Create an Indulgent Cookie Bar at Your Next Office Event
Nothing beats a sweet treat after a busy day at the office, and a catered cookie bar is the perfect way to show staff members just how much they're appreciated. Cookies are a classic snack and dessert beloved by people of all ages, and a cookie bar is an easy catering option with minimal prep that doesn't require a whole meal.
From traditional sugar and chocolate chip cookies to themed and specialty cookies, there are plenty of options to choose from to satisfy the sweet tooth of every attendee. Whether you're planning a casual coffee and cookie event or a monthly staff birthday party, cookies are always a crowd-pleasing dessert option.
Can I have cookies catered that are friendly to dietary needs and requests?
Vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, and wheat-free cookies do exist, and some caterers, restaurants and bakeries even offer sugar-free cookies. However, there may be limited shop availability, or your caterer or restaurant might need advance notice to prepare specialized cookie batches.
If you’re working with a catering manager, be sure to let them know beforehand if any of your attendees have any specific dietary needs or allergies to certain ingredients such as nuts or wheat flour. If you’re ordering from ezCater, you can filter your restaurant and caterers to select ones that offer gluten-free foods. You can also request that your caterer or restaurant labels the dietary-friendly cookies or serves them on separate trays to ensure easy access for your guests with restrictions or sensitivities.
What are some of the most liked cookie flavors?
With so many delicious cookies to choose from, it may be a little challenging to narrow down your choices when placing the final order with your catering manager. To make your decision a bit easier, here's a breakdown of some of the most popular and beloved cookie flavors.
- Chocolate chip cookies: Sweet chocolate chips and a soft, chewy texture make freshly baked chocolate chip cookies an all-time favorite.
- Oatmeal raisin cookies: The comforting, familiar flavor and soft baked texture of oatmeal raisin cookies make them a front-runner for catered cookie events.
- Frosted sugar cookies: Soft baked with a cake-like texture and iced to perfection, frosted sugar cookies are a great choice for staff birthday parties and other celebratory events.
- Macarons: Made with almond flour, macaron sandwich cookies are light and crispy with sweet filling options that include jams, ganache, and buttercream. A delicate texture and beautiful presentation make macarons a perfect match for tea and coffee at your next office cookie party.
- Peanut butter cookies: Creamy peanut butter and a soft, slightly crispy texture make up this classic crowd-pleasing cookie that's perfect for any type of office gathering.
How many cookies should I order?
The number of cookies you should order will depend on the exact number of guests or attendees. If you're ordering food or additional desserts such as ice cream or cake, your caterer or restaurant may be more flexible with your cookie numbers. As a general rule, most caterers, restaurants and bakeries recommend ordering five cookies per person. This way there should be plenty of cookies to go around, and you may even have some leftovers.
- 10 attendees: For 10 people, order 50 or 5 dozen small to medium-sized cookies.
- 20 attendees: For 20 people, order 100 or 9 dozen small to medium-sized cookies.
- 50 attendees: For 50 people, order 250 or 21 dozen small to medium-sized cookies.
- 100 attendees: For 100 people, order 500 or 42 dozen small to medium-sized cookies.
What was the first commercial cookie in the U.S.?
The most interesting fact about the first recognized commercial cookie in the United States was that it was actually an animal cracker! While animal crackers aren't exactly cookies, they're not quite crackers either.
The earliest animal crackers were produced in England during the late 19th century. Over time, imported shipments began making their way into the United States, and Stauffer's Biscuit Company was the first company to make and sell their own variation. In 1902, the National Biscuit Company, known today as Nabisco, introduced their version of animal crackers to the American market during the holiday season.
Originally called Barnum's Animals to honor the well-known showman P.T. Barnum, the crackers were packaged in a colorful box printed with circus animals and a string looped through each side. Because the crackers were released during the holidays, the attached string made it easy to hang the box as an ornament on Christmas trees.
