Best packaged non-bakery store bought cookies

[FelafelBoy]

Motivated to start this thread after trying the new line of cookies by Kashi brand.
I bought the "Oatmeal Raisin Flax" due to my perception that this company uses a healthy combination of ingredients, can get my fix of junk food in a healthy package so to speak, and surprise, was able to combine a sale price with a coupon to get the 8.5 oz. box for $1, far discounted from the normal price.

The cookie was of the soft kind, full of fiber, moderately sweet, and satisfying. There were 8 cookies in the box, and consisted of the Kashi seven whole grain and sesame mix, standard for most, if not all of its grain products, raisins, expeller pressed canola oil, honey, evaporated cane juice crystals, brwon rice syrup, flax seeds, walnuts, oat fiber, and a few other ingredients. When I read those ingredients, I knew that there was some salvation in consuming this product vs. what I normally consume in other brands of cookies. 4 grams of fiber, 8 grams of sugar, 2 grams of protein, 130 calories per cookie. Not too bad for junk food.

I found that eating the cookie by itself was on the dry side. Eating a bit of ice cream afterwards helped. The next day, I ate them (yes, more than one) with coffee and it was a huge improvement. Both the coffee tasted better because of the cookie and vice versa. I'd also recommend eating these things with ice cream or apple sauce due to their dryness.

I used to like Archway Cookies, especially the Lemon soft cookies that were more cake like, and had a huge splattering of a frosting on each cookie. When I had them years ago, I remember they were made with partially hydrogenated fats, as are most cookies, although, they now say no transfats, but I think that just indicates a one serving sized portion.

To get the crispness and storage life, most of these manufacturers use the partially hydrogenated oils. Many of them use palm oil now, too. Interesting that in the packaging of the Kashi cookies, there was an actual small "freshness bag!!". Since they aren't using ingredients that extend the storage life like the other companies, they had to include something to keep these cookies from going rancid. Packaging only 8 cookies per box allows them to be consumed within a short period of time, too. They are not inexpensive, but the price does reflect higher quality ingredients. When they are not on sale, I think the cost would be close to 40 to 50 cents per cookie, and these cookies are not large. I think most people would consume at least two per snatch.

I used to like Keebler's Vienna Fingers, for its combination of dryness and corn flour taste combined with the inner filling. I've stopped eating Stella D'Oro's "Lady Stella Mix" or whatever it's called, for a few reasons - I don't trust that it's ingredients are that healthy, the overly sweet taste of the cookies, and most importantly, I have difficulty eating "portion sizes." I wish I could just have one or two cookies with a cup of coffee or tea, but it doesn't work that way for me - I normally clear out a portion of the container of the cookies, the amount of which would be best kept confidential.

What boxed cookie do you like, that you would consider the healthiest and yet desirable, and which the tastiest, and the worst for you?! (I'd probably rate these Kashi cookies in the first respect, and I think it is the Keebler brand of those shortbread fudge cookies with the chocolate stripes crossing over ridged shortbread crisp cookies in the latter.)

I did not want to include bakery bought cookies in this category for obvious reasons. It's harder for boxed, prepackaged cookies to compete with their freshness and taste.

[EWSflash]

Does it have to be boxed?
Because my favorite is the refrigerated tubes of sugar cookies, before they hit the oven. Chocolate chip is good too, I havent had most of the rest because I try to limit my exposure to the refrigrated cookie dough. But I love it.

[AdamD]

mallomars
pepperidge farm sausalitos

[lilgi]

What, no love for Stella D'oro "Swiss Fudge" cookies?

[Sal Vanilla]

Coconut, almond toffee florentine cookies new at Costco - in a round, see-thru plastic container.
So. Darndy Darn. GOOD!

[janetxb]

Vrootman "almond krunch" are amazingly delicious.

TJ's sells a very buttery, not terribly sweet, almond cookie that is shaped like a windmill and comes in one of those square see-through plastic boxes. Really good.

[pringle347]

Any and all cookies by Dancing Deer! Not available everywhere....got ours in the local health food store, and also online. Their chocolate chip, double chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, and their Brownies are all incredible. They are in Massachussetts.
www.dancingdeer.com

[tastycakes]

-jules destrooper chocolate covered butter biscuits, by far - the chocolate is excellent quality.
-trader joe's candy cane joe joe's - the only flavor i enjoy
-i haven't eaten a pepperidge farm cookie in ages, but my absolute favorite used to be the brussels cookie - a crumbly, crunchy cookie sandwiched with chocolate. it was buttery and not at all dry like the milanos.

[LePetitChefCanadien]

I love Hobnobs and Jaffa cakes- yum!!! And those Girl Guide mint chocolate cookies. Mmmm...

