieval fairs in England, France, Holland, and Germany.
In conclusion, many Christmas foods have great backgrounds. Some may be so old that they are even from before the common era (BCE).