I have no idea who decided October would be National Cookie Month - I could not find the creator, or the origin of this day. There doesn't seem to be any congressional records or presidential proclamations for this day, but who cares? It's a super idea - why NOT honor one of America's favorite treats! And a whole month to focus on cookies - life is good.

This holiday is for honoring and enjoying the sweet flavor of cookies and sharing them with friends and family. I'm thinking it would be fun to commit to trying a new cookie recipe everyday for the rest of the month! Yes, starting today, why not learn to bake new cookie recipes and learn to decorate a cookie in a new way? OR, how about buying a new cookie cutter and using it to make your family's favorite cookie recipe? But absolutely, let's be sure this is the month we sit down with a tall cold glass of milk or hot coffee, a large plate of fresh cookies, and have no guilt at eating them all up. You in?

Cookies come in at least 9 different types: Dropped Cookies, Rolled Cookies, Pressed Cookies, Refrigerator Cookies, Molded Cookies, Bar Cookies, Sandwich Cookies, Fried Cookies, Twice Baked Cookies, and non-baked cookies. When you're in a hurry, drop, bar, or non-baked cookies are likely to be your choice.

Then there's the basic gear good cookie bakers use: parchment paper or a silicone sheet (Silpat, for instance) to line the baking sheet, a scoop (similar to an ice cream scoop) for measuring out the perfect size dough ball, an assortment of cookie cutters, and the baking sheet itself. Add to this the wands for making fried cookies (known as rosettes), or the cookie press (used to make perfectly shaped cookies). There's likely other gear I haven't mentioned, but you get the idea. Cookie-making is here to stay and it can be as simple or complicated as you choose.

And speaking of cookie gear, what kitchen could go without a cookie jar? There are as many different types of cookie jars as there are noses on faces. My preference is vintage (my Aunt Annie's 1944 ceramic piggy with an apron, for instance), some folks like basic utilitarian (a large see-through glass jar with a tight-fitting lid), and others like whimsical. According to research, one of the most sought after (and one of the most expensive) is the Mammy with Cauliflower McCoy cookie jar from 1939. Whatever your preference, a good cookie jar is as important as is the sheet you bake them on.

One thing I firmly believe in is using quality ingredients when doing any baking or cooking. For instance, Dutch cocoa is absolutely the BEST for any chocolate flavored cookie dough. Its flavor is full and deep-bodied; there's no after-taste that so many less expensive grocery store brands leave behind. But of course, I'd never put off baking cookies just because I may not have the best of the best (cocoa-wise) on hand. While it is important to use the type of cocoa specified in a recipe (because it may affect the recipe's balance of acid) it is possible to substitute using the following formulas:

Cocoa, Unsweetened: Substitute equal amounts of Dutch-processed cocoa for unsweetened cocoa. Leave out any baking soda called for in the recipe.

Dutch-Process Cocoa: Substitute 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder plus a pinch (1/8 teaspoon) baking soda for every 1-ounce Dutch-Process Cocoa a recipe calls for.

Carob powder: 3 tablespoon carob powder plus 2 tablespoons water for every 1-ounce of unsweetened cocoa the recipe calls for. You can also substitute 3 tablespoons carob powder for every 1-ounce Dutch Process Cocoa a recipe calls for.

Mexican Chocolate: To make your own Mexican Chocolate, use 1 ounce semi-sweet chocolate and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon for every 1-ounce Mexican Chocolate a recipe calls for. To make mole sauces, substitute 1 tablespoon cocoa powder for every ounce of Mexican chocolate called for in the recipe.

IMPORTANT: Do not substitute instant cocoa mix for unsweetened cocoa in any recipe.

Even though October isn't just for Halloween anymore, it's so easy and natural to combine the two holidays (National Cookie Month + Halloween)! So to conclude this tribute to National Cookie Month, here's a fun idea for a non-baked cookie that would be perfect for a Halloween party. These are witches hats inspired by Betty Crocker. Find a flat, chocolate coated cookie, attach a Hershey's kiss (using a dollop of icing), pipe a "ribbon" onto it as pictured, and voila!

Sources:
https://www.youthink.com/quiz.cfm?action=go_detail&obj_id=1083&filter=popular&time_span=lates
https://www.cookiegiftbaskets.com/gram/category/baking-history/
https://www.5dollardinners.com/2011/08/sandwich-cutter-deals.html
https://honeybakedsf.com/catering/
https://houseonthehill.net/baking-supplies/1.75-stainless-steel-cookie-dough-scoop/
https://www.cookiegiftbaskets.com/gram/category/baking-history/
https://whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/CocoaTypes.htm
https://lollipopsandpaper.blogspot.com/2010_10_01_archive.html