It was a friend who got me hooked on Carol’s Cookies. These half-pounders (each one is about the size of my palm) offer the ideal ratio of cookie-dough-like deliciousness on the inside and crunchy, buttery crumb on the outside.

Though the treats—there are 11 varieties—are commercially made (the almost 30-year-old company is located just outside of Chicago), every ounce of them tastes homemade. They’re lumpy and imperfect, vaguely salty, and pocketed with brown-sugary bites. Warm one for 10 seconds in the microwave, and it tastes fresh-baked.

As I mentioned, these cookies are huge—one is good for three or four sweet servings. And that’s a good thing, because you don’t want to know the breakdown of fat and calories.

FYI: Though Chicago-based, Carol’s Cookies has a local connection. Carol’s son (who is a co-owner) is married to the daughter of Denver-based event planner Faye Gardenswartz.

Available at Whole Foods Market.

Amanda M. Faison
Amanda M. Faison
Freelance writer Amanda M. Faison spent 20 years at 5280 Magazine, 12 of those as Food Editor.