The modern cookie has humble beginnings. Like many other culinary favorites, it was created by accident. While small wafers similar to cookies date back to ancient Persia, they weren’t the confection they are today; they weren’t very sweet and were prized mostly for their long shelf life and convenience when traveling. The sweet treat we’re familiar with began to take shape in the nineteenth century, when cooks would test the temperature of their ovens using spoonfuls of cake batter before baking a full-sized cake. These little cakes, sometimes called hand cakes, quickly gained popularity. Since then, they’ve evolved into several delicious variations. If you’re craving Cookies in Chicago, here’s a short and sweet overview of the most common types of cookie.
Drop Cookies: These are made by dropping spoonfuls of cookie dough onto baking sheets. Oatmeal and chocolate chip are common examples of drop cookies.
Molded Cookies: Any cookie that is shaped by hand or by using a cookie cutter is considered a molded cookie. Usually the dough is stiffer than that used for drop cookies. Snickerdoodles, biscotti and sugar cookies fall under this category.
Bar Cookie: These are made using batter instead of dough. The batter is thicker than a typical cake batter, and is poured into a pan, baked and cut into cookie-sized bars. Some examples are brownies, lemon bars and date squares.
Refrigerator Cookies: Stiff dough is formed into a log and put in the refrigerator to firm up even more. It’s then sliced and baked. Shortbread cookies and pinwheels are made this way.
Pressed Cookies: These cookies are made by pressing a soft dough through a press or pastry bag to form decorative shapes. Spritz cookies are considered pressed cookies.
Sandwich Cookies: A sandwich cookie is made by putting filling between two drop or pressed cookies. The most common types of filling are jam and icing. These can be made in any combination of flavors.
Of course, the art of cookie making isn’t limited to these variations. Creative bakers use different techniques and unique ingredients to elevate the once humble cookie even further. Lapatisserie P Bakery offers a wide variety of baked goods, including cookies, cakes, and French and Asian pastries.
