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20 Yummy Facts About Cookies

These scrumptious biscuits can be traced back to Persia in the 7^th century, the time when the use of sugar became relatively common in the region. By the 14^th century, they had already spread in all parts of Europe. Unfortunately, these early cookies were not sweet enough to be considered the modern cookies that we know. They were crispy and thin, not sticky and soft like today’s cookies. The cookies we love today are made out of flour, sugar, egg, oil, fat or butter. It may also include; raisins, oats, chocolate chips and many other ingredients.

Cookies have never failed to bring happiness to all kinds of people around the world. Its delightful taste, texture and shape are quite irresistible. Therefore, today in this article we are going to learn more about the enticing world of cookies.

1. The animal cracker was the first commercial cookie in the U.S.

Cookies’ first appearance in the U.S. was in the 17^th century. The earliest recipes were the macaroon and gingerbread. The animal cracker was later on introduced in 1902 by Nabisco. They made the first commercial cookie in the U.S. The animal crackers were fit to be eaten Christmas decorations and were sold in a container that was holiday-themed.

2. There are plenty of varieties of cookies

A variety of cookies. , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The many varieties of cookies are endless. Some of the popular cookies that will even be mentioned in this article include; chocolate chip, peanut butter, macaron, sugar cookies, gingerbread, macaroon, biscotti, oatmeal raisin, shortbread and snickerdoodle cookies. Even though they all have different unique tastes, they are all quite irresistible and can be eaten by people of all ages.

3. The world’s biggest chocolate chip cookie weighed over 40,000 pounds

In 2003 The Immaculate Baking Co broke the record of the largest chocolate chip cookie. It was 102 feet wide, and 40,000 pounds! Immaculate Baking Co. described how it took eight months to plan for everything that will be used to create the chocolate chip. They did 6 months of experimentation to ensure that the heat in their 10 foot-test- oven was at the right levels. Today this record is still in the Guinness World Record.

4. Cookies made a natural travel companion

A picture of cookies from the oven. , , via Wikimedia Commons

The most popular cookie which travelled so ably was the jumble which was a hard cookie made largely from nuts, sweetener and water. When travelling was becoming a common thing at that time, many people could make cookies a natural travel companion. The cookies were also kept in the soldiers’ care packages during World War II.

5. The word “cookie” comes from the Dutch settlers

The most known cookie back then was called 鈥淛umble.鈥� The word 鈥渃ookie鈥� came from the Dutch word 鈥渒oekje鈥� which means 鈥渟mall cake鈥� which in small is 鈥渒oek,” meaning “cake,” and it originated from the Middle Dutch word “Koke鈥�. In the 19^th century, the British started calling it biscuits, galletas in Spain and keks in Germany. Some cookies are named by their shape, such as date squares or bar cookies.

6. Chocolate chip cookies were invented in the 1930s

Chocolate chip cookies. , , via Wikimedia Commons

Chocolate chip cookies were invented accidentally in the 1930s by Ruth Wakefield who was the creator of the Toll House Cookie. It is believed that Ruth added pieces of chocolate bar into her butterscotch nut cookie in order to improve its recipe. To her surprise, the chocolate bar did not melt and it was from there that the chocolate chip cookies were born! This story is not believed by everyone because they know Ruth was an expert to overlook such an important detail.

7. Oreos are America鈥檚 top-selling cookies

Oreo is a type of sandwich cookie which is made of two cocoa biscuits with a sweetened fondant filling which is actually high fructose corn syrup and vegetable oil. Oreos are literally both vegan and kosher. In 2017 they had $674.2 million in sales. These are very large sales as compared to other countries. Every year more than $550 million is spent on Oreos alone.

8. We actually have a National Cookie Day

A shelf filled with cookies. , CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Earlier in 1976, Sesame Street added National Cookie Day to its calendar on November 26^th. The Cookie Monster also supported this day by indicating his own National Cookie Day in the 1980 book, 鈥淭he Sesame Street Dictionary.鈥� In 1987 Matt Nader of the Blue-Chip Company which is based in San Fransisco, created National Cookie Day to be celebrated on December 4th. He said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 just like having National Secretaries Day鈥� It will just be a fun thing to do.鈥� December 4^th has been the official date for celebrating National Cookie Day.

9. The average American will eat 19,000 cookies in their life

A survey was done and it turns out that Americans eat an average of 18,928 cookies in a lifetime. That’s averagely, one cookie every day from the age of 18 to 70. 21% of Americans said that they eat at least 10 cookies per week, while 4% confessed to eating 20-30 cookies each week. The most popular cookies taken in a lifetime by human beings are chocolate chips, followed by brownies and lastly peanut butter cookies.

