Its National Cookie Month!

Everyone loves cookies! October is National Cookie Month! The word, “cookie,” derives from the Dutch word koekje meaning “small or little cake.” Cookies are sweet, small cakes which take various forms around the world. There go by many names around the world too. In America, they are cookies. In Britain and Australia, they are biscuits. In German, they are keks, or plzchen (Christmas cookie). In Spain and other Spanish-speaking nations, they are galletas. Let’s dive into the origins of cookies, the different types enjoyed around the world as well as a few of my favorite cookies.

According to culinary historians, cookies were originally testers. A small amount of cake batter was baked to test the oven temperature (What’s Cooking America). The earliest cookies date to 7^th century CE Persia (now Iran), one of the first countries to cultivate sugar. By the end of the 14^th century, Renaissance cookies had many cookie recipes. English, Scottish and Dutch immigrants were the first to bring cookies to America. Some cookies are made for everyday enjoyment, others are made for specific occasions. Christmas is a time where tons of cookies are made and passed along as gifts to friends and loved ones. In Australia, special biscuits are made for ANZAC Day on April 25. Anzac biscuits were originally used by the Australian army during World War I for their long shelf life. Today, these cookies are often used by veteran’s organizations for raise money for the care of war veterans (What’s Cooking America). 

Cookies are made throughout the world in various shapes, flavors and for various occasions. In India, nankhatai are a buttery shortbread cookie which is made traditionally during Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights (Smith, 2018). France is known for macarons, these delicious yet technically difficult cookies are often featured in cooking and baking competitions to test the competitors’ skills. One of Italy’s most popular cookie is the biscotti which can be enjoyed alone or dipped in coffee. In Iran, the reshteh khoshkar is a rice flour-based cookie which is deep fried and drenched in syrup. It is the traditional cookie for Ramadan (Smith, 2018). In China, a popular cookie is the almond ginger cookie (Bandurski). In Mexico, a cinnamon cookie known as Reganadas are made during Día de los Muertos. Tradition states the cookies represent the tormented souls of people and animals in purgatory as they wait to be allowed into paradise. In Argentina, alfajores are a breakfast cookie. A sandwich cookie made with shortbread filled with dulce de leche and rolled in coconut (Smith, 2018). And of course, in the United States, the chocolate chip cookie is a common favorite. Invented by Ruth Graves Wakefield (1905-1977) of Whitman, Massachusetts in 1937 while she ran the Toll House Restaurant (What’s Cooking America).

My first favorite cookie is the snickerdoodle. A type of sugar cookie which is rolled in cinnamon sugar and has a cracked surface when baked. It can be crisp or soft depending on the ingredients used. I prefer them soft and chewy. My second favorite cookie is shortbread, specifically Scottish shortbread. Shortbread cookies are made worldwide; however, the Scottish shortbread is one of the best known. The traditional Scottish biscuit made with sugar, butter and oat flour baked at a low temperature to prevent browning. They are usually poked with a fork or tool to create its design and can be cut into various shapes. Walkers Shortbread is Scotland’s largest food exporter of shortbread biscuits. My third favorite cookie is the peanut butter cookie. Especially my maternal grandmother’s recipe. It is simple, only four ingredients, easy to make and fun to decorate the criss cross design with the back of a fork. It was one of the first cookie recipes I learned to make, and it was the first I taught my daughter.

In conclusion, cookies have ancient beginnings and have developed throughout the known world and enjoyed throughout the world daily and on special occasions. Cookies with different ingredients, different shapes, different flavors, even different functions but all have special meanings to those who make and enjoy them. Enjoy National Cookie Month with your favorite cookie! Or take this opportunity to try and enjoy cookies from other countries. What are some of your favorite cookies?

References

Bandurski, Katie. The Best Cookies from Around the World. Taste of Home. https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/cookies-around-the-world/. Retrieved September 28, 2019.

Smith, Nasha. 10 cookies from around the world that you'll want to try immediately. Insider. https://www.insider.com/cookies-around-the-world-2018-8. August 27, 2018.

What’s Cooking America. History of Cookies. https://whatscookingamerica.net/History/CookieHistory.htm. Retrieved September 28, 2019.