Who Smarted? – “Which Came First: Cake or Pie?”

Release Date: December 3, 2025
Host: Trusty (Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media)
Featuring: “Cake,” “Pie” (personified), and the “Smarty Pants” kids audience

Episode Overview

In this playful and informative episode, Trusty, the show’s affable host, sets out to answer a delicious conundrum: Which came first—cake or pie? Journeying through history, flavor, science, and some clever kid-friendly banter, Trusty and the audience are guided by personified “Cake” and “Pie,” who humorously battle for bragging rights and the host’s affection. The episode combines food facts and cultural traditions to tease apart the origins, evolutions, and popularity of these two beloved desserts, all with the trademark humor and interaction fans have come to expect.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Cake vs. Pie Dilemma

• Trusty finds himself at a bakery, torn between choosing cake or pie, while personified desserts vie for his attention.
  • “You want a piece of me or what?” — Pie (02:54)
  • The opening showcases the indecision and excitement everyone feels when choosing desserts, inviting the “Smarty Pants” audience to weigh in.

2. Cultural Traditions: When Do We Eat Each?

• Cake reminds Trusty that it’s the staple for birthdays.
  • “A birthday cake. Well now, if it’s good enough for your most special day, it’s good enough for today.” — Cake (05:31)
• Pie highlights its role at Thanksgiving and other celebrations.
  • “If pie is good enough for one of the biggest, best meals of the year, then it’s good enough for today.” — Pie (05:54)

3. Historical Origins: Which Came First?

• Pie’s Ancient Roots:
  • Pies trace back to Ancient Egypt, where bakers wrapped meat in pastry for preservation and flavor—a method later adopted by Greeks and Romans.
    • “Pie goes all the way back to ancient Egypt. They would wrap meat in pastry to keep it from burning.” — Pie (07:00)
  • Many early “pies” weren’t meant to be eaten; their crusts served as storage for the filling (08:11).
• Cake’s Ancient Beginnings:
  • Cakes also date to Ancient Egypt, starting as sweetened bread with honey, fruit, and nuts, later made softer and richer by Greeks and Romans.
    • “The answer, once again, is C. The Ancient Egyptians. Yep. Ancient Egyptians made dessert breads with honey, fruits, and nuts.” — Cake (09:01)
• Leavening Innovations:
  • Egyptians and Romans improved cakes with leavening agents (first yeast, then eggs and chemical leavens), making them airier and softer (09:40 - 10:17).

4. Ingredient Evolution and Types

• Pie: Popular for both sweet (fruit-based, like apple, blueberry, cherry) and savory (meat pies) varieties.
  • “British cherry pie... Queen Elizabeth I… Brits love savory pies… chicken, pork, lamb, sausage, steak and cheese, mincemeat.” — Pie (11:18 - 12:02)
  • Clarifies that pizza pies, while named “pie,” aren’t technically pies by bakers' definitions (12:05).
• Cake: Typically sweet, made from flour, sugar, eggs, and flavored with numerous options, topped with icing or frosting for decorative flair.
  • “There’s also flavoring poured into the cake mix, so you can have chocolate, lemon, strawberry, or anything else.” — Cake (12:28)
  • Frosting evolution and creativity: cakes can look like “unicorns, superheroes, castles, animals, other food, the Who Smarted logo” (13:15 - 13:47).

5. Popularity Contest: Which Wins?

• Trusty investigates worldwide popularity. Results are inconclusive; surveys and polls split between cake and pie.
• In a bracket-style tournament, cheesecake emerges as the surprising winner.
  • “The winner was cheesecake.” — Trusty (18:03)
• This triggers a debate: is cheesecake a pie (for the crust) or a cake (by name)? Even Boston Cream Pie is discussed—technically a cake, but called a pie. This highlights the blurry and sometimes funny nature of food names (18:24 - 19:12).

6. Bonus Trivia & Audience Interaction

• Show includes several interactive trivia questions and invites the kids (Smarty Pants) to guess:
  • Who invented pies? (Ancient Egyptians) (07:00)
  • Why ancient pies weren’t eaten? (Crust for preservation) (08:11)
  • What is leavening in cake? (Adds air) (10:01)
  • What does savory mean? (Salty or spicy) (11:42)
• Audience shout-out: Oliver and Sebastian in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, for their enthusiasm and love for the show (20:00).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Epic Dessert Rumble:
  • “Not everyone celebrates Thanksgiving, but everyone has a birthday. Facts.” — Cake (06:09)
  • “That is not a fact. That is an opinion, and not a very good one.” — Cake (06:29)
• The Great Cheesecake Debate:
  • “Cheesecake has a crust. That’s because cheesecake is a pie. Booyah.” — Pie (18:27)
  • “But the crust is made with graham cracker or cookies. Not pie pastry. And look at the name, dear. It’s a cake.” — Cake (18:34)
• On Food Names:
  • “Foods don’t follow strict rules, and names often get mixed up. Take the Boston cream pie.” — Trusty (19:02)
• Kiddie Humor & Wordplay:
  • “My dear, let me help you. Is there a particular day that makes you happy...?” — Cake (05:08)
  • “No, I ain’t talking about pizza pies. I’m talking about delicious sweet meat treats.” — Pie (07:28)
  • “Who wants meat cake?” — Pie (12:19)
• Trusty’s Resolution:
  • “The choice of what to eat is clear—pie, cake... I’ll take a pizza with pepperoni, mushrooms, garlic, and extra cheese to go.” — Trusty (19:28)

Notable Timestamps

• [02:54] – Pie introduces itself and jokes begin
• [05:08] – Cake appeals to birthday sentiments
• [07:00] – Pie’s ancient Egyptian origin revealed
• [08:11] – Ancient pies as meat preservers explained
• [09:01] – Ancient Egyptian cakes and evolution
• [10:17] – Leavening and cake fluffiness explained
• [11:18] – 12:05] – Meat pies, savory pies, and British influence
• [13:15 – 13:47] – Cake decoration possibilities
• [18:03] – Cheesecake wins the popularity poll
• [18:24 – 19:12] – The pie-vs-cake classification debate (cheesecake, Boston cream pie)
• [19:28] – Trusty chooses pizza pie for his meal

Conclusion

The episode concludes with Trusty unable to firmly choose between cake or pie—highlighting the joy, history, and fun found in both. The ultimate message: food traditions are as varied and rich as their flavors, and sometimes, the best answer isn’t cake or pie, but a playful slice of humor and curiosity.

Perfect for families and classrooms alike, this episode illustrates why “Who Smarted?” is beloved by kids and grownups—and why learning with laughter just might be the secret ingredient.