These ones take the cookie

The cookie that started as an imitation but is now number one

Everyone loves a cookie. But which kind of cookie? The options are seemingly endless, but some are more loved than others. In some cases, it is the cookie itself that makes it a fan-favorite. In others, a particular brand recipe manages to beat the competition and secure the consumers’ loyalty. Here are some cookies that are a resounding success in America.

A staple for cookie enthusiasts, chocolate chip cookies have many versions and are distributed by many brands. A true American classic, they were invented (or at least, pioneered) in the 1930s by Ruth Graves Wakefield, who decided to add a chopped bar of Nestlé chocolate into her cookie dough. In exchange for printing the recipe in their packaging, Nestlé paid her $1 and a lifetime supply of chocolate.

The best-selling cookie in the world, Oreo was initially developed as a copycat of the then-popular Hydrox cookie. The marketing campaign was so successful that Oreo largely surpassed Hydrox, and some people nowadays believe Hydrox to be an Oreo imitation. The origins of the Oreo name are unknown, but it is today synonymous with fondant-filled chocolate cookies.

No one is really sure where these chewy, cinnamony cookies originated, but they have earned their place in the American cookie repertoire. The use of cream of tartar as its key ingredient makes the cookie dough slightly tangy and gives it a soft interior that sets it apart from other sugar cookies. The name ‘snickerdoodle’ is attributed to German or Pennsylvania Dutch origins, but some say it is just a nonsense word.

When a Girl Scout troop from Oklahoma decided to sell cookies as a fundraiser in 1917, they couldn't have imagined they were starting a million-dollar business. The varieties sold by the Girl Scouts have changed through the decades, but fan-favorites such as Thin Mints, Samoas, and Tagalongs have become permanent staples.

Graham Crackers are typically associated with pie crusts and s’mores, but did you know that they were developed as part of a temperance movement? That’s right, they were invented by Presbyterian minister Sylvester Graham, who believed that a vegetarian, wheat-centered diet could help suppress devious urges. He created a plain, unsweetened, coarse cracker as a diet staple, without knowing it would become integral to many snacks and sweet treats.

Originally imported from Britain, these cookies were so popular in the late 19th century that imports were unable to keep up with the demand, so bakers started producing them locally. At the turn of the 20th century, they were rebranded as Barnum’s Animals to evoke the popular circus, a name they still use today, though the circus-inspired design has changed to reflect a more ethical treatment of animals.

Sweet and buttery, shortbread cookies are believed to be of Scottish origin, where they are associated with Christmas and New Year celebrations. Introduced in the U.S. by Scottish immigrants, they were made popular under the brand Lorna Doone at the beginning of the 20th century.

Developed in the 19th century by a German-American confectioner, these cookies might not seem much at first sight, but they have become a staple in the American cookbook. Originally sold as Vanilla Wafers, they became popular in the South as an ingredient for banana pudding, so much so that the recipe was printed on the box. In the 1960s, the name was officially changed to Nilla Wafers.

Named after the town of Newton, Massachusetts, these cookies were originally developed in Philadelphia as a copy of the British fig roll. Its creator, Charles Roser, used a machine that allowed him to extrude the cookie and the filling as one, in a continuous roll. He later sold his recipe to the Kennedy Biscuit Company, who popularized it under the Fig Newton name.

Another best-seller by Nabisco (the owner of Oreo), Nutter Butter is one of the most popular peanut butter sandwich cookies in the market. Besides being a peanut-lovers’ favorite, it has become synonymous with blood donations in the U.S, to the point that donations dropped substantially when the Red Cross stopped offering it to donors. Luckily, Nabisco committed to donating Nutter Butters for this purpose.

An imitation of Italian-style biscuits, Milano Cookies were developed by the Pepperidge Farm company as part of a ‘European’ cookie series. They have since become extremely popular and have expanded their flavor range beyond their original milk chocolate version. Each year, Pepperidge Farm introduces seasonal and limited-edition flavors based on consumer demand, such as Chai Latte, London Fog, or Café au Lait.

Did you know any of these?

Did you ever wonder why each month is named the way it is?

Image: Towfiqu barbhuiya

We take for granted most of the things that existed before us, and month names fit this category. But these twelve names have stories. Some are rooted in ancient gods, others in numbers that don’t quite add up anymore, or historical figures. Read on and find out what is behind the name of each one!

Image: Glen Carrie

January is named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, endings, and doorways. He’s often shown with two faces: one looking to the past, the other to the future.

Interestingly, it was the last month added to the early Roman calendar, which originally started in March and only had ten months.

Image: Elena Mozhvilo

February is named after Februa, an ancient Roman festival of purification held around the 15th. The name comes from the Latin word meaning "to cleanse."

It was once the last month of the year, making its theme of renewal especially fitting, much like modern New Year’s resolutions, it marked a time to let go of the old and prepare for the new.

Image: Waldemar

March is named after Mars, the Roman god of war. In early Rome, it marked the return of weather suitable for military campaigns.

Before calendar reforms added January and February, March was the first month of the year.

Image: sq lim

There are different versions regarding the origin of this month’s name. According to the first one, April probably comes from aperire, Latin for "to open," referring to flowers blooming in spring. The Romans called it Aprilis.

Other versions point out that the name links to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. And a third version says that it comes from a word meaning "second," since April was once the year’s second month.

Image: Glen Carrie

May is named after Maia, a Roman goddess linked to growth and fertility. She was honored in spring, a season of renewal.

The name likely reflects nature’s blooming during this time, as a tribute to a goddess of life and abundance.

Image: Glen Carrie

June is named after Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage and queen of the gods. She was also the wife of Jupiter.

As the protector of women and family life, Juno’s influence made June a popular time for weddings, a tradition that continues today.

Image: Glen Carrie

The first month not named after a god, July was originally called Quintilis, meaning "fifth," since it was the fifth month in the old Roman calendar.

It was later renamed to honor Julius Caesar, who was born in this month. July was the first month named after a real person instead of a deity.

Image: Marcel Eberle

August is named after Augustus Caesar, the first emperor of Rome and Julius Caesar’s nephew. It was once called Sextilis, meaning "sixth." Like July, it was given 31 days to honor its namesake.

Image: Debby Hudson

September comes from septem, Latin for "seven," since it was the seventh month in the old Roman calendar starting in March.

When January and February were added, September shifted to the ninth month, but its name stayed the same.

Image: Elena Mozhvilo

In a similar case to September, October gets its name from octo, Latin for "eight," as it was the eighth month in the early Roman calendar.

When January and February were added, October became the tenth month, but the name didn’t change.

Image: Nelly Antoniadou

If you are starting to notice a pattern in these last months, you are right. November comes from novem, Latin for "nine," since it was the ninth month in the original ten-month Roman calendar.

Even after January and February were added, shifting November to the eleventh spot, its name stayed the same.

Image: Kelly Sikkema

The last month of our calendar year shares the same logic as the previous three. December is named after decem, Latin for "ten," as it was the tenth month in the old Roman calendar that started in March.