Becoming popular in the 16th century, when the gingerbread man made his way into the English court and then moved through to common people, cookie cutters evolved over time into different shapes and sizes.
National Cookie Cutter Day comes around each year to remind people how valuable cookie cutters can be to their lives!
- 2000 BC – cookie cutters made of ceramic and wood were used around Egypt in the year 2000 BCE.
- 7th Century – Cookies are made in Persia as the country starts to harvest sugar cane.
- 16th Century – cookie cutters became popular, thanks to the popularity of the gingerbread pattern. Of course, the kings started this custom, and gingerbread cookies were frequently served at Queen Elizabeth I’s court.
- 1500s – the Germans of the 1500s were baking small cakes into molds and designs, some of which were very intricate.
- 1800s – Cookie recipes are published in cookbooks, and they are called ‘small cakes.’
- 1800s – By the 1800s, tin cookie cutters were easy to find at any small shop.
- 1800s – Commercial machinery was developed in the United States and Europe, and manufacturers began creating and distributing cookie cutters
- 1875 – Alexander P. Ashbourne patented the first biscuit cutter in the United States in 1875.
- 1902 – Animal Cracker in the U.S. launches its first commercial cookie.
- 1920s – The Girl Scouts begin selling cookies.
- 20th Century – Cookie cutters began being made from other materials, such as aluminum and plastic
- 2019 – Bobbi Barton established National Cookie Cutter Day in 2019 to recognize the value of cookie cutters in our lives.
- The National Cookie Cutter Historical Museum in Joplin, Missouri, houses an extensive collection of cookie cutters, preserving their history and showcasing their evolution over time.
- Antique and vintage cookie cutters can cost up to a few thousand dollars.
- Over two billion cookies are consumed every year.
- The chocolate chip cookie is the most popular in America.
- The average American eats 35,000 cookies in a lifetime.
- 3D printing technology allows for personalized and intricate designs of cookie cutters.
- In Sweden, bakers use rosette irons to create delicate, lacy cookies called “struvor.”
- n India, “achappam” are flower-shaped cookies made using intricately designed irons, especially during festivals.
- Early cookie cutters featured religious symbols. As societies became more secular, designs expanded to include animals, vehicles, and pop culture icons, mirroring societal shifts and interests.
- In Greece, “kourabiedes” are almond cookies shaped using cutters, especially during Christmas.
- In Mexico, “buñuelos de viento” are fritters made with flower-shaped irons, highlighting the global culinary use of cookie cutters.
- Beyond baking, people use cookie cutters to craft ornaments, create unique candle molds, and even design custom stamps for arts and crafts, showcasing their versatility.
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