Have you ever wondered how the delicious chocolate chip cookie was invented?
Well, wonder no more; in this article, we'll explore this beloved treat's history, origins, and evolution
So grab a handful of chocolate chip cookies and settle in as we explore how they came to be.
These tasty cookies have a rich history and cultural significance that may surprise you. The chocolate chip cookie, a dessert people enjoy worldwide, has a fascinating past worth exploring.
The Invention of the Chocolate Chip Cookie
So did archaeologists discover the iconic chocolate chip cookie in an ancient pyramid's burial chamber, or was it a divinely inspired recipe handed down from the heavens?
Did Cleopatra nibble on a chocolate chip cookie before meeting with Julius Caesar? Or did King Alfred burn the first chocolate chip cookie to a crisp?
The answer to all these questions is a resounding no. The history of the chocolate chip cookie dates back much closer to home.
The truth is, the famed chocolate chip cookie has far humbler origins. Though we are sure it would have been enjoyed by all if it had been around in ancient times!
Of course, before the chocolate chip cookie, other kinds that contained chocolate were enjoyed by many. But it was in the 1930s that the modern chocolate chip cookie was born.
The Originator - Ruth Wakefield and the Toll House Inn
While the origin of American favorites such as the hamburger and hot dog are shrouded in a little more mystery, the origin of the chocolate chip cookie is very clear and can be credited to Ruth Wakefield.
Ruth Wakefield and her husband, Kenneth, ran the highly regarded Toll House restaurant in Whitman, Massachusetts, between 1930 and 1967.
The Toll House Inn was a popular restaurant and inn located on the Boston Post Road, and it was there that Wakefield began experimenting with different recipes and desserts.
While Ruth Wakefield can be given the accolade of being the cookie creator, the actual origin story of an 'accidental invention' is a little half-baked (pun intended)! There are a few stories floating around, but the most popular of the chocolate chip origin myths goes as follows.
One day, while baking a batch of butter-drop do cookies, a popular cookie at the time, Ruth Wakefield realized that she had run out of baker's chocolate. After rummaging around in her pantry, she found a bar of semi-sweet Nestle chocolate.
She then improvised and substituted the chopped-up Nestle Chocolate bar instead. She broke it into small pieces and added them to the cookie dough, expecting them to melt. To her surprise, the chocolate bits held their shape while baking rather than melting into the cookie dough, and thus a cookie like no other was born.
An even less probable story that went the rounds suggests that the chocolate stored on a shelf in the Toll House kitchen fell into a vat of cookie dough while being mixed due to the vibrations from an industrial mixer.
If these stories make you feel all warm and fuzzy, just like a freshly baked batch of chocolate chip cookies, then stick with them. I mean, who is to say it isn't true?
Well, gastronomic historians and food authors believe that Mrs. Wakefield was far too sharp and canny to make such a rookie baking blunder. Desserts were her specialty, and she was renowned for her creative concoctions within the restaurant.
Therefore, they believe that the story of an 'accidental invention' is just too good to be true and it was more likely she deliberately added the chunks of chocolate to her cookie dough in order to produce something new and fresh for guests at the Toll House Inn.
Either way, the new invention was a hit with customers, and soon the recipe was included in the 1938 edition of Ruth Wakefield's Toll House Tried and True Recipes. This further catapulted the reach of her invention, which is described as 'Toll House Chocolate Crunch Cookies' in the recipe book and an accompaniment to ice cream.
Soon, the delicious invention began to be enjoyed far and wide as copies of the recipe book were printed in droves and sent out across America.
A Deal Is Struck with Nestlé
As the popularity of the chocolate chip cookie continued to grow, Ruth Wakefield's recipe became more widely known. Catching the attention of chocolate manufacturer Nestlé, they reached out to Wakefield with a deal to market her invention.
On March 20, 1939, Ruth Wakefield signed an agreement with Nestlé that gave the company the right to use her chocolate chip cookie recipe and the Toll House brand. Reports indicate that Ruth Wakefield received one dollar as part of the deal.
Despite signing away the rights in exchange for a lifetime supply of Nestlé chocolate and being paid by Nestlé for her consulting services, Wakefield later claimed that she never received the dollar payment!
Nestlé included her recipe on the back of their semi-sweet chocolate bars and also created the Toll House Morsels that made it easier for home bakers to make the cookies and helped to fuel the growing trend of chocolate chip cookies in home kitchens.
The Evolution of the Chocolate Chip Cookie
Toll House Cookies were sent overseas to boost morale when the USA entered the war. After the war, the cookies became even more popular and eventually earned the title of America’s favorite cookie. We even have a National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day on May 15th.
Of course, while Nestlé was the frontrunner in the chocolate chip cookie boom, other companies soon followed suit, creating their own takes on Ruth Wakefield's invention. Famous Amos and Chips Ahoy are two more well-known brands whose cookies have become popular with Americans, young and old.
Chocolate chips weren't just added to cookies, either. The invention of the chocolate chip cookie inspired bakers to add them to cakes, pies, muffins, and other desserts over the years. Today, practically any dessert can be improved with a few chocolate chips.
One of the most famous examples is Ben & Jerry’s ‘Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough’ flavor, a mix of chocolate chip cookie dough pieces mixed into vanilla ice cream - in our eyes, a perfect combination!
The classic chocolate chip cookie is made with a dough base of flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and chocolate chips. But many variations on the traditional recipe can now be found, teasing our taste buds with different flavors and ingredients.
From simple changes such as using white or dark chocolate chips or adding oatmeal and raisins in the mix to more dramatic creations like salted caramel and even bacon and maple syrup for a real out-there twist to the original, today's cookie connoisseur is spoilt for choice.
From mass-produced to home-baked treats from Grandma's kitchen and gourmet varieties that you can buy online, you don't have to hunt around to find a good chocolate chip cookie. In fact, you don't even need to leave your house - many delivery services will even bring them right to your door!
The Cultural Significance of Chocolate Chip Cookies
It's interesting to consider the cultural significance of chocolate chip cookies, especially in the context of their rise to popularity during the Great Depression. Perhaps it's no coincidence that these comforting treats became popular during a time of economic hardship and uncertainty. Could it be that chocolate chip cookies provided a sense of comfort and nostalgia during a difficult time?
It's easy to see how chocolate chip cookies have become a symbol of home and comfort. They are often associated with memories of childhood and home-baked treats. This could be one reason why they remain so popular today, even in times of prosperity.
But chocolate chip cookies aren't just enjoyed at home - they have also played a role in social and cultural events. Bake sales, cookie exchanges, and other community gatherings often feature chocolate chip cookies as a staple. They bring people together and offer a sense of camaraderie over a shared love of sweet treats.
It's fascinating to consider the enduring appeal of these heritage cookies.
Conclusion
And so, the chocolate chip cookie was born, an accidental (or perhaps intentional) masterpiece that has stood the test of time.
Today, we can all thank Ruth Wakefield for her innovative spirit and love of chocolate that led to the creation of this delicious dessert.
But the story doesn't end there. In 1984, the original Toll House Inn, where the chocolate chip cookie was created, tragically burnt down. However, the legacy of the chocolate chip cookie and the Toll House Inn lives on, with the recipe passed down through the years, and the cookies continuing to be enjoyed by people everywhere.
So the next time you bite into a delectable chocolate chip cookie, take a moment to appreciate its rich history and cultural significance. From its humble beginnings in a small Massachusetts inn to its worldwide fame, the chocolate chip cookie truly is worth celebrating.
