Types of Cookies

Cookies are some of the most popular finger foods all over the world. These are small, round, flat, sweet desserts and are also referred as biscuits in some parts of the world. Cookies are easy to prepare and even kids enjoy baking them. They make some of the great snacks that you can munch up on anytime. Baking powder, all-purpose flour, sugar, butter and salt are some of the basic ingredients required to make a cookie. Cookies are basically classified on the way the dough is baked. Before knowing about the common types of cookies, let us take a look at the history of cookies.

History of Cookies

Records say that the name or the term "cookie" came in print in the year 1703. The origin of cookies is quite interesting and these were initially called little cakes or test cakes. These test cakes were known by different names in different countries. In the Netherlands, these were called koekje, while the Englishmen called them biscuits. Biscuit basically has a Latin origin, where bis coctum means "twice baked". The ovens in olden days did not have thermostat facility as we have today. So, a small amount of cake batter was dropped in the baking pan of the oven to test whether the temperature of the oven is set to bake the cake. These test cakes went under several evolutions. The moisture removal from the test cakes made them remain fresh for a longer period of time as compared to cake. So, smaller portions were baked to form hard-textured and dry cookies, what we know today.

Different Types of Cookies

Drop Cookies
Drop cookies, as the name suggests are baked by dropping or pushing the cookie dough on the cookie sheet with help of a spoon. The dough used for these cookies is comparatively soft and is spread a little bit after dropping it on the cookie sheet. Chocolate chip cookies, macaroons, rock cakes, oatmeal raisin, etc., are some of the popular drop cookies.

Bar Cookies
Bar cookies are some of the quickest and easiest cookies to bake. To make bar cookies, the cookie dough is poured into a greased loaf pan and then it is baked. Once the cookie dough is baked, it is cut into small squares. Brownies are popular examples of bar cookies.

Molded Cookies or Hand Formed Cookies
As their name suggests, these cookies are shaped either by hand or with the help of molds. The dough used for these cookies is stiff and is molded into different shapes before baking. Peanut butter cookies, almond crescents, sugar cookies, etc., are some of the examples of molded cookies.

Rolled Cookies
Rolled cookies are made from stiff cookie dough. The dough is rolled out with the help of a rolling pin and is cut into shapes with the help of knife, pastry wheel or cookie cutter and baked. Example of rolled cookies is gingerbread men.

Refrigerator Cookies or Ice Box Cookies
Refrigerator cookies are made from stiff dough that is refrigerated before baking. The cookie dough is shaped into cylinder shapes to refrigerate for an hour or so. Then these cylinders are sliced into round cookies and baked. Pinwheels and shortbread cookies are some of the examples of refrigerator cookies.

Pressed Cookies
Pressed cookies are easy to make. The dough used for making these cookies is soft and a cookie press, gun or pastry bag is used to drop or press the cookie dough on the cookie sheet. Many fancy and decorative shapes can be made while making these cookies. Spritzs are popular examples of pressed cookies.

This was all about different types of cookies. Cookie recipes are some of the easiest desserts to prepare that are enjoyed by every age group.