The history department held its third annual “Great History Bake Off” Thursday afternoon in the Downing Student Union.

Each year, history professors and staff on campus bake various dishes from different time periods associated with the subject they teach. Desserts are showcased to educate students on history and bring them together on a common interest: food.

“What a lot of people do not realize, even students, is that what we eat and how we eat has a lot to do with history,” David Serafini, history instructor, said.

Dishes included an 1850s mock apple pie, wacky cake, lime salad, fudge, waldonys in syrup, traditional Gerry Adam’s chocolate cake, 1930s spam fiesta bake and more.

Each student in attendance could vote on their favorite and least favorite dessert. 

Serafini, who is trained in 20th-century United States history,won the competition for best dessert with a Kool-Aid Pie, a  dish made from pie crust, Kool-aid, sweetened condensed milk and Cool Whip that boomed in popularity during the 1970s.

Hannah Vincent, freshman history and anthropology double major, tried a blue raspberry pie while at the event. 

“Honestly, it’s very sour, but I like it,” Vincent said.

Jennifer Hanley’s, history professor,  pickled cheesecake took the prize for “most likely to cause dysentery.” Hanley specializes in late 19th and early 20th-century history of the. Her dish was voted least favorite among students.

“The pickled cheesecake is awful,” Claire Davis, sophomore graphic design major, said.

Several students in attendance received extra credit for attending the event. Emma Johnson, freshman music education major, went with her friends.

“This [event] seemed like the most interesting because it’s food,” Johnson said.

News Reporter Maegan Hale can be reached at [email protected].