10. Milano cookie was a complete accident

A picture of Milano cookies. , , via Wikimedia Commons

Pepperidge Farm鈥檚 most famous cookie known as the Milano was a complete accident. The Naples was a single vanilla wafer cookie with a dark chocolate topping that melted during transportation. When the Naples cookies melted, they got stuck together and they led to the birth of Milano cookies which are oval-shaped butter cookies that are sandwiched between a layer of chocolate.

11. Oreos cookies are knock-offs of Hydrox biscuits

Many people think that Oreos are knock-offs of Hydrox biscuits. The thing is that Hydrox biscuits have existed since 1908 and Oreos cookies are the knock-offs of Hydrox biscuits which are crispier and remain in milk when they are dipped in them. They also have a darker chocolate cookie and a less sweetened filling. Oreos were later introduced on 6 March 1912.

12. The Girl Scouts first began selling cookies in the 1920s

A girl scout selling cookies to officers. , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Girl Scouts is a youth organization for girls in the United States and for girls staying in America. The Girl Scouts organizes every year a program of selling cookies so that they can be able to support the adventures they want to explore. This program is actually the largest girl-led enterprising program in the whole world. Every purchase that one makes really counts in that they can invest in future female entrepreneurs as they also learn more skills such as money management, decision making, people skills and so much more.

13. Bruce Willis bought Girl Scout cookies

The idea of Willis buying cookies came from his daughter Tallulah Belle Willis and her cousins, Katie and Haley Rodgers. The girls simply wanted to bring a taste of home to the Operation Enduring Freedom troops overseas. In 2002, Bruce ended up buying 12,000 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies from his own daughter Tallulah and shipped them to the troops that are stationed throughout the middle east.   

Check out this article on the top 10 Ukranian desserts here

14. New Mexico has an official state cookie

In 1989, New Mexico became the first U.S. state with an official state cookie named ‘bizcochito.’ The name is obtained from the Spanish word 鈥榖izcocho鈥� which simply means biscuit that is crispy, buttery and it鈥檚 flavoured with cinnamon sugar and anise.

15. The National Cookie Cutter Museum in the U.S

The National Cookie Cutter Museum is built within the Joplin Museum Compound in Joplin, Missouri. It has been supported, maintained and updated by the Cookie Cutter Collectors Club. When a group of visitors and children visit the Museum the club members offer them a free plastic cookie cutter to any member who needs it. The museum also hosts an expanding archive of cookie-cutter-associated materials, advertising offers, newsletters and other items that could be of interest to collectors in the cookie-cutter field.

16. Massachusetts and Pennsylvania share the same official state cookie

The two state have chocolate chip cookiesas the official state cookies. , , via Wikimedia Commons

On July 9, 1997, the chocolate chip cookie was chosen to be the official symbol of Massachusetts which is the home of the famous Tollhouse chocolate chip cookie.

After several efforts of the 4^th-grade students at Caln Elementary School in Coatesville to make chocolate chip the official state cookie, it was finally declared the official state cookie of Pennsylvania by the commonwealth in 2001.

17. English women ate gingerbread “husband” for luck

Queen Elizabeth 1 was the founder of the gingerbread man. She had made them look like the famous people that visited. Later on, the English women came to believe that if they ate the gingerbread “husband” they will be able to find their soul mate. Folk medicine practitioners would create these gingerbread men for unmarried women in order to help them capture their husbands. If she ate the gingerbread man, it was believed he would immediately fall in love with her.

18. Cookies can make the best gifts

Assorted cookies. , CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Choosing a gift for a loved one can be quite hectic but cookies can make the perfect gift ever. It is quite portable and easy to deliver, it has a variety of flavours to satisfy the receiver and they can also be paired extremely well. With the decorative packaging of the cookies, one can never go wrong with choosing cookies as a gift. The cookie brings warmth and affection to the people receiving it as gifts.

19. Chocolate chips never melt

When one bakes with pieces of chocolate chips in their cookies they never melt because they have a little cocoa butter as compared to the chocolate bars. A Nestle spokeswoman also added that it also has to do with the way the fat pattern of the tempered chocolate is lined up.

20. The world of cookies continues to evolve

With newly discovered flavour enhancement, techniques and emerging trends there will be an endless cookie journey since there will be always something new and exciting to try on. People should always be ready to showcase their baking skills, try on new recipes and enjoy the different variety of cookies which symbolizes that spirit of giving.

Check out this article on the top 10 Portuogese desserts here