Hardly anyone can say they do not like cookies. In the United States, nearly two billion are eaten every years. That makes about 300 cookies for every person. It has been estimated that nearly 93% of all households have cookies in their kitchens and pantries. That is a lot of cookies. They are great for snacking and giving away. From being eaten at weddings to given asandnbsp;corporate gifts for employees, there are cookies for every kind of event or occaision.

Fun Cookie Facts:

1. The Oreo is the world’s most popular cookie and is a knock off. Most Americans have heard of Orea and the similar cookie called the Hydrox. Because Oreo is so well known, many people assume the Hydrox cookie was made to look and taste like the Oreao cookie but it just is not true. The Sunshine company introduced Hydox cookies in 1908 and the name is a combination of hydrogen and oxygen. Nabisco did not introduce the Oreo cookie until 1912.
2. “Famous Amos” was a real person. There are so many “people” in food products that are not real that you can be forgiven for not knowing that the Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies are named after a real person. Wally Amos learned how to coom and bake from his aunt. After leaving the Air Force, he joined the William Morris Agency where he became a talent agent. To set himself apart from other agents, he sent prospective clients a box of his homemade cookies. that were made from his own cookie recipe. In 1975, after getting a loan from Marvin Gaye and Helen Reddy he opened his own chocolate chip cookie business, “Famous Amos.” Amos had to sell the brand in 1988 but has recently come up with a new delight and makes “Unkle Wally’s Muffins.”
3. Lottery numbers have been found in fortune cookies. Have you ever considered playing lottery with the numbers you see on a fortune cookie? In 2005, there were 110 people who won the United States Powerball drawing. There was one winner for the full jackpot of $13.8 million but 110 people got the second prize. When so many people came forward with winning numbers, a fraud investigation was launched. When that proved nothing, the winners all received their prize. They had all gotten their numbers from cookies made by Wonton Food, Inc. The accompanying fortune read, “All the preparation you have done will finally be paying off.”
4. Animal crackers are vegan treats. The very popular cookies were invented over a century ago. The iconic box for Nabisco’s “Barnum’s Animal Crackers” was designed to hang on Christmas trees as an ornament. There have been at least 53 different animals to have been featured as animal crackers. If you pick up a box today, you will have lions, monkeys, giraffes, tigers, bears, zebras, horses, camels, crockodiles, elephants and seals. In 2001, after running a contest to pick a new animal, Nabisco briefly put in koala bears.
5. What’s in the Japanese Unagi Pie? Unlike other kinds of cookies and pies, this Japanese treat, which is often given as corporate gifts for employees, is made of fresh butter, garlic and crushed eel. These are popular throughout the country and are often sold as souvenirs and some fans think these cookies are aphrodisiacs. Their wrappers call them a great snack “for nights.” Businesses will sometimes send these as corporate gifts for employees.
6. Cookies were invented to be testers. A long time ago, when kings and queens (and other important people) feared their food would be poisoned, they had staff around to taste it for them. When cakes were made, the cook would take some batter and bake it separately to give to the royal taster. These were the world’s first cookies.

Cookies are popular all over the world. They can be made for any taste, allergy or occasion. You can find recipes for gluten free cookies. They also make great gifts. Companies sometime make special cookies to be given as unique corporate gifts for employees. The list of how you can make cookies and the ways you can use them to celebrate any occasion is nearly endless.