[playfulotter]

I love coconut so Pepperidge Farm's Tahiti cookies are one of my favorites and I am glad they brought them back to this area. I also loved a cookie by Mother's called Taffy cookies that tasted like brown sugar and coconut with a white cream filling...I have to look and see if they still make those!

[cajungirl]

Milanos, Pepperidge Farm special variety pack in a box?, Chocolate-Covered Oreos, Samoas and Tagalongs from the Girl Scouts

[jhopp217]

Pretty much any girl scout cookie falls into "best package" although Samoas and Tagalongs are the best!

[Emme]

i also forgot to mention Biscoff cookies. not overly sweet, a little grahamy tasting, and sooo good.

[coney with everything]

Those are tasty...they were the snack on my flight to Vegas last month...yum!

[janbo19]

Bisco's Waffle Creams & Pepperidge Farm Mint Milanos. MMMmmm!

[snowwater91]

OMG... has no one tried Voortman Iced Almonette cookies? The most adictive cookie ever created!!! For a healthy change of pace the Cranberry flax seed cookie they make are very good also.

[cmocva]

I LOVE almonette cookies.... the flavor and texture are proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy... quoting Ben Franklin

[mamachef]

My preference is for Nabisco chocolate thins or gingersnaps; I also enjoy the occasional lemon snaps. Not particularly healthy, no, but I don't eat a dozen at a time. Real Nilla wafers are also good to have in the freezer.

[jester99]

vienna fingers are just addicting
Little debbie Oatmeal pies
And the frosted animal crackers. I like to freeze them and i thik they taste awesome.

[EWSflash]

In no particular order-
Oreos
Pecan Sandies
Pepperidge Farms shortbread cookies with the jam in the middle
Fig Newtons
Nutter Butters
Pinwheels (do they still make them? They were incredible)
Snackwell's Devil's food cookies (they needn't apologize to anybody for being fat free)

[Archun]

Does anyone know the name or brand of a cookie very similar to Choco Leibniz or Lu's Petit ecolier? I believe it has a knight on a horse or something similar as logo.
Thanks

[twinkle556]

Lu white chocolate cookies are to die for. I tried to order them on Amazon,they must have stopped making the white chocolate ones.
A treat-----take a bite of an oreo,then take a bite of a banana. delightful!

[goodhealthgourmet]

Amazon must just have a supply issue - i checked the LU website, and if you click on "the many tastes of LU," choose "sweet biscuits," and then "petit écolier," they still show the white chocolate (along with milk, dark, and my personal favorite, extra dark).

http://www.lubiscuitsna.com/

[infodiva]

Best cookie, bar none --- Grace's Best Sunflower Seed Petite Cookies. I defy you not to eat the whole bag. Pretty healthy, too, for cookies; just oats, butter, brown sugar, flour, sunflower seeds, eggs, and vanilla. I get them at HyVee, about 4.00 for a 12 oz bag.

[rainey]

Carr's gingersnaps filled with lemon cream are pretty damned wonderful.

Once I tried to replicate them and I got a lemon cream that was pretty excellent using Trader Joe's lemon curd as a base but I'll be damned if I can remember what I did with it.

[rainey]

Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Covered Jo Jos with the candy cane bits. Frozen. Hands down! They're stocking them right now and I've got 3 boxes in the freezer.

I'll load up the second freezer to get us through the next year before Christmas is over.

[janbo19]

OHmy. I forgot about those! One year I bought a case! Now I'm down to about 3 boxes/year since I'm trying to cut down on sugar. They are THE BEST!

[mamachef]

those TJ's JoJo's are SO good crushed and mixed into vanilla ice cream......

[Emme]

my TJ's is still carrying the holiday special Peppermint Jo-Jo's ice cream...

[EastBayShortcake]

I just discovered a yummy cookie that I hadn't seen before - Walker's (of shortbread fame) are now making a cookie with little pieces of candied ginger in them. So so good!

[chicken kabob]

I will have to try that-thanks for the heads up! sounds SOOO good!

[Mandymac]

I'm totally nutty for Mother's Circus Animals, I believe they're called--animal crackers dipped in white and pink colored yogurt coating with sprinkles. I always buy them when in Cal to take back to the East Coast.

[eralmom]

Did you know that Mother`s went out of business!!! But glad to say that after a few months absence, the cookies are back on the shelves. My family and I are so happy. Although my mom keeps telling me that there used to be chocolate ones as well as the pretty pink and white ones, these are my faves. When I was a kid there used to be a square shaped chocolate chip shortbread cookie also made by Mother`s that disappeared years ago.

