Though there are a number of desserts present out there, you have to agree that cookies are one of the best.
It does not matter whether the cookie you are eating is chewy in texture or crunchy, you will get to taste the perfect combination of sweetness and deliciousness.
No one can argue the fact that the aroma which builds in your whole home is only an added benefit of baking cookies.
The best thing about cookies is that they come in a variety of flavors, textures, and shapes so that you can choose what you like.
But have you ever thought about whether or not cookies are pastry? If you are one with a curious nature and want to find the answer, you have landed in the right place.
Keep reading to know- are cookies a pastry?
Is a Cookie a Pastry?
Is a cookie a pastry? – This question has been around for a long time. Most people, mostly children, think cookies are pastries because they are sweet in nature.
Others think that cookies should be considered pastry because they are made in the oven.
So what’s the truth? Keep reading to find out.
To understand whether or not cookies are pastry, let’s first clarify what pastry actually is.
So what is pastry?
Pastry is any baked good that is prepared from the dough and has a sweet or savory nature.
This pastry dough is mainly made from a combination of flour, shortening, and water. You might think that it is quite similar to bread, but that is not the case.
There are mainly six types of pastry, which have been mentioned below.
- Shortcrust pastry – The easiest and most popular type of pastry is shortcrust. The ingredients used to make the dough are flour, lard, butter, salt, and water.
- Flaky pastry – Simple pastries like flaky pastry have several layers, which causes them to puff up when baked. It becomes a buttery, flaky pastry when baked.
- Puff pastry – Because puff pastry has so many layers when it is baked, it expands or “puffs.” A laminated dough composed of flour, butter, salt, and water is used to make puff pastry.
- Choux pastry – It is really light in nature and is often seen with a filling of cream.
- Phyllo – A number of layers of paper-thin pastry dough are used to make phyllo. Typically, a filling is wrapped in phyllo and drizzled with butter before baking.
- Hot water crust pastry – It is used to make savory flavored pies and is generally utilized for baking hand-raised pies
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The pastry is not the same as bread. Pastries have an increased amount of fat content which is responsible for the crumbly and flaky texture.
A great baked pastry is flaky, light, and greasy but stiff enough to hold the filling’s weight.
The main question remains unanswered – Is a cookie a pastry?
Cookies are considered pastries because both of them have a lot of resemblances. Like pastry, cookies are also made with flour.
Both cookies and pastry have to be baked in the oven before you can enjoy them. Also, both baked cookies and pastries are sweet in nature because of the sugar and butter present in them.
Due to their high level of sweetness and lack of icing, many people believe that cookies are not pastries. However, it is evident that a cookie is a pastry if you take a closer look at how it is prepared.
Why is a cookie called a cookie (History sneak peak)?
It is pretty easy for people to assume that Cook was the source of the term “Cookie” (obviously because the two words sound so similar).
However, that is completely untrue, as the Dutch made the first discovery of word cookies at a colony hamlet south of Manhattan Island.
That region was mostly a fur-trading colony, but on some occasions, many delicacies were cooked there, giving rise to the Dutch phrase “Koek,” which simply means “Little Cakes.”
Everything changed when the English took control of the colony and, over time, transformed the term “Koekjes” into one which is more pleasant to ears when heard.
This explains the origin of the English term “cookie,” which is now used for all baked goods. This also explains why sweet biscuits are known as cookies in English.
That had to be altered; therefore, America divided biscuits into two categories:
- Crackers – which were thin, flat, and crispy biscuits
- Cookies – which were more nutritious and sweetened biscuits
Why a cookie is called a cookie and not a biscuit is a topic of debate.
It all depends on what country you live in (and also what side of the country you live in) and what term is used there.
In some countries like the US, the cookie word can mean both biscuits and cookies, i.e., both terms are interchangeable.
In other countries, the look and appearance of baked goods are taken into consideration.
To understand this concept in more depth, let’s know the key differences between biscuits and cookies.
Biscuits
The name “biscuit” comes from the Latin word “twice baked,” and they are baked in a way that they come out significantly stiffer than cookies.
Biscuits often have a smaller size than cookies and come in a variety of shapes, either sandwiched with a filling or covered with a layer of chocolate.
It is fair to say that biscuits are often selected as a product that you can dip in tea and that you can prepare at home using simple recipes.
Cookies
In comparison to biscuits, cookies are much softer and chunkier.
As a result of changing times, Cookies have surpassed Biscuits in popularity and have earned their deserved position at family gatherings and food stands.
They are loaded with a variety of ingredients because of their pliable nature, which may include raisins, dry fruits, nuts, chocolate chips, gems, and nuts.
As the actual enjoyment in cookies comes from the inside, they are less often decorated and garnished from the outside, unlike biscuits.
Today’s cookies come in a variety of different shapes and sizes, making them a flexible alternative for breakfast, an evening snack, or a mealtime treat.
Cookies come in an almost endless variety of flavors, and you can make them with any ingredients you wish since they go well with practically everything.
We have discussed why cookies are called cookies and how a cookie is considered a pastry.
Now let’s see what the difference is between pastry and cake.
FAQ
What ingredient is used to keep cookies soft?
Have you ever thought to yourself, what is the main ingredient that makes cookies soft?
I bet you have thought about it when you accidentally bake cookies that are hard and brittle.
So what makes cookies soft? What is that magic ingredient you need in your kitchen to make the cookies soft?
You will be surprised to know that no particular ingredient makes cookies soft. Moisture plays a key role.
The simple rule is to use an extra amount of butter, egg yolk, and brown sugar to add moisture to your cookie dough. This will help you to make even softer cookies.
How to store cookies for a long period of time?
Nothing compares to a warm, gooey cookie straight from the oven. Right?
However, maintaining the freshness of cookies may seem difficult, but it is not that hard.
You do not have to brainstorm to find a way to store your cookies for a long period of time because we have found the perfect method for you.
The best way for long-term cookie storage is freezing. A freshly made cookie may be frozen to retain its flavor and texture so that you can eat it at any time.
For optimum results, let your cookies totally cool before freezing them.
Final Thoughts
In a nutshell, yes, cookies are a pastry. Both the cookies and pastry are made from dough which is in turn prepared from flour, water, and shortening.
Cookies are one of the most loved snacks and desserts of people of every age group. It has a wide range of flavors, textures, and shapes, which is irresistible. Not only that, cookies are easy to bake, and you do not even need fancy ingredients.
