The first recipe for apple pie was written by Geoffrey Chaucer—yes, THE Geoffrey Chaucer, author of The Canterbury Tales and the father of English poetry—in 1381. It was sweetened with raisins and figs and colored with Saffron, so it was significantly more savory than the desserts we know today, but it was still intended as a confection that ends a meal. Sweet treats like fruit have long been a final course, but as sugar became more readily available, desserts have become more elaborate. Whether they’re baked, fried, or swirled into refreshing, icy-cool concoctions, desserts should be satisfying, with the cozy flavors that inspire feelings of comfort and home.