Everyone loves cookies, but today’s caterers are offering more cookie flavors than just plain old chocolate chip. Donuts may be “having a moment” but cookies are also going gourmet. Nation’s Restaurant News says that chefs across the country are whipping up their own versions of this modest dessert, some even serving them with a glass of cold milk. Cookie inspiration comes in many forms, consider bacon in a cookie, a dramatic pyramid of cookies or cookies transformed into the ultimate milk shot glass. Here are just a few of the trends we’ve seen lately.
Out of the Box Cookie Flavors
Stirred Not Shaken in San Francisco, CA packs their menu with both out-of-the-ordinary cookies and classics. Flavors like Bacon Chocolate Chip and Garlic Snickerdoodles play to the irresistible combination of sweet and savory in every bite. If there are dietary restrictions in your group, Stirred not Shaken develops flavors with everyone in mind, and their menu includes two vegan cookies which will appeal to those with egg allergies or sensitivity to lactose.
You’ll also find unusual cookie flavors at The Cookie Bar in Las Vegas, Nevada. Try the Pina Colada, a pineapple coconut cookie sandwich with pineapple filling, coconut flakes, and topped with a cherry or the Oreo Kitchen Sink cookie, a chocolate chip, Oreo, and fudge brownie sandwich. Their most popular is the cozy Nookie Cookie, a chocolate chip-pecan cookie stuffed with soft caramel.
Back-In-Fashion Cookie Flavors
Cookies are so hot at the moment that some classics are getting new attention. French macarons are sweet meringue-based cookies made from egg whites, sugar, almonds and food coloring. Naturally gluten-free, these elegant, cream centered, sandwich style cookies come in a rainbow of colors and flavors. If you’re looking to make an impact with your dessert table, they can also make a stunning display, especially in a macaron pyramid, as offered by Tout Sweet Patisserie in San Francisco, CA or in a macaron tower, as offered by Macaron Bar in Louisville, KY.
Another delicate sandwich cookie, alfajores, hails from several countries in South America including Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Peru. These light, buttery cookies come sandwiched with dulce de leche caramel in the center. Alfajores are the most ordered dessert at 5411 Empanadas in Houston, TX and at Alpaca Chicken in Raleigh, NC, as well as at Pizzarra’s in New Jersey, where they come rolled in coconut.
Classic Italian biscotti, always a favorite, makes the perfect addition to an afternoon coffee break. Biscotti, which translates to “twice baked”, is a hard and crunchy sliced cookie, ideal for dipping into coffee or serving with sweet wine. At The Awkward Scone in Brooklyn, NY, the polenta almond biscotti with dark chocolate is a top seller. At Libby’s Italian Pastry Shop in New Haven Connecticut it’s the mixed biscotti selection (including anise, cappuccino, and chocolate almond) which is most popular.
Transformed Cookie Flavors
Get your group mingling and chatting with fun innovations that transform the traditional cookie into a surprising presentation. The Dirty Cookie Catering in Tustin, CA offers their unique twist, a shot glass made from a variety of different cookie flavors and lined with Belgian chocolate and filled with liquids such as chocolate cream, organic whole milk or cold brew coffee. They also offer chocolate chip cookie pops, which are served like lollipops on a stick making for a fun cookie arrangement.
Cookie Spin does indeed put a spin on things with their deep dish cookies. Their specialty comes in a variety of flavors including S’mores, which is chocolate chip cookie dough baked with a layer of marshmallow, topped with fudge and crushed graham crackers. Another over-the-top deep dish cookie is the Cookie Inception, it’s a chocolate chip cookie, topped with a layer of chocolate fudge, sprinkled with chocolate chip cookie bits and cookie dough balls.
For something the entire group can share, Not As Famous Cookie Company in Atlanta, Georgia offers cookie cakes alongside their traditional cookies. Each one of 21 different flavors offers six servings in an oversized cookie. Mrs. Fields in Chicago Illinois also offers cookie cakes, in various sizes and shapes including hearts and sheet cakes and even double layer cookie cakes.
For a sweet and impressive finish at your next event, try cookies! Here are some cookie-specific holidays, if you need any more reasons:
National Cookie Days
National Sugar Cookie Day: July 9
National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day: August 4
National Cookie Day (anything goes!): December 4
National Shortbread Day: January 6
