Chocolate chip cookie

The chocolate chip cookie originated in the United States in the 1930s. It was invented by Ruth Graves Wakefield, who owned the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Massachusetts. Wakefield published the original recipe in her 1938 edition of the "Toll House Tried and True Recipes" cookbook. The cookies were initially called "Toll House Chocolate Crunch Cookies."

The creation of the chocolate chip cookie was somewhat accidental. According to accounts, Wakefield intended to make chocolate cookies. She used a Nestlé semi-sweet chocolate bar cut into tiny chunks, expecting they would melt. Instead, the pieces retained their shape. This resulted in the chocolate chip cookie's unique texture and experience.

In 1939, the recipe was featured on Betty Crocker’s radio series "Famous Foods from Famous Places," which contributed to its widespread popularity. Nestlé noticed the rise in popularity and reached an agreement with Wakefield. They printed her recipe on their chocolate chip packaging in exchange for a lifetime supply of Nestlé chocolate.

The standard recipe involves creaming butter and sugars, followed by adding eggs, vanilla extract, flour, baking soda, salt, and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Variations include different types of chocolate, such as milk or white, as well as the addition of nuts or oatmeal.

In the following decades, the chocolate chip cookie became a quintessential American dessert. It remains one of the most popular cookie types in the United States. Its popularity has expanded globally, with many countries adapting the basic recipe to fit local tastes.

The chocolate chip cookie is often associated with comfort food and is commonly served with milk. It has inspired numerous products and variations, including dough-based ice cream and commercially produced cookie dough.