What is the History of Cake Cones?
The history of the cake cone is a tasty and intriguing tale that has its roots in ancient times. Evidence suggests that waffle-like pastries, similar to the modern-day cone, were enjoyed as early as the 5th century BCE in Greece. However, the direct ancestor of the ice cream cone as we know it emerged in Europe during the 18th century. In the 1700s, street vendors in Italy and France served ice cream in edible containers made from paper, cups, and even hollowed-out fruit.
In 1896, a Syrian immigrant named Ernest Hamwi arrived in the United States and opened a waffle stand at the St. Louis World’s Fair. When he ran out of dishes, he rolled up his waffles into cones and served ice cream in them. The result was a smashing success, and the ice cream cone quickly became a beloved treat.