Cookies and Biscuits

Cookies and biscuits are small baked goods made primarily from flour, sugar, and fat, with regional differences in terminology shaping how they are understood: in the United States, “cookies” are usually sweet, soft, or chewy treats, while “biscuits” are more like soft, flaky bread rolls; in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries, “biscuits” refer to what Americans call cookies—typically crisp, dry, and often enjoyed with tea. Both can include ingredients such as butter, eggs, chocolate, spices, nuts, or dried fruit, and they range widely in texture and flavor—from rich shortbread and crunchy digestives to soft chocolate chip cookies. Whether homemade or mass-produced, they are popular as snacks or desserts, commonly served with coffee or tea, and are closely associated with comfort, hospitality, and celebration.