ShareThis
Megan Maloy/Getty Images
There's nothing like a wall of cakes to get your mouth watering. See more pictures of cupcakes and cakes.
Since humans started eating food, they've craved sweet things. Early on, it was all berries and honey, but with the introduction of refined sugar, the dessert was born. The name dessert comes from the French word "desservir" which means "to clear away" -- in this case, the dinner table. Depending on where you are in the world, you'll get a wide variety of the post-meal sweet treats. In China, it might contain red beans or dates. In Mexico, the custard-like flan could be on the menu. The French are known for their pastries, and Greece and the Middle East serve up plenty of baklava. A sushi meal in Japan might be followed by wagashi, and if you're in Latin America, some dulce de leche may be in your future.
In the United States, the sweeter the dessert is, the better. Most American desserts originated in other countries. But Americans have certainly put their own spin on a wide variety of foreign classics -- so much so that some of the most popular desserts have become synonymous with the United States. Just the words "apple pie" conjure up visions of white picket fences and baseball. So join us here at HowStuffWorks for a lip-smacking tour of the most popular desserts the United States has to offer.
