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 7th century
CE Persia (now Iran), one of the first countries to cultivate sugar. By the end
of the 14th 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
