
Desserts with a past. Take a closer look at modern-day desserts to find traces of sugar's tumultuous history. The warm, rich scent of this gingerbread comes from a combination of spices that date back to an era when sugar was seen as medicinal.

Pepita marzipan. In the markets of southern Mexico, marzipan shaped from ground pumpkin seeds is sold in colorful shapes. The recipe for this historic treat arrived in the Americas alongside conquistadors and Catholics. Find the modern-day version in David Sterling's "Yucatán: Recipes from a Culinary Expedition."

Sliced goiabada with guavas. Another treat that arrived in the Americas with monasteries and nunneries — many of which still produce sweets— Brazil's guava paste is influenced by Middle Eastern food traditions brought to Spain during the expansion of Islam.

Marzipan fruit. Colorful marzipan fruit still takes pride of place in Sicily, one of the first places in Europe to be deeply influenced by Middle Eastern religion and recipes.

Gingersnap cookies. Recipes change with time, but many retain a historic aroma. These gingersnap cookies are scented with cloves, cinnamon and ginger, spices that helped inspire Christopher Columbus' first journey across the Atlantic Ocean.

Marzipan loaf. The combination of ground almonds and sugar in this loaf of marzipan has surprisingly deep roots; there's a similar recipe in the 10th-century cookbook "Kitab al-Tabikh" that documents favorite foods from the Baghdad court.

Guava paste with slices of cheese. Here, Brazilian guava paste is served with slices of fresh, white cheese. Across the ocean, the Spanish quince paste that inspired it is often presented the same way, preserving a shared history through flavor.


