Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Pretty good tbh

On TikTok and reels as of late, more people seem to be creating chocolate chip cookie dough creations than ever before. It started off with Shrek. Then it evolved into boots and heels. Actually the same account is responsible for both the cookie dough boots and heels… but still. It got me thinking: how much chocolate chip cookie dough is there in the Unites States at any given time?

According to an article on the History Channel’s website referencing a blog post on Mrs. Fields’ website (RIP physical locations everywhere?) referencing a 2021 study from Boston University, Americans consume an average of 7 billion chocolate chip cookies a year. According to this consulting film, the American cookie market is projected to reflect 5.6% growth between 2021-2026, meaning that the acutal number Americans consume today may be closer to 7.35 billion. One serving in a 1 lb package of Nestlé Toll House cookies that weights 16.5 ounces weights 19 grams, or roughly 0.67 ounces, or roughly 0.04 pounds. So, at minimum, the amount of chocolate chip cookie dough in America at this very moment is 7,350,000,000 x 0.04 lbs which equals to 294,000,000 lbs. Thankfully, this amount is less than I expected But to be frank, I still find this sheer number absolutely vile.

This is not OK

Mind you, this is only the amount of chocolate chip cookie dough that has been reported to be consumed. How much chocolate chip cookie dough is produced in the United States in total? Also, this is only chocolate chip cookie dough we’re talking about. What’s the actual amount of cookie dough in total? Double? Triple? Are we counting pre-packaged cookies too like Oreos? Do we count raw cookie dough in ice cream or sold in scoops by itself? How much higher does the number actually get when we also factor in the rest of the world? Are ladyfingers considered cookies? Are biscuits cookies too?

There was a time not too long ago when there was no such thing as chocolate chip cookie dough in the world. In fact, some people alive today were born before chocolate chip cookies even existed. And now, there is more chocolate chip cookie dough than we can even imagine. What are we supposed to do with this information? Is this actually a problem? What does that say about us Americans that we don’t already know, especially with news of an extreme famine going on rn? I have no idea. All I do know, is that that number is crazy. We live in a society, man. Felt compelled to share.

I am glad I exist in this timeline though what can I say