Can you explain the difference between a cookie and a biscuit in different English-speaking countries? Answer according to: In the United States and Canada, a cookie is a small, flat-baked treat, containing milk, flour, eggs, and sugar, etc. In most English-speaking countries outside North America, the most common word for this is biscuit; in many regions both terms are used, while in others the two words have different meaningsâ€”a cookie is a plain bun in Scotland, while in the United States a biscuit is a kind of quick bread similar to a scone.
A cookie cake is a large cookie that can be decorated with icing similar to other cakes.
A general theory of cookies may be formulated this way. Despite its descent from cakes and other sweetened breads, the cookie in almost all its forms has abandoned water as a medium for cohesion. Water in cakes serves to make the base (in the case of cakes called ``batter``) as thin as possible, which allows the bubbles â€“ responsible for a cake's fluffiness â€“ to form better. In the cookie, the agent of cohesion has become some form of oil. Oils, whether they be in the form of butter, egg yolks, vegetable oils or lard are much more viscous than water and evaporate freely at a much higher temperature than water. Thus a cake made with butter or eggs instead of water is far denser after removal from the oven.
Cookies appear to have their origins in 7th century AD Persia, shortly after the use of sugar became relatively common in the region. They spread to Europe through the Muslim conquest of Spain. By the 14th century, they were common in all levels of society, throughout Europe, from royal cuisine to street vendors.
Cookies came to America in the early English settlement (the 1600s), although the name ``koekje`` arrived with the Dutch. This became Anglicized to ``cookie`` or cooky. Among the popular early American cookies were the macaroon, gingerbread cookies, and of course jumbles of various types.
Cookies also may be decorated with an icing, especially chocolate, and closely resemble a type of confectionery.
A basic biscuit (cookie) recipe includes flour, shortening (often lard), baking powder or soda, milk (buttermilk or sweet milk) and sugar. Common savory variations involve substituting sugar with an ingredient such as cheese or other dairy products. Shortbread is a popular biscuit in the UK.
The term Biscuit to describe the Cookie has been the cause of debate. In English(UK) it is commonly viewed that a 'biscuit' and 'cookie' are two different classifications, not to be used to describe the same food type.
In the United Kingdom the term cookie often just refers to chocolate chip cookies or a variation (e.g. cookies containing oats, Smarties).
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