The word "cookie" rarely appears in Victorian cookery articles. To the British cook, what we call a cookie was a "biscuit." American-style cookies are also sometimes referred to as "crackers." One rarely finds cookies amongst British recipes, but one does find continental recipes them. A look at the dates on the recipes below suggests that "candy and bonbons" didn't become really popular with Victorian cooks until the 1890's.

Home-made Sweetmeats, by Phillis Browne (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1878)

Including barley sugar, pralines, Jordan almonds, and cocoa-nut rock.

Confectionery at Home, by Catherine Owen (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1879)

Candies (Demorest, 1884)

More a look at a confectioner's shop than a recipe collection.

Seasonable Snacks (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1887)

Among the recommended snacks for winter are a number of oyster dishes, as well as a variety of apple desserts.

Home-Made Sweetmeats by Edith Brodie (Girl's Own Paper, 1890)

How to make toffee, marzipan, barley sugar and fig rock.

Candies and Sweeties Made at Home, by Phillis Browne (Girl's Own Paper, 1891)

Much of this article is devoted to how to make "marrons glaces," or candied chestnuts!

Cheap and Pretty Sweets (Girl's Own Paper, 1891)

How to make a pretty dish with an orange, some cornflour and a bit of sugar syrup.

Luscious Bonbons, by Mona Neale (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1893)

Novel Nut Confections, by Deborah Platter (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1894)

The tantalizing delicacies in this article include Almond and Chocolate Paste, Almond Aigrettes, and Walnut Cake.

Ornamental Chocolate Dishes, by Deborah Platter (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1895)

In Victorian days, presentation mattered - hence in meringues, for example, "the fashion of the moment is for flowers of pink and mauve blended; fawn and mauve are also appreciated..." This has some truly sinful-sounding recipes!

Candies, by Lina Orman Cooper (Girl's Own Paper, 1896)

Tips on making a variety of sweets, including raspberry rock and cream toffee.

Popped Corn (Girl's Own Paper, 1896)

In 1896, this was a novelty!

Caramel and Cremes (Girl's Own Paper, 1897)

How to make boiled sugar candies.

How to Make American Candies (Girl's Own Paper, 1898)

Tips on making cream nuts, nougat, tricoloured candy, creams, and chocolate marbles.

Chocolate Dates (Girl's Own Paper, 1899)

High-Class Sweetmeats (Girl's Own Paper, 1899)

Delicious, easy-to-make, timeless sweet treats.

Home-Made Biscuits in Switzerland (Girl's Own Paper, 1900)

Kummels, Kussens and Kuchli... for our American readers, remember that "biscuit" means "cookie."