Who invented cream cheese frosting?

There isn't a single inventor credited with creating cream cheese frosting. It's likely that the combination of cream cheese and sugar to create a frosting was developed gradually over time, potentially by home cooks.

Here's why it's difficult to pinpoint an inventor:

* Evolution of recipes: Recipes change and evolve through generations. It's plausible that variations of cream cheese frosting existed long before they were formally written down or attributed to a specific person.

* Regional variations: Different regions might have developed similar frostings with unique ingredients or techniques.

* Lack of documentation: Early food writing often didn't focus on documenting specific recipes or their originators.

However, we can point to some key moments in the history of cream cheese frosting:

* Philadelphia Cream Cheese: This brand, established in 1872, made cream cheese widely available and undoubtedly influenced the development of cream cheese-based desserts.

* "The Joy of Cooking" (1931): This iconic cookbook included a recipe for "Cream Cheese Frosting" which helped to popularize the recipe.

So, while a single inventor might not exist, the invention of cream cheese frosting can be seen as a collaborative effort throughout history, with contributions from countless cooks and bakers.