Dec 08, 2025
Cookies began in 7th-century Persia, shortly after sugar became widely available. Bakers would drop tiny bits of cake batter into ovens to test temperature before baking full cakes, and these small, crisp test pieces eventually evolved into cookies.
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As sugar trade expanded, cookies travelled into Europe, becoming popular among nobles and travellers. Each region adapted them differently, creating early versions of shortbread in Scotland, spice cookies in Germany, and jam filled treats in central Europe.
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Different cultures developed their own cookie traditions, Italian biscotti, French macarons, Indian nankhatai, Mexican polvorones, and Middle Eastern date-filled ma’amoul. Each reflects local flavours, ingredients and festive customs.
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During medieval times, spices like cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg were prized. Bakers began using these flavours to create special occasion treats. This era gave rise to gingerbread, a cookie still associated with holidays today.
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By the 19th century, advances in ovens, sugar refining, and flour milling made cookies easier and cheaper to bake. With baking powder and new techniques, households began creating softer, chewier cookies that became staples of American homes.
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Dutch settlers introduced cookies to America in the 1600s. They called them “koekje” (little cakes), which eventually became the English word “cookie.” American variations soon emerged, influenced by local ingredients and evolving kitchen technology.
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In the 1930s, Ruth Wakefield of the Toll House Inn invented the chocolate chip cookie when she added chopped chocolate bars to dough. The result became an instant classic and remains the most popular cookie in the United States.
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Today, cookies range from gluten free and vegan recipes to gourmet artisanal varieties. They’re also central to celebrations, from Christmas cookie swaps to Eid sweets, symbolizing comfort, creativity and cultural connection across the globe.
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