A Wedding Tradition in Western Pennsylvania
Ever since I was a little girl, my favorite part of weddings was the Chicken Dance, and the cookie table. While my love for participating in line dances has started to fade, I still look forward to seeing the grand display of cookies laid out for guests. It's almost an expectation at this point!
Cookie tables are not only a treat for guests, but they're a display of community. Many times, families will chip in and contribute to the table.
While the specific history of "The Cookie Table" can't be pinpointed, City Cast Pittsburgh said providing bite-sized pastries at social events in the region dates back to the ealy 1900s. According to local lore, the Pittsburgh Cookie Table rose in popularity after European immigrants brought their recipes across the pond, and the Great Depression made wedding cake too costly for the average couple.
Let The Eat (Cookie) Cake!
due to the inclusive variety and less expensive nature of cookies, many couples have been opting out of the traditional wedding cake.
When I got married, there was a debate on whether or not it was socially acceptable to not serve cake. I posted a thread on Reddit, and in typical Reddit fashion, the answers were split between "no one even cares about cake" to "your guests are not peasants and you are not a queen!"
The conclusion we came to, was a small cake to cut, and cupcakes for our guests displayed on the cookie table. This has became a popular option in our region!
More recently, one of my couples made it a point to pass the cupcakes out to their guests - which I thought was a super sweet idea.
My husband and I got our wedding cake and cupcakes from Pennie's Bake Shop + Espresso Bar in Butler, PA - which is a fan-favorite bakery north of Pittsburgh!
You also can't forget the Smiley Cookies!
BOOK YOUR
WEDDING OR ELOPEMENT!
COOKIE TABLE
SIGN UP SHEET
