Best Chocolate Chip Cookies: An Amazing History

It’s hard to imagine a world without the best chocolate chip cookies, but in fact, these cookies are a relatively modern invention from the 20th century. Chocolate chip cookies are considered drop cookies and their distinguishing feature is chocolate chips, although there are plenty of variations that incorporate other types of chocolate or candy products. But where did these cookies come from in the first place? You’ll find the answer in this guide to the history of chocolate chip cookies.

The History of the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

The first chocolate chip cookies were invented by Ruth Graves Wakefield, an American chef. Wakefield owned a building known as the Toll House Inn in Massachusetts during the period in which she created these cookies. The inn had previously been a place that served traditional, home-cooked meals

There are a few myths surrounding the origin of these cookies. One common myth is that Wakefield accidentally dropped chocolate morsels in some cookie dough by accident and decided to bake it anyway. Another myth is that she intended for the chocolate chips to melt into the cookie dough and create chocolate cookies. Neither of these myths happens to be true.

The truth is that Wakefield had been trying for some time to invent a new cookie to serve at the Toll House Inn. Before chocolate chip cookies, the inn mainly served butterscotch cookies. Instead of using chocolate chips, she used a Nestle chocolate bar that she chopped up. As of 1938, the resulting cookies were an immediate success. She even sold her recipe to Nestle in exchange for a lifetime supply of chocolate.

The cookies became especially popular during World War II. This is because soldiers stationed in Massachusetts fell in love with the Toll House cookies and once they were sent overseas, they often sent letters back home asking for shipment of these cookies. Since then, the passion for chocolate chip cookies never died out.

Variants

As mentioned before, there are many variations on the traditional chocolate chip cookie. The base for any chocolate chip recipe includes flour, sugar, baking soda, vanilla extract, shortening, brown sugar, eggs, and of course, chocolate chips. However, by fiddling with the ingredients, you can make some very unique cookie variations.

For example, some cookies may be crunchy while others may be soft and chewy. Others may be crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Some enjoy adding nuts such as pecans to the recipe for an extra crunch or for contrast against the soft cookie.

A very popular variation is the chocolate chocolate chip cookie or double chocolate cookie. This is a cookie that is entirely chocolate with chocolate chips thrown in, making it ideal for chocolate lovers. If the double chocolate cookie sounds too intimidating for you, you can also substitute the chocolate chips for other substances.

For example, some love to use M&M’s instead of chocolate chips. Others like to use white or dark chocolate chips rather than semi-sweet chips. Chocolate chip cookies don’t have to be in the form of cookies either. You can try baking them in the form of a bar or a cake instead.

Whatever the case, there are endless possibilities when it comes to baking chocolate chip cookies. Considering all the love surrounding these cookies, it’s hard to imagine that only a hundred years ago, they didn’t exist!