Milky Way Gender Perception Quiz
Do you think the Milky Way cookie is a girl? Let's explore why people anthropomorphize food and find out how you perceive it.
Your Perception
Your Result
Create Your Cookie Name
Based on your perception, what should you name your Milky Way cookie?
People ask if the Milky Way cookie is a girl. It’s not. But the confusion makes sense. You see a wrapper with soft caramel, milk chocolate, and that smooth, pillowy center - and suddenly, you start giving it a personality. Maybe it’s the way it melts slowly on your tongue. Or how it feels like a hug in snack form. But no, the Milky Way cookie isn’t a girl. It’s not even a cookie - at least not originally.
What Is the Milky Way Actually?
The Milky Way bar was created in 1923 by Frank C. Mars in the U.S. It was designed to taste like a milkshake, not a chocolate bar. Back then, milkshakes were made with malted milk powder, and Mars wanted to bottle that creamy, frothy flavor into something you could carry in your pocket. The original Milky Way had a nougat center, caramel, and milk chocolate coating. No cookies involved.
Fast forward to today, and you’ll find Milky Way cookies sold in supermarkets, especially in Australia and parts of Europe. These are different from the original candy bar. They’re soft, chewy, chocolate-dipped cookies with a caramel swirl inside. They look like they could be named after a person - maybe a sweet, gentle girl who loves late-night snacks. But the name? It’s just borrowed from the candy brand. No gender assigned. Just branding.
Why Do People Think It’s a Girl?
It’s human nature to assign personality to things we love. We name our cars, our coffee mugs, even our houseplants. When something feels comforting - like a Milky Way cookie melting in your hands after a long day - it’s easy to imagine it has a voice, a story, a face.
Plus, the word ‘milky’ sounds soft. ‘Way’ feels gentle, like a path through a quiet forest. Put them together, and you get something that sounds like a character from a children’s book. Think of names like Milly, Mila, or Mira. The brain connects the dots. It’s not logic - it’s emotion.
There’s also marketing. Ad campaigns for these cookies often use pastel colors, flowing fonts, and images of smiling women holding the treat. You see a woman in a kitchen, laughing as she gives one to her daughter. The cookie becomes part of that warm, nurturing scene. It’s not the cookie being called a girl - it’s the *feeling* it evokes being associated with femininity.
Real Cookies vs. Milky Way Brand Cookies
If you’re baking at home, you might wonder: can I make a Milky Way cookie that’s actually like the original candy bar?
Yes. And it’s easier than you think.
Here’s what you need for a homemade version that tastes like the candy bar turned cookie:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 200g milk chocolate, melted
- 1 cup nougat-flavored marshmallow fluff (optional, for authenticity)
Beat the sugar and butter until fluffy. Add the egg. Mix dry ingredients separately, then fold in. Drop spoonfuls onto a baking sheet. Swirl caramel into each cookie before baking. Bake at 180°C for 10-12 minutes. Let cool, then dip half of each cookie in melted chocolate. Add a tiny dollop of marshmallow fluff on top if you’re going full retro.
These cookies don’t have a gender. But they do have memory. They taste like your grandma’s kitchen. Like summer nights. Like the first time you stole a candy bar from the pantry and ate it in bed.
Where Did the Name Come From?
The original Milky Way candy bar was named after a popular milkshake of the 1920s called the ‘Milky Way.’ It wasn’t named after the galaxy - that’s a myth. The galaxy connection came later, when Mars Company used space-themed ads in the 1950s to boost sales. People started assuming the name was cosmic. It wasn’t. It was dairy.
When cookie manufacturers in Australia and the UK started making chocolate-dipped caramel cookies in the 1990s, they borrowed the name because it was already familiar. It had emotional weight. It sounded sweet. It was already in the public consciousness. They didn’t need to invent a new name. So they used ‘Milky Way’ - and the cookies stuck.
Is There a Girl Behind the Name?
No official person named Milly or Mary ever designed the cookie. No historical record shows a woman named Milky Way working at a bakery in 1923. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t exist - in your mind.
Every time you bite into one of these cookies and think, ‘She’s so soft,’ or ‘She makes me happy,’ you’re creating her. And that’s more real than any trademark.
So, is the Milky Way cookie a girl? Not legally. Not technically. But if you need her to be - if she brings you comfort, nostalgia, or joy - then yes. She is.
What Other Cookies Have Gendered Names?
You’d be surprised. In Australia, people call the ‘Tim Tam’ a ‘boy.’ It’s sturdy, crunchy, and a bit cheeky - perfect for dunking in tea. The ‘Vic’s Secret’ cookie? That’s a girl. Soft, sweet, and a little mysterious.
In the U.S., ‘Oreo’ is gender-neutral, but kids often say ‘Oreo girl’ when they’re sharing. ‘Chips Ahoy!’? Definitely a guy. Loud, bold, full of chocolate chunks.
It’s not about the cookie. It’s about what we feel when we eat them. We give them names because food is tied to memory, love, and identity.
Can You Name Your Own Cookies?
Of course you can.
If you bake a batch with sea salt and dark chocolate, call them ‘Midnight Whisper.’ If they’re loaded with peanut butter and crushed pretzels, name them ‘Salty Hank.’ If they’re soft, buttery, and dusted with cinnamon - call them ‘Grandma’s Hug.’
There’s no rulebook. No trademark office for cookie names. Just your heart, your kitchen, and the people you share them with.
The Milky Way cookie doesn’t need to be a girl. But if you need her to be - she is.
Is the Milky Way cookie the same as the Milky Way candy bar?
No. The original Milky Way is a candy bar made of nougat, caramel, and milk chocolate. Milky Way cookies are soft, chewy, chocolate-dipped cookies with caramel swirls inside. They’re inspired by the candy bar but are a completely different product.
Why do some people say Milky Way cookies are a girl?
It’s not official - it’s emotional. The name ‘Milky Way’ sounds soft and gentle, and the cookie’s texture is smooth and comforting. People often assign feminine traits to things that feel nurturing or soothing. Marketing imagery also reinforces this by showing women serving or enjoying the cookie.
Can I make Milky Way cookies at home?
Yes. Use a soft cookie base with caramel swirls and dip them in melted milk chocolate. Add a touch of marshmallow fluff on top for the authentic nougat flavor. It’s simple, and you can adjust the sweetness to your taste.
Are Milky Way cookies gluten-free?
Standard Milky Way cookies are not gluten-free because they use regular flour. But you can easily make a gluten-free version by swapping the flour for a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend. Just check your caramel and chocolate for hidden gluten.
Where are Milky Way cookies sold?
They’re most common in Australia, the UK, and parts of Europe. In the U.S., you’ll find them in international grocery stores or online. They’re not sold as widely as other cookies, which makes them feel like a hidden gem.
