Refrigerators, War, and "Abak" [Delicious Stories]

Abak Craze Hits Korea: A Dessert Over a Century Old
Born with the Refrigerator, Gained Popularity During World War II

Editor's Note
The earliest snacks are said to have originated in ancient Mesopotamian civilization. In other words, snacks have accompanied every moment of human history. From biscuits and chocolate to ice cream, we share delicious stories behind the snacks we love.

Twosome Place's popular cake, "Abak" (Icebox Cake), has sold more than 45 million units since its launch last year. The product is famous for its unique way of eating—scooping the slightly frozen, chilled cream cake with a spoon.

Twosome Place Icebox Cake (Abak). The Asia Business Daily DB

In fact, Abak originated in the United States and has a history spanning over a century. It is a dish that shone through major historical events such as the introduction of electric refrigerators and World War II.

Abak Began with the Spread of Electric Refrigerators in the U.S.

Abak is a dessert made by layering cookies, chocolate, cream, and other ingredients, then lightly freezing them at a low temperature. The term "Abak" was first used in the United States in the 1920s. At the time, advertisements and dessert recipes published in newspapers often mentioned the name "Icebox Cake."

But why was it called icebox cake, and why did the trend start specifically from the 1920s? The 1920s marked the period when electric refrigerators began to be widely used in American homes. Previously, people used an "icebox"—a box filled with ice—to preserve food for longer periods. Thanks to refrigerators, Americans could store fresh fruit, milk, and other perishables much longer.

Before Abak, Americans made a layered dessert called "trifle," which consists of cream, cookies, and fruits. The photo shows a trifle made by an ordinary person. Screenshot from Katie's Food Finds

The Abak cake was born as part of a marketing strategy for companies seeking to boost refrigerator sales during this period. Even before Abak, Americans enjoyed a layered dessert called "trifle," which involved stacking cookies and cream and eating it with a spoon. By simply chilling the trifle in the refrigerator, it was reborn as Abak, boasting a more unique texture. Abak quickly became a status symbol of the middle class, enjoyed only in households that owned a refrigerator.

Abak Became the National Dessert During World War II

Recipes for apple cake published in American newspapers in the late 1930s. During the Great Depression and wartime hardships, Americans made desserts by pouring various ingredients such as cracker crumble and strawberry all at once. Screenshot from Newspaper.com

However, Abak truly became a quintessential American dessert during the 1930s, as World War II unfolded. Having already tightened their belts during the Great Depression, Americans had to make even more sacrifices to support massive military expenditures. In this context, ingredients like whipped cream, cookie crumbles, and chocolate powder transformed from "leftover food" into "precious calories."

According to the American newspaper archiving website Newspaper.com, from the early 1930s—when the Great Depression struck—major American dailies began publishing a flood of Abak recipes. The ingredients used for Abak, such as eggs and gelatin, were relatively inexpensive, making it an ideal way to recycle leftover flour and cookie crumbs at home. The website notes that American households at the time would turn any expensive ingredients they had, such as peaches, coffee, and strawberries, into Abak for storage. The Abak craze only began to fade in the 1950s.

Recently, the trending "Abak" among Generation Z in the U.S. is more about showcasing individuality than dealing with leftover snacks. TikTok capture

Although Americans' love for Abak waned during the postwar era of prosperity, it has recently regained attention in line with the "custom dessert craze." The main advantage of Abak is its versatility, as it pairs well with most dessert ingredients.

On platforms such as TikTok and YouTube, a flood of recipe videos introduces personalized versions of Abak, and now not only Americans but also Millennials & Gen Z from Korea, Japan, Europe, and around the world have fallen under its spell.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.