By Teyah Glenn for WFMY News 2

The North Carolina House of Representatives has passed House Bill 124, proposing the designation of the Moravian cookie as the state’s official cookie.

The bill, introduced by Representative Donny Lambeth and co-sponsored by Representatives Erin Paré, Kyle Hall, and Larry Potts, received unanimous support with a 118-0 vote on March 18, 2025. 

The Moravian cookie’s history in North Carolina dates back to 1766, when settlers from Moravia (now part of the Czech Republic) founded the town of Salem, now known as Winston-Salem. These settlers introduced a thin spice cookie made from ingredients like molasses, allspice, and ginger, reminiscent of the German Lebkuchen. Since the 1950s, Moravian cookies have been commercially produced in Winston-Salem, with millions of pounds baked and distributed worldwide annually.

Proponents of the bill highlight that recognizing the Moravian cookie as the official state cookie not only honors the cultural contributions of the Moravian community but also acknowledges the cookie’s role in promoting tourism and contributing to North Carolina’s economy. The bill has now moved to the Senate and has been referred to the Committee on Rules and Operations for further consideration.

If enacted, the Moravian cookie will join other state symbols, such as the dogwood flower and the cardinal bird, in representing North Carolina’s rich heritage.

The preceding article originally appeared on March 19, 2025 at WFMY News Channel 2’s website and is made available here for educational purposes only. This constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. section 106A-117 of the U.S. Copyright Law. Any views or opinions expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Carolina Leadership Coalition.