It’s often said necessity is the mother of invention, but when you look at how some of our favorite foods came into being – cheese puffs, Nashville hot chicken, sandwiches – we would vouch that curiosity, clumsiness and error is the most guaranteed formula. From 2000 BC to the present day, here are the products and dishes that nearly didn’t happen.

There are a few claims on the invention of the crispy-on-the-outside, gooey-on-the-inside creation that is the chocolate brownie. But the story favored by many and cited in Betty Crocker's Baking Classics, is that home economist Mildred Brown Schrumpf in Bangor, Maine was baking a chocolate cake and it deflated. 

Champagne wasn’t always the epitome of good taste, it was once considered the result of shoddy wine-making. In fact, 17th century wine makers spent a lot of time trying to get the bubbles out of the fizzy drink. However, eventually they grew to love it and when French monk Dom Pierre Perignon cracked the perfect formula he famously said "Come quickly! I am drinking the stars!", although this part may have been added to the story later.

Discover more about the story here

Everyone's favorite childhood summertime frozen treat was created by accident in Kansas City Missouri in the late 1950s, by shop owner Omar Knedlik whose soda fountain kept breaking down. In order to keep his sodas chilled, he put them in the freezer so when he served them they were frozen and slushy. Customers loved it, coming back to specially request "those pops that were in a little bit longer."

For more throwback frozen foods check out summer treats we wish still existed

In Massachusetts, in the 1930s, restaurant-owner Mrs Wakefield is said to have been baking cookies, and discovered she'd ran out of an ingredient so substituted in Nestlé semi-sweet chocolate. The cookies were thought to be so delicious, Nestlé provided Ruth with a lifetime supply of chocolate in exchange for being able to print the recipe on its packet.

Check out the 30 secret steps to perfect cookies every time

Not for the weak-hearted, the story of yogurt’s invention borders on somewhat disturbing, with origins in ancient civilization. Central Asian herdsmen stored milk in containers made out of animal stomachs to preserve it while on the go. They noticed some of the milk became thick and tart due to the presence of good bacteria.

Nachos were accidentally invented by a maître d’ named Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya at the Victory Club in Piedras Negras, Mexico, in 1943. Ten hungry US military wives crossed the border from the Fort Duncan Army base and unable to locate the chef, Anaya improvised by covering a plate of tortilla chips with grated cheese. He melted it under a broiler, topped it with sliced jalapeños and served it as an appetizer. 

Though beer is referenced as early as the 6th century BC in Mesopotamia (now broadly Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey), no one’s exactly sure who invented it or how. Historians believe it’s possible it was created by accident during bread-making: someone baking bread outdoors was interrupted by a rainstorm, ran for cover and returned to the dough a day or two later to discover fermented liquid. 

The Chinese invention of tofu is believed to have happened sometime during the Han dynasty (206-220 BC). Legend has it a cook was experimenting flavoring a batch of cooked soybeans with nigari seaweed and ended up producing bean curd. However, other stories exist such as a man who blended cooked soybeans as he wanted to prepare a soft dish to feed his elderly parents.

We have the Dutch to thank for brandy. The sweet liquor was invented as a cheap and practical way for 16th century tradesman to transport wine. They evaporated liquid out of the alcohol so they could fit more in cargo and pay less tax. It was called brandewijn, which means burnt wine, and stored in wooden casks. When it was opened at the other end, it had a whole new aroma, color and taste.

The incredibly popular chip was invented quite inadvertently, the salty snack was first created as a form of revenge. At the Moon’s Lake House in Saratoga Springs, New York, in 1853, Cornelius Vanderbilt sent his French fries back to the kitchen for being too thick. In outrage, waiter George Crum prepared them again as thin and hard as possible. Although this origin story is sometimes contested, the restaurant is where they gained popularity.

The Swizzels drumstick, the first chewy lolly to exist, was invented in the UK in 1957 by Trevor Matlow, son of one of Swizzels-Matlow's founders. He was experimenting with a new machine and happily discovered it was possible to create a lollipop with two flavors instead of one. Milk and raspberry were selected, but there have been other variants since such as Strawberry & Banana and Peaches & Cream.

Raisins were discovered as early as 2000 BC when an unsuspecting someone stumbled upon a dried crop. Originally they were used for decoration, as trading items, prizes at sports events, and in medieval times, as the sweetener of choice. 

Pink lemonade has been in American culture for more than a century, but have you ever wondered how it got its pink color? A number of stories linking its invention to traveling circuses in the mid 1800s are circulated. The most realistic of the lot is that it was "invented" by accidentally dropping red-colored cinnamon candies in a traditional vat of the stuff.

The battle to claim the invention of toasted ravioli, a popular St. Louis, Missouri appetizer, endures between two local restaurants. Oldani’s claims in the 1940s, a chef tipsy on red wine accidentally dropped ravioli into a fryer. Angelo’s version of events is a waiter instructed an untrained cook to 'drop some raviolis' and they mistakenly thought he meant into boiling oil.

Tex-Mex favorite the chimichanga was reportedly invented by Monica Flin at her Tucson restaurant, El Charro Café, Arizona, in 1922. She accidentally dropped a burrito into the frying pan and when hot oil splashed up, she was about to swear, but stopping herself because her young nieces and nephews were around, yelled "chimichanga!" instead. 

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener used in sugar-free food and drink and was invented in 1965 by scientist Dr James Schlatter entirely by accident. He was working on discovering an anti-ulcer drug and when he licked his finger to pick up a piece of paper, he found it tasted sweet. It's likely to be one of the only times accidentally ingesting a chemical in science has led to a positive outcome.

The idea for Bassetts Liquorice Allsorts was (literally) stumbled upon in 1899, when a clumsy company representative Charlie Thompson tripped and sent rows of neatly separated sweets flying. On seeing the bright mix of shapes and colors jumbled together, a customer was inspired and immediately placed an order for a mixed delivery. Liquorice Allsorts hit the shelves and have been a success ever since.

Feeling nostalgic? Here are the candies we loved from our childhoods

The British Bakewell pudding is said to have been invented by accident in the Derbyshire town of Bakewell, England in 1860, the result of a misunderstanding between Mrs Greaves, who was the mistress of a local inn, and her cook. A nobleman visited and requested a strawberry tart, but egg mixture was erroneously poured on top of the jelly. Needless to say, the nobleman loved it.

Now check out America's most historic pies

Ever wonder why Portuguese ports have English and Scottish names, like Taylor’s, Graham’s and Cockburn? In the 17th and 18th century when Britain was at war with France, the English started sourcing full-bodied robust reds from the upper Douro, with its rocky hills and hot climate. To survive the long sea journey back to the UK, it’s said a pair of brothers fortified the wine with grape brandy to maintain its quality.

The first cheese puffs were invented at an animal feed factory, The Flakall Company of Beloit, Wisconsin in the 1930s. A curious employee named Edward Wilson decided to take home some of the puffed pellets it produced made from grain and once seasoning was added, thought they tasted good. Who'd have known?