When Did Baking Begin?

When was the last time that you had a fantastic meal without bread? If you had the choice, would you rather have a fresh baked item for breakfast, or a bowl of cold cereal? For most people, baking is an essential part of pleasure. In fact, baking has been an integral part of human existence for centuries now, which is why the history of baking is incredibly fascinating.

Can we really pinpoint the exact moment in time when the first item was baked? Not really. However, we can guess that baking really began with the early Egyptians (somewhere around 2600-2100 B.C.E). Some archaeologists believe that the Egyptians actually learned their baking skills from the Babylonians, though this can be disputed. There is, however, a great amount of certainty surrounding the royal bakery of Ramses, which served breads and cakes (some speculate that a few pieces of these fine baked goods were shaped as animals and served up as sacrifices ... though not every historian agrees with this claim). We also know that the ancient Greeks used to make honey flan and torte quite frequently, as well as a number of different desserts that used honey as a main ingredient. Rome certainly had its share of bakers as well, and some of the first doughnuts may have come from the great Roman Empire.

Baking, as we know it, most likely came from London when certain bakers began to sell gingerbread mean on push carts during the 1800s. From the Ancient Egyptians to the streets of London, baking has always been a part of life. Many find great comfort within the smells and tastes of a particularly choice bakery, and there is nothing in the world like a piece of fresh baked bread. Baking will always be a part of our society, and this is precisely why we should embrace the concept of fantastic baked goods.