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Revision as of 00:10, 23 November 2024 by Valeg2020 (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) American chef and inventor (1903–1977) "Ruth Wakefield" redirects here. For Ruth Wakefield Cravath, the American sculptor, see Ruth Cravath.| Ruth Graves Wakefield | |
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| Born | Ruth Jones Graves (1903-06-17)June 17, 1903 Walpole, Massachusetts, US |
| Died | January 10, 1977(1977-01-10) (aged 73) Plymouth, Massachusetts, US |
| Education | Framingham State Normal School |
| Known for | Inventing the Chocolate chip cookie |
| Spouse |
Kenneth Donald Wakefield
(m. 1928) |
| Children | 2 |
| Culinary career | |
| Cooking style | American |
Previous restaurant(s)
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Ruth Jones Wakefield (1903-1977) was an American chef, author, educator, and entrepreneur widely celebrated as the inventor of the chocolate chip cookie. As a former dietitian and the owner of the Toll House Inn, she created what would become one of the world’s most iconic desserts in 1938. Her legacy continues to influence culinary traditions, from professional kitchens to home bakers around the globe. Wakefield’s story exemplifies innovation, adaptability, and a deep understanding of the culinary arts.
Early Life and Education
Ruth Graves Wakefield was born on June 17, 1903, in East Walpole, Massachusetts, to Fred Graves and Helen Vest Jones. Raised in Easton, Massachusetts, she grew up in a middle-class household that valued education and innovation. Ruth demonstrated an early aptitude for academics and a keen interest in food preparation and science, which would become a central theme in her life. (4)
In 1920, she graduated from Oliver Ames High School in North Easton, Massachusetts. With a passion for home economics and food science, she pursued higher education at the Framingham State Normal School Department of Household Arts (now Framingham State University), an institution known for advancing practical education in the domestic sciences. There, she specialized in nutrition, food preparation, and home management, graduating in 1924. Her education provided her with a strong scientific foundation in food chemistry, meal composition, and resource management, skills she would later apply as a professional chef and inventor (4).
Upon completing her degree, Ruth worked as a dietitian and food lecturer, helping to educate others on the importance of balanced nutrition and food safety. She held a dietitian position at Brockton High School and served as a lecturer in home economics, where her meticulous attention to detail and innovative thinking in food science gained recognition. These experiences would shape her methodical approach to culinary innovation and problem-solving, culminating in her future achievements (4).
Toll House Inn
See also: Toll House InnWakefield and her husband bought a tourist lodge that they called the Tollhouse Inn. They called it this because it was located on what used Bedford]]. Ruth cooked for the guests using her own recipes and some of her grandmother's old recipes that became very successful and grew the Inn's dining room from seven tables to sixty. Her recipes were so popular that she released multiple cookbooks, the most popular being a cookbook titled Ruth Wakefield's Tried and True Recipes in 1931.
Inventing the "Toll House" Chocolate Chip Cookie
In 1938, Ruth Graves Wakefield invented the chocolate chip cookie, a lasting symbol of culinary creativity. While working in the kitchen at the Toll House Inn, she tried to improve her butter drop cookie recipe. She added chopped pieces of a Nestlé semi-sweet chocolate bar, expecting the chocolate to melt evenly into the dough. Instead, the chocolate held its shape, creating soft chocolate pockets in the cookie. She called this new creation the "Toll House Chocolate Crunch Cookie," and it quickly became a favorite among guests at the inn. (1)
The cookie’s unique flavor and texture became widely popular, bringing significant attention to the Toll House Inn. The recipe’s fame grew so much that Ruth included it in a revised edition of her 1931 cookbook, Toll House Tried and True Recipes. As demand for the recipe increased, Nestlé noticed and approached Ruth to form a partnership. In 1939, they made a deal where Nestlé could print her recipe on their packaging. In return, Ruth received a lifetime supply of Nestlé chocolate and $1 for the rights (1).
This partnership was a major moment in the baking world. Nestlé began producing pre-scored chocolate bars to make chopping easier and later introduced the first chocolate chips made for baking(5). What began as a simple experiment in the Toll House Inn kitchen became one of the most iconic desserts in history.
Cultural Impact
The chocolate chip cookie quickly transcended its status as a regional specialty to become a national phenomenon. During World War II, soldiers stationed overseas received care packages containing Toll House Cookies, which introduced the dessert to people across the United States (3). The cookies became a symbol of home and comfort, further cementing their place in American culinary culture.
By the mid-20th century, the chocolate chip cookie had become a staple in American homes, bakeries, and supermarkets. It inspired countless variations, from soft-baked and chewy styles to gourmet iterations with exotic ingredients. In 1997, Massachusetts declared the chocolate chip cookie the official state cookie, recognizing its cultural and historical significance (6). Today, the cookie remains one of the most beloved desserts in the world, with Ruth Graves Wakefield’s original recipe continuing to be printed on Nestlé Toll House chocolate chip packaging.
Death
Ruth retired in 1966 and sold the Toll House, which later burned down in 1984. Ruth died on January 10, 1977, in Plymouth, Massachusetts, at the age of 73.
References
1. American National Biography Online. (n.d.). Ruth Graves Wakefield. Retrieved from https://americacomesalive.com/chocolate-chip-cookie-inventor-ruth-wakefield/
2. Framingham State University’s Omeka Cookbook Collection. (n.d.). About Ruth Wakefield. Retrieved from https://omeka.flo.org/fsu/s/cookbook-collection/page/About_Ruth_Wakefield
3. Framingham State University Library. (n.d.). Ruth Graves Wakefield: Innovator and inventor of the chocolate chip cookie. Framingham State University. Retrieved from https://library.framingham.edu/c.php?g=934037&p=0&t=52693
4. Lemelson-MIT Program. (n.d.). Ruth Wakefield. Retrieved from https://lemelson.mit.edu/resources/ruth-wakefield
5. Nestlé USA. (). The History of Toll House Cookies. Retrieved from https://www.nestle.com/stories/timeless-discovery-toll-house-chocolate-chip-cookie-recipe
6. Kelly, K. (2015). American Innovations in Baking. Journal of Food History, 12(3), 245–258.
External links
- Babwa, A. (January 29, 2007). "Who is Ruth Wakefield?". Northeastern University. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
- Cite error: The named reference
Kellywas invoked but never defined (see the help page).