History of Cheesecake Making

There are not many other things which can compare to cheesecake history. It traveled across countries and had a role in other historical events. Even now-a-days, people continue to try to perfect their favorite cheesecake recipes.

They alter cheese types; usually between cream cheese (most popular), ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, and Neufchatel. They also use different mix-ins to flavor the cake, like chocolate, fresh fruit, or special liquors.

But beyond the changes we make in our cheesecakes today, what about the changes people made in the ancient times; especially ancient Greece. The first appearance of cheesecakes came in 2,000 B.C. when anthropologists found cheesecake molds in ancient Greece. From there cheesecakes moved into the Olympics.

In 776 B.C, on the Isle of Delos, it has been recorded that cheesecakes were served to the first Olympic athletes during competition. As times changed so did the cheesecake.

Soon the fall of ancient Greece came, and the secret of the cheesecake fell into Roman hands. The Romans then took Greece’s recipe for the special cake and gave it a new name…placenta or libum. These forms of cheesecake were usually baked on a pastry base or in a pastry case. The cakes were then used as temple offering to the gods. Slowly the cheesecake was spread across Europe by Romans.

Again, the times would change. Immigration became popular, especially to America, and the traveling of the cheesecake began continuing to create the cheesecake history. The cake followed immigrants into America where it became popular. Americans took the recipes and altered it even more, changing the cheese type from Neufchatel, to cream cheese thanks to Mr. James L. Kraft.

In 1912, Kraft invented cream cheese, which led to the creation of Philadelphia Cream Cheese, the most popular cheese used for making cheesecake today.

So from ancient Greece, to Rome, to America, and beyond; the adventures of the cheesecake are far from over.

Restaurants continue to develop new ways to enjoy the special cake, and who knows where the cheesecake history will go from here.

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