How Cookies Evolved from a Kitchen Byproduct to a Multi-Billion Dollar Industry

November 24, 2020
Food, History, Learn
By Brianna LeCompte

With the holidays quickly approaching, many of us are preparing for one of the most delicious traditions of the season - baking cookies. Let’s take a look back at how these sweet treats have evolved over the years.

Written by

Brianna LeCompte

I still remember attending my first Trivia night back in 2013. A group of my coworkers were discussing some options for happy hour venues and when we saw that a spot down the street was hosting a Trivia Night, we decided to go for it. I was instantly hooked. When the opportunity arose to join the Last Call team, I was ecstatic. Working with a talented and creative team to spread my love of trivia across the country-what could be better! I currently manage sales and outreach in our west coast areas. Outside of work, I love to travel and am also an avid equestrian and Disney movie lover.All Posts

A long-time indulgence

We’re far from the first generation of people to enjoy snacking on cookies. The earliest known record of cookies dates back to Persia (modern day Iran) in the 7th century.

Persia was one of the first countries to cultivate sugar, and bakers were able to create luxurious cakes and pastries thanks to the ample sugar supply. The first cookies were actually a byproduct of testing for these elaborate cakes. Bakers would use a small amount of cake batter to test the oven temperature and thus, cookies were born.

From newcomer to icon

Since their creation, countless flavors and styles of cookies have been created. One of the most well-known types is the chocolate chip cookie. But even though it’s an iconic flavor, chocolate chip cookies are a relatively new invention.

The chocolate chip cookie was invented by Ruth Wakefield, owner of the Toll House Inn in Wakefield, Massachusetts. In 1930, Wakefield was mixing a batch of cookies for her guests when she discovered she was out of baker’s chocolate. She substituted broken pieces of Nestle’s semi-sweet chocolate, expecting it to melt and absorb into the dough to create chocolate cookies.

When Wakefield discovered the unexpected and delicious end result, she first coined her creation “Toll House Crunch Cookies.” They were a hit, and the recipe was printed in Boston newspapers and Wakefield’s own Tried and True cookbook before appearing on the back of the iconic yellow Toll House package for the first time in 1939.

The best-selling cookie in the world

Despite the popularity of chocolate chip cookies, it isn’t enough to earn them the distinction of best selling cookie in the world. That honor goes to Oreos, with an estimated 34 billion Oreo cookies sold worldwide each year.

Oreos are available in over 100 countries and there have been over 100 unique flavors released over the years. Some of the most interesting flavors include Wasabi Oreos, Hot Chicken Wings Oreos, and Buttered Popcorn Oreos. So, it seems there really is an Oreo flavor for every occasion!