When thinking about cookies, what is the first thing to come to mind? Chocolate Chip perhaps? We think of a cookie as something sweet, round and crisp, but by definition, cookies can be anything that is a hand held, flour-based sweet cake.

Cookies, or the style which we know as cookies has become, can be traced back to the 7th century A.D. At this time in Persia (that is now Iran). These were mainly luxurious cakes and pastries that are well know in the Persian Empire.

By the end of the 14th century, wafers could be found on the streets of Paris. In 1596, one of the earliest cookbooks contained a recipe for square short-cookies that were enriched with egg yolks and spices. It was at this time that "biscuits" became the perfect travel food since they would stay fresh for a long amount of time.

Europe took off in the cookie sense in the 17th and 18th centuries. By this time, baking was considered a profession. By 1796 hundreds of recipes flooded the United States. There were numerous types of cookie, and with railroad expansion in the early 1800's, bakers had access to a new ingredient: Coconut. Later on, oranges from the west were included. Today, there are so many different recipes for cookies; no single book could hold them all.

While there are many new types of cookies today, the earlier cookies we have seen in history are still popular and just as delicious. Cookies such as Biscotti, an Italian cookie that means "twice cooked" remain a popular favorite. The Fig Newton came around in 1891, a sweet jam filled cookie and is still a pleasurable cookie to enjoy. Everyone loves a fortune cookie - a wafer cookie that some historians believe came from the 12th and 13th centuries. Macaroons are still popular as they were in the late 1700's with their crisp exterior and soft interior. Peanut butter cookies didn't come on the scene until 1922, but remain a favorite among kids and adults alike. Chocolate chip cookies remain the ultimate choice and they were introduced in 1937.

Cookies remain a classic comfort food. And with such a rich history, it is no wonder.

If you love cookies, maybe it's time to look into being part of a Cookies Franchise. Mrs. Fields / TCBY offer a great opportunity for your Cookie Franchise http://www.mrsfieldsfranchise.com/ experience. Heidi Ball is a freelance writer.