National Cookie Month

National Cookie Month is observed throughout October and celebrates one of the most beloved baked treats. Cookies come in many forms, from classic chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies to shortbread, sandwich cookies, biscotti, and savory crackers. The month is a perfect time to bake, share, and enjoy favorite cookie recipes.

History of National Cookie Month

The exact origin of National Cookie Month is unknown, but the observance celebrates the long history and wide variety of cookies. Cookies are simple, portable, and easy to share, which has helped make them popular in homes, bakeries, lunchboxes, and holiday traditions.

Cookie-like treats have existed for centuries. Early bakers often used small portions of dough to test oven temperature before baking larger cakes. Over time, these small baked goods became treats of their own, with recipes spreading and evolving across cultures. Today, cookies can be soft, crisp, chewy, filled, frosted, plain, sweet, or savory.

Interesting Facts About National Cookie Month

• Many food historians trace early cookie-like sweets to Persia after sugar became more widely used in baking.
• The word “cookie” comes from the Dutch word “koekje,” meaning “little cake.”
• Chocolate chip cookies were created in the United States in the 1930s.
• Cookies can be made with many ingredients, including chocolate, nuts, oats, spices, dried fruit, peanut butter, and jam.
• Some cookies are closely tied to holidays and family traditions.
• Savory crackers are related to cookies in the broader family of small baked goods.

How to Take Part in National Cookie Month

Celebrate National Cookie Month by baking a favorite recipe or trying a new kind of cookie. You can make classic chocolate chip cookies, decorate sugar cookies, prepare oatmeal cookies, or experiment with spices, fillings, and toppings.

Share cookies with friends, family, coworkers, or neighbors, or host a small cookie-tasting party. You can also support a local bakery, organize a cookie swap, or collect family recipes and preserve them for future generations.

When Is National Cookie Month in 2026?

National Cookie Month is observed throughout October each year.

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