diff --git a/actionpack/CHANGELOG b/actionpack/CHANGELOG
index 30a1eb224a..68e3c5dd6d 100644
--- a/actionpack/CHANGELOG
+++ b/actionpack/CHANGELOG
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 *SVN*
 
+* Added assert_cookie_equal to assert the contents of a named cookie
+
 * Fixed bug in page caching that prevented it from working at all 
 
 
diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/assertions/action_pack_assertions.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/assertions/action_pack_assertions.rb
index 2cfbcbc938..5ffc0f90a1 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/assertions/action_pack_assertions.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/assertions/action_pack_assertions.rb
@@ -60,6 +60,14 @@ module Test #:nodoc:
         msg = build_message(message, "<?> expected in session['?'] but was <?>", expected, key, response.session[key])
         assert_block(msg) { expected == response.session[key] }
       end
+
+      # -- cookie assertions ---------------------------------------------------
+
+      def assert_cookie_equal(expected = nil, key = nil, message = nil)
+        response = acquire_assertion_target
+        msg = build_message(message, "<?> expected in cookies['?'] but was <?>", expected, key, response.cookies[key.to_s].first)
+        assert_block(msg) { expected == response.cookies[key.to_s].first }
+      end
       
       # -- flash assertions ---------------------------------------------------