To understand how and why cookie dough came to be, the history of cookies must be considered. Cookie dough is essentially derived from the creation of cookies which dates back as far as 7th century AD Persia (now known as Iran), where they were used as test cakes. Persia was one of the first countries that started using sugar shortly after it was discovered and it soon became known for luxurious cakes and pastries. The early cookie was first labelled as a test cake before it was referred to as a "cookie" because the Persians would place a small amount of cake batter in the oven to be baked in order to test the oven temperature, and it would come out looking like a mini cake. It was not very long before the concept of cookies spread and became more known worldwide. They essentially evolved into biscuits for convenience as they were easier to keep fresh for a longer period of time and were simple to carry for travel.