Surprising American creations: German chocolate cake and other foods born in the USA

Wednesday, June 11, is National German Chocolate Cake Day, celebrating just one of many dishes and desserts that many believe come from abroad but were first made in the US.

German chocolate cake is rich and most famous for the layer of coconut goodness placed on top, which gives the cake its unique signature texture and taste. The mixture of chocolate and coconut is a classic combo, but there is nothing particularly German about it. The cake’s name actually comes from its inventor, Samuel German, not the country.

Samuel German was an English-American baker who developed the cake in 1853, calling it “German’s Chocolate Cake.” Over a century later, the recipe was popularized by Mrs. George Clay, a Texas baker, who published it in The Dallas Morning News. In today’s lingo, Mrs. Clay’s recipe went viral, and over the next decade or so, German chocolate cake would cement itself as a mainstay of American baking.

Over time, the possessive on ‘German’ was dropped, leading many to believe that Samuel’s creation had something to do with the country and not his talents in the kitchen.

Burritos, fortune cookies, and more

If you have ever traveled to Mexico, you will know that finding a burrito can be a much more challenging task than you might think if you come from the United States. Although the ingredients served in the burritos often consumed in the United States today originated in Mexico, the super burrito, known for being packed to the brim, was first sold in the Mission District of San Francisco in the 1960s.

Other classic examples reveal their immigrant roots, such as the California roll, which was developed in the Golden State in the 1960s but gained prominence and popularity in the decade that followed. The fortune cookie, an iconic part of dining at Chinese restaurants, was actually first baked in San Francisco, although some claim its origins trace back to Japan. In any case, fortune cookies did not originate in China.

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