Dessert, a light dessert enjoyed after a meal, includes various foods such as sweet cakes, bread, cookies, fruit, coffee, and juice. The meaning of the word “dessert” itself comes from the French word “desservir” which means “to clear the table” or “to finish eating”. It has established itself as a culture enjoyed by many people not only in the West but all over the world. It is said that the names of the various types of cakes, breads, and cookies, which occupy a large proportion in the dessert culture, have different origins. So today, let’s take a moment to learn about the origins of the names of various types of desserts.
Origin of the name of the dessert
1. Macaron
Macarons, made with almonds, wheat flour, egg whites, and sugar, are the representative desserts of France. It is well-known as a representative meringue confectionery along with Dacquoise for its colorful colors and unique texture that is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Although these macarons are famous as a French dessert, their earliest form is said to have been first made in Venice, Italy, in the 13th century. For this reason, the name macaron itself is said to be derived from the Italian word ‘maccerone’. It is a word derived from the Italian verb macare, which means ‘to beat’.
2. Eclair
Eclair is one of France’s representative desserts, in which chocolate, butter, vanilla, etc. are coated on an elongated choux after filling with whipped cream or custard. It is said to have been first developed by Antonem Karem, the greatest French chef in the 19th century and known as the father of French cuisine.
Eclair means “flash, lightning” in French. It is so delicious that it gets its name from the fact that it is eaten with lightning speed. It is also said that the fondant icing applied to the eclairs shines like a flash of light.
3. Montblanc
Mont Blanc, a cake made by squeezing chestnut puree into thin noodles and coated with vanilla flavor, is a dessert that combines the crispiness of Swiss meringue with the rich flavor of chestnut paste. It is known that an Italian chef developed a recipe based on a motif after seeing the view of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe and the highest peak of the Alps.
4. Baumkuchen
Baumkuchen, a typical German dessert, is a cake made in the shape of an old tree. When the cake is cut, it is composed of several layers like the ring of a log, so the name Baumkuchen was coined by combining the German word baum meaning tree and kuchen meaning cake. Baumkuchen like this is made by mixing flour, eggs, butter, sugar, and spices well, kneading it, and then winding it on a core and baking it. In Germany, it is said that it is mainly eaten at various traditional events, including Christmas.
5. Baguette
A baguette is an elongated bread made with only water, flour, salt and yeast. Crispy on the outside but soft on the inside, it is a typical French bread that is used not only as a dessert but also as a staple food. Such a baguette is a distinctive, elongated form of bread, and it is said that it was derived from the French word baguette, which means lump or stick. You can eat it as it is, spread it with butter or jam, and use it to make main dishes and sandwiches.
6. Madeleine
Madeleine is a cookie made by mixing flour, butter, milk and eggs well and adding lemon flavor. It is well-known as a typical French cookie eaten with tea for its characteristic scallop shape and moist texture. Madeleine is said to have originated in the mid-18th century, when a man named Madeleine, who lived in Lorraine, France, first made these cookies. Also, Madeleine appeared in
7. Tiramisu
Tiramisu is a type of cake made with cacao, coffee, and mascarpone cheese. It is also known as the representative dessert of Italy for its sweet and soft texture.
Tiramisu is said to be derived from the Italian word ‘Tirare mi su’, which means ‘to lift me up’. It is said that the name tiramisu was given because eating it gives you energy and makes you feel better.
8. Pound Cake
A pound cake made by mixing flour, butter, eggs, and sugar well, is a cake characterized by its elongated cuboid shape and moist texture. It is said that the name of the pound cake was given because it was made by adding 1 pound (453.6 g) of each of the main ingredients to be added. Pound cakes are not only made with basic ingredients, but are also made by adding walnuts or raisins to the dough.
