The American name for cookie is derived from the Dutch word koek or (informal) koekje, which means little cake and arrived in American English through the Dutch immigrants in North America.
Cookies appear to have their origins in 7th century 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.
With global travel becoming widespread at that time, cookies made a natural travel companion, a modernized equivalent of the travel cakes used throughout history. Cookies came to America in the early English settlement (the 17th century). (reference http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koek)
Now that I'm settling in Austin, Texas. History repeats itself. Koek is brought to the USA.
