What Are the Six Categories of Cookies?
Cookies are more than just sweet treats. They’re tiny expressions of tradition. Records indicate that the first cookie was made around some time 1,300 years ago. The purpose? To test whether the oven was hot enough to bake a cake in. These heavenly confections have come a long way since then.
Sweet tooth or not, all of us have likely devoured one. Businesses often use corporate-branded logo cookies as giveaways or promotional items. Gifting specialists usually add personalised cookie designs inside gift sets.
But have you ever thought that there are different types of cookies based on their texture and how they’re prepared? You’ll find the most popular variants below, ready for your next baking adventure or gifting activity.
Category #1: Drop Cookies
These heavenly sweets are some of the most popular in the cookie world. Drop cookies are named after the method in which you create them. Bakers drop a spoonful of dough onto the baking sheet and watch them turn into puffy pastries with contrasting textures: crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Fan favourites like chocolate chip and New York-style cookies fall into this category.
Versatility is part of their allure. You can top them with nuts, dried fruits, and other add-ons. Companies handing out corporate cookies during product launches, trade shows, and shop events often have their business logo. Similarly, custom cookies for client, thank you and VIP events frequently bear personalised messages.
Category #2: Rolled Cookies
Also known as cut-out cookies, they’re made from a firm dough that’s chilled, rolled out flat, and cut into custom shapes using cookie cutters. Custom-shaped cookies are great for the Holidays as they can transform into Christmas trees, the Gingerbread man, or custom-designed sugar cookies.
You can make them even on normal days, though. School cookies, for instance, commonly start as rolled cookies topped with fondant frosting and or royal icing.
Category #3: Bar Cookies
Do you know that brownies are considered a type of bar cookie? Unlike the common circular cookie design, these treats are sliced into square and rectangular shapes straight from the baking pan. Blondies, lemon, and seven-layer bars are prime examples of these chewy treats. They resemble mini desserts, that’s why many won’t suspect that they belong to the cookie family.
Although tasty as they are, there are ways to customise or take them to the next level. Most bar cookies have a simple ingredients list, but bakers can add different mix-ins and toppings to the base dough. It’s common to see dairy-free and gluten-free options for these biscuits.
Category #4: Moulded Cookies
As the name implies, mould cookies are either shaped by hand, a special rolling pin, or pressed into moulds before being sent to the oven. The dough is both stiff and pliable enough to retain its shape during the baking process. Some are rolled in sugar or nuts before baking for a more interesting texture. As such, these sweet pastries often have a more refined look and crumble more easily than most types.
Their intricate shapes and complex designs shouldn’t stop you from making them look better, though. You can add a branded logo and turn them into edible image cookies. Moulded cookies are staples in corporate Christmas client gifts or wedding cookies because of their elegant look.
Category #5: Pressed Cookies
Apart from moulded cookies, bakers also pick pressed cookies to create intricate shapes and designs. To achieve this, they create a soft and buttery dough and push it through a cookie press or piping bag. Doing so makes pressed cookies easier to make than moulded ones because you don’t need to roll or cut. Spritz and butter cookies are made this way.
Adding food colouring or drizzles and nut toppings can further satisfy your sweet tooth and make great wedding cookies. Otherwise, serve some to your colleagues during staff functions or work events or include them inside birthday or Christmas gift boxes. Placing them inside food-grade cellophane packaging gives an eco-friendly vibe.
Category #6: No-Bake Cookies
These cookies skip the oven entirely. Like their close cousin, refrigerator cookies, you can make them by combining ingredients like butter, oats, peanut butter, and sugar and chilling the dough becomes firm.
Being fast and fuss-free, these types of cookies are perfect for beginners and those who want a sweet treat in a short time. They may not be ideal for corporate events, but they do have a comparable, if not longer shelf life compared to others on this list so long as they stay chilled or frozen.
Sending Cookies as Gifts
Custom-printed logo cookies are gaining popularity in and outside Australia. That’s why many cookie makers and online shops offer shipping options with a minimum order. If you’re adventurous, you may opt to make your own custom cookies to make them extra special.
Curious? Contact us for guidance in choosing the right cookie for the right occasion. You can also explore our full selection of these heavenly delights, whether eating them on your own or sharing with the people who matter!