It's National Cookie Month: Does Michigan have an official state cookie?

October is National Cookie Month, but did you know Michigan almost had an official state cookie?

Two decades ago, Rep. Edward Gaffney (R–1, Grosse Pointe) introduced House Bill 5919 to designate the Michigan Treasure Cookie as the “official” state cookie, according to the Michigan Legislature web site. The recipe came from Defer Elementary Schools in Grosse Pointe Park and several students testified in support.

At the time, the elementary school used products from several Michigan-based businesses, including Diamond Crystal Brand Kosher salt from St. Clair County, Graceland Fruit in Benzie County and Pioneer Brand Sugar, a product of the Michigan Sugar Company.

Gaffney didn’t get the support needed to pass the bill, but he did get the recipe.

Subscribe Now: For all the latest local developments, breaking news and high school sports content.

Michigan Treasure Cookies (makes about three dozen cookies)

- 1 ¾ cups of all-purpose flour

- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa

- ½ teaspoon baking powder

- ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal brand kosher salt

- 1 cup softened butter or margarine

- 1 cup Pioneer brand granulated sugar

- ½ cup packed Pioneer brand brown sugar

- 1 egg

- 1 teaspoon vanilla

- 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chunks

- 1 ½ cups Graceland Fruit brand dried cherries

- Additional granulated sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit

2. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl; set aside. Beat butter, 1 cup granulated sugar, and brown sugar in a large bowl at medium speed of electric mixer until light and fluffy (about two minutes). Beat in egg and vanilla until well blended.  On low speed of mixer, gradually beat in 1/3 of flour mixture at a time, until all is used.  Scrape sides of bowl between additions of flour mixture.  Stir in chocolate chunks and cherries.  Refrigerate covered dough for at least one hour.

3. Roll chilled dough into golf-ball-sized balls.  Roll the balls in the additional granulated sugar.  Space three inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.  Gently press with bottom of glass to flatten.  Return remaining dough to the refrigerator until ready to use.

4. Bake 13-15 minutes or until cookies are set.  Cool cookies about five minutes on cookie sheets; transfer to wire racks.  Cool completely.

Variations: Substitute 1 ½ cups of dried blueberries instead of dried cherries. Add ½ cup chopped Michigan walnuts.

Other state cookies

There are currently two other states with official state cookies. New Mexico was the first to designate the bizcochito, a small anise-flavored shortbread cookie, as its official state cookie in 1989.

Next was Massachusetts choosing the traditional chocolate chip cookie as its official cookie in 1997. The state recognized that the cookie was first invented in 1930 at the Toll House Restaurant in Whitman, Massachusetts.

— Contact reporter Lisa Vidaurri-Bowling at lvidaurribowling@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: It's National Cookie Month: Does Michigan have an official state cookie?