Everyone loves homemade cookies. Nothing is more inviting than the smell of freshly baked cookies or watching them chilling on the counter. It is my favorite type of aromatherapy.
Cookies have a long history, dating back to 7th century Persia. In the 1800s, cookie recipes began to appear in cookbooks as “little cakes.” In fact, the term ‘biscuit’ comes from the Dutch word koekje or koekie which means cupcake.
Cookie recipes in a variety of styles and flavors increased in the early 1900s and continue today. Cookies are the most common treat baked in home kitchens and it is estimated that more than half of all homemade cookies are chocolate chip cookies.
But there are many more types of cookies waiting to be baked. Most cookbooks classify them according to their form in the following categories or types of cookies:
Bar, square, or flatbread cookies
The fastest and easiest type of cookie to make. The dough or batter is pressed or rolled out in a pan and cut into small pieces after baking. Brownies are the classic example of a batter cookie, but they come in a variety of styles and flavors.
Drop cookies
By far the most common type of homemade cookie created by dropping or pushing a teaspoon or tablespoon cookie dough onto a prepared baking sheet. Just mix, drop, bake and enjoy – definitely an easy type of cookie. Popular examples of drop cookies include oatmeal with raisins, peanut butter, and chocolate chips.
No-bake cookies
Another easy, no-bake cookie that doesn’t require an oven. They are a great way to introduce children to the fun of cookie making. Some of my favorite no-bake cookie recipes include rice krispie bars, coconut date balls, rum balls, and peanut butter bars.
Cookies from the fridge or ice box
Originally known as “ice box cookies”, they are made from stiff dough that is refrigerated and usually formed into a cylinder before cutting and baking. Contemporary cookbooks can classify refrigerator cookies as sliced or sliced cookies and bake. You can keep a log of cookie dough in the fridge or freezer, then slice, bake, and enjoy a hot, fresh-out-of-the-oven homemade cookie whenever you fancy a cookie.
Shaped cookies
These cookies are molded by hand or with molds or extruded from a cookie press or piping bag. Shortbread is a classic example of a hand-shaped cookie. There are also many popular Christmas “spritz” cookies that require a special cookie press.
Regardless of the type of cookie you choose to make, friends and family are sure to applaud your efforts.
