Chocolate chip cookies have been around forever, right? Actually, they were invented in Massachusetts less than 100 years ago.

The Toll House Inn in Whitman was the birthplace of chocolate chip cookies. Here’s the full story behind the advent of America’s favorite cookie.

The Toll House Inn was opened in 1930 by Ruth and Kenneth Graves Wakefield. The inn operated out of a building that was erected in 1817.
Getty/Karl Tapales
Ruth Wakefield cooked all the food that was served at the inn. In 1936, she baked a batch of her popular butter drop cookies with semi-sweet Nestlé chocolate chips.
Getty/Enrique Díaz / 7cero
The new dessert was an instant success with customers. The Wakefields got in touch with Nestlé and brokered a unique deal.
Getty/Sarah Showalter
In exchange for a lifetime supply of chocolate for Ruth Wakefield, the couple would allow Nestlé to print her chocolate chip cookie recipe on the packaging of all their semi-sweet chocolate bars.
Flickr/Dave Dougdale
Although chocolate chip cookies can now be found around the globe, Nestlé still prints Wakefield’s original cookie recipe on their chocolate chip packaging.
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Sadly, the original Toll House Inn burned down in 1984. The site is now home to a Walgreens pharmacy and a Wendy’s restaurant.
Wikimedia Commons/magicpiano
However, you can still stop by and check out the historical marker detailing the history of the spot and the invention of chocolate chip cookies. Interestingly, the sign incorrectly lists the building’s construction date as 1709.
The story of the invention of chocolate chip cookies just proves that all the best things really do come from Massachusetts.
Getty/Robert Lowdon

You can find the Toll House Inn historical marker at 362 Bedford Street, Whitman, MA.

Did you know about this fascinating story? Have any delicious chocolate chip cookie recipes to share? Leave your comments and thoughts in the comments below!

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