Dessert

High school (ages 12+)
Food & Cooking

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/dessert

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the chemical reactions in baking?Maillard reaction and caramelization contribute significantly to flavor and color
2. What is the cultural role?Desserts serve as symbols of celebration, comfort, and cultural identity
3. What sweeteners did early civilizations use in desserts?They used honey, fruit juices, and tree saps to add sweetness to their foods.
4. Why did desserts become more elaborate after the Crusades?Cane sugar became more available, making sugar a luxury and allowing fancy sugar sculptures and spiced cakes at aristocratic banquets.

Caramelization: The browning of sugars when heated, producing complex flavors and aromas.
Maillard Reaction: A chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars that gives browned food its distinctive flavor.
Molecular Gastronomy: A scientific discipline that studies the physical and chemical transformations of ingredients that occur during cooking.