What is a cookie?

You probably think you know a cookie when you see one. You know when something is a cracker, a brownie, etc. But did you ever try to define it? Don't ask me why, but I tried. Here's what I came up with:

• A cookie’s dominant flavor is always sweet.

• A cookie’s size is somewhere between one bite and one portion:

A cookie should not exceed a single portion. Super-sized cookies are often too big for one portion, but people eat them all at once anyway. Or share them. This may be a passing fad.

Some manufacturers sell abnormally small versions of well-known cookies like vanilla wafers or oreos. Whatever.

• A cookie is made from cookie dough:

Cookie dough basic ingredients include flour or finely-ground nuts, sugar, leavening, sometimes egg, and sometimes butter, oil or other fat.

Special ingredients like oatmeal, peanut butter, fruit bits, nuts, liqueurs, chocolate chips, ginger, or vanilla allow for a huge variety of cookies. You know their names.

Cookies may have something like cinnamon-sugar, jam, or even a whole Hershey’s kiss added to the top or inside before baking. Think fig newtons, jam tots.

Macaroons and meringues are not exactly made from dough but are sometimes classified as cookies because they fit the rest of the definition.

Cookie dough generally holds its shape during baking, though the cookies may rise or expand.

• Cookies are formed:

By rolling and cutting with a cookie cutter or a knife,

By dropping lumps of batter and optionally flattening them, or

By making a roll, chilling it, and making slices.

Shortbread may be an exception.


You know any other way? Oh yes, by extruding from a cookie press.


• Cookies are baked in batches on a flat baking sheet.

• After baking, a cookie may be iced, glazed, sugared, embellished with candy-like substances, otherwise decorated, or sandwiched with another cookie, but no size or shape changes to the cookie-as-baked are tolerated.

• When served, a cookie is intended to be eaten as is – except if you are of the school that permits dunking, you boor.

Coming tomorrow: what is not a cookie?