Smiley Cookie facts for kids
A black and gold Smiley Cookie appears at a rally for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2011.
|
|
| Place of origin | United States |
|---|---|
| Region or state | Western Pennsylvania |
The Smiley cookie is a special cookie from Eat'n Park restaurants in Western Pennsylvania, United States. It's famous for its big, happy smile! This cookie has become a symbol of happiness and is loved by many people.
Contents
What is the Smiley Cookie?
The Smiley cookie is a unique cookie that has a happy face drawn on it. It's a special treat from the Eat'n Park company, which sells them in their restaurants and online. This cookie is so popular that its design is protected by a special trademark. This means no one else can make a cookie that looks exactly like it.
How the Smiley Cookie Started
The idea for the Smiley cookie came from an Eat'n Park employee. They remembered a happy cookie they enjoyed as a child in Western Pennsylvania. Eat'n Park started baking their own version of this cookie in 1986. This was also when they added bakeries inside their restaurants. The very first Smiley Cookie was actually made by a small place called Warner's Bakery in Titusville, Pennsylvania.
In 1987, Eat'n Park officially protected the Smiley cookie's design. It became so well-known that it was even added to the main logo of Eat'n Park restaurants!
Protecting the Smiley Smile
Because the Smiley cookie is so special, Eat'n Park works hard to protect its unique look. They have taken steps to make sure other companies don't copy their famous smiling cookie. This helps keep the Smiley cookie one-of-a-kind.
A long time ago, another restaurant chain called Kings Family Restaurants made a "Frownie." This was a brownie with a frowning face. However, the "Frownie" was stopped for a while in 2015, but it came back in 2019.
The Cookie Cruiser and More!
The Smiley cookie is more than just a treat. A costumed character of the Smiley cookie often appears at events around the Pittsburgh area. This friendly character travels in a special van called the "Cookie Cruiser." It used to be an old milk truck from 1974, but now it's painted to look like the famous cookie!
A Song for the Cookie
The Smiley cookie is so iconic that it even inspired a song! In 2010, the singer-songwriter Mac Miller, who was from Pittsburgh, sang about the cookie. In his song "Knock Knock," he said, "Keep a smile like an Eat’n Park cookie." This line shows how the cookie is known for bringing happiness and smiles.
