National Bake Cookies Day

Today is National Bake Cookies Day! This day comes just in time for the holiday season. Anyone can agree that there is nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked cookies warming up your house, especially in the middle of winter. That is why they even have cookie scented candles! Cookies have been around in some form or another pretty much forever. The earliest documented cookie goes back to seventh-century Persia. Cookies were introduced to America sometime in the 17th century, but the name ‘cookie’ was given much later. The original dutch form ‘koekje,’ meaning ‘small cake’ was altered to ‘cooky’ and eventually ‘cookie.’ Since then, cookies have been eaten all over the world. Even though there are many different types of cookies, one thing can be for sure – baking your own cookies at home is always tastier and more enjoyable than eating store bought cookies. 

Baking cookies is a wonderful activity, from start to finish! There are so many things to love about cookie making at home. Baking cookies is a known stress reliever. How is this so?

Dr. Mary McNaughton-Cassill, a clinical psychologist says some of it’s just allowing yourself to be creative—adding flavor, changing color, forming shapes. Then you’ve got the sensory triggers. “The smell of spices and vanilla are comforting, and [they] often remind us of happy times. Olfactory scents are particularly linked to areas of the brain that involve emotions and memory.” Baking is methodical, and the rhythm of it can lead to a mindful state. Mindfulness is the quality of being aware and engaged, leading to reflection rather than reaction. Many psychologists believe it’s one of the best ways to combat anxiety and depression. When you’re baking, you can’t help but be engaged because if you are not paying attention then you could seriously mess everything up (like accidentally adding salt instead of sugar…no one wants to eat salty cookies!) Being distracted when making cookies by measuring, pouring, mixing, shaping, and decorating is a great way to take your mind off stress. When you bake something, you are creating something, and the final product can make you feel accomplished. It is a great feeling when you work hard to follow the recipe and make beautiful looking cookies, it is something tangible to be proud of. Baking cookies releases serotonin and endorphins, which are two of the ‘feel good’ chemicals in your brain that give you feelings of happiness. 

Sounds pretty sweet to me! Private Home Health Care invites you to celebrate National Bake Cookies Day by, well, baking cookies! In addition to baking and eating cookies for yourself, you can also participate in a cookie exchange with friends and family. Another great idea is to bake cookies to raise money for charity. No matter what you decide to do, baking cookies is always a great idea!