Cookie Jars Are As American As Apple Pie (And They're Coming Back)
Although we tend to think of cookie jars as being a thing of the past, they might not be. Sure, you can find vintage jars at a garage sale or on eBay, but you can also buy them new from the Pioneer Woman's cookware collection, from Disney, and from Macy's. Some are plain ceramic, some resemble sea glass, and some are shaped like houses or cartoon characters.
Cookie jars' versatility could very well be what's bringing them back into popularity. Countless TikTok accounts have even taken the unboxing trend and applied it specifically to expanding their cookie jar collections, sharing the experience with the rest of the internet. Who doesn't love the thrill of a new find, especially when it's vintage?
What's more, cookie jars don't have to be used just to keep cookies fresh and out of young children's reach. Many people use them as decorative pieces, but certain jars can also work as planters or utensil organizers — adorable and multifunctional. Given how much Americans love cookie jars, let's get into the history of this collector's item.
Americans have always loved their cookie jars
Cookie jars came about in the 1700s in England, but didn't enter the American scene until the 1920s and '30s when the Great Depression prompted more at-home baking. And while earlier cookie jars were simple glass jars, the 1930s saw an explosion of ceramic cookie jars in all shapes and themes. Companies like Brush Pottery and McCoy couldn't make jars fast enough.
By the 1980s, many Americans were collecting cookie jars solely for aesthetic purposes. Even Campbell's Soup-obsessed pop art legend Andy Warhol had a 175+ piece collection worth around $250k. Absolutely iconic.
Today, vintage cookie jars can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. McCoy's squirrel jar, for instance, is valued at $4,600, and its 1955 pumpkin jar at $580. On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you want to use a cookie jar for its intended purpose, you can buy a brand-new one from the likes of Walmart or Target for under $20.