[latindancer]

Frozen Double Stuff Oreos and the boxed, individually wrapped Little Debbie oatmeal with the white cream in the middle.

[al b. darned]

>>>
individually wrapped Little Debbie oatmeal with the white cream in the middle.
<<<

OOOHHH!!! I love those!

[alkapal]

i loved those growing up. they don't taste the same, though.

btw, trader joe's shortbread cookies are addictive.

[dolores]

Boy, are they ever alkapal. You can't eat just one -- package.

BTW, alcapal, the TJ white chocolate peppermint bar tastes as good in pancakes as the TJ mini peanut butter cups. Luckily for me TJ is NOT within walking distance.

[alkapal]

i only have three bars to last the year. i didn't stock up.
;-(.

thanks for the shortbread "heads-up."

[dolores]

YW on the shortbread, they're amazing aren't they?

Rats. You mean the white chocolate peppermint bar is seasonal? Ack. Next year....get in my freezer!

I just made c/c cookies with leftover TJ chips, white and semi-sw. and threw in the rest of the TJ mini p/b cups. *sigh* The tough part will be not to eat them. All.

[Sal Vanilla]

I have eaten those Kashi devils. But I ate them out of doors and while backpacking so the calories did not count! I like these Anna thing crispy cookies in the spicy cinnamony variety (almondy in a pinch). I let out a little uncontrollable screech when the checkout clerk man handles them! I also like mint milanos and another Pepperidge Farm cookie (the name escapes me) that is very thin and lacy and covered with chocolate! Humminah! I hate Sandies!!! Yes, hate! They taste like sawdust to me. Also, nothing involving a marshmallow. I can already feel the Chow daggers.

[alkapal]

if that marshmallow is big enough, it just might protect you from those chow daggers. word to the wise, alkisal! bff, a

[al b. darned]

My favorites:

Fly Crackers a.k.a. Crawford Garibaldi Biscuit Bars (Tho the original Nabisco Fruit Crackers were better.)

Carr's Ginger Lemon Creams

Ivins Spiced Wafers

[chicken kabob]

This is sort of a cookie/cake..but how about black & white "cookies!?"
I find them pre-packaged in airports and gourmet food stores.
There is a company called "Chris's Cookies" out of NJ that makes them and ships
them around the country. Also, love Walkers butter cookies & lavendar, honey, oatmeal cookies (relatively low-cal for such deliciousness in a package- I get mine 2 in a package at Starbuck's for portion control.)

[Sal Vanilla]

My mom (skinny as a rail - hate her!) loves Carr's Ginger Lemon Creams so much that at the Dollar Store she spied them and bought every single package they had. She called me right when she got home to gleefully tell me about her score! She just kept going on and on about how she could not find them in the regular store. They had to strap a giant box to the top of her SUV after they could no longer stuff any more boxes inside the car!

[Judith]

I just discovered Trader Joe's Metropolitan cookies. I think they might be new, at least at our store. They're thin cookied coated with dark chocolate. They're a little bit like Le Petit Escolier, but I thought they were better, and they're $1.99 a package.

[emerilcantcook]

I really like President's Choice Lassy Mogs. They are soft and slightly spicy cookies with molasses, pecans, raisins and dates in them. But we will not be buying any more because we go through a package way too fast. I cannot afford to buy one size larger pants!

[MEH]

Oreos! Definitely Oreos, preferably for breakfast dunked in a hot cup of coffee. Yummy. I think I need to run to the grocery store right now...!

Mary
www.BestinKitchen.com

[Hassley]

Chocolate mint Girl Guide cookies! Mmm mmm. Even better since they changed the recipe and include a creamy mint center! I'm not sure if the Girl Guide cookies are the same in America... but in Canada, these are amazing!

Aside from these, I also really love those Maple sandwich cookies. No particular brand, they're all pretty delicious to me. Even packages purchased at the dollar store!

[Sooeygun]

I love those mint GG cookies. I also use them as a base for mini chocolate cheesecakes. Mmmm.

[cassoulady]

Hazelnut Petit Ecolier.
Vienna Fingers. There is an ice cream store here that has a vienna finger flavor, it is so good! I also like vanilla ice cream with vienna fingers crushed on top

[2slices]

I don't know how far from NYC these are sold but Tate's chocolate chip are far and away the best chocolate chip cookie ive ever had. Tate's used to be called Kathleen's, and is based out of South Hampton. She sold the name (they're awful now) and started Tate's named after her son. It's a thin, dark brown and crisp cookie. I only ever eat the chocolate chip, but based on that the others are probably pretty good.

You may be able to find them at gourmet type places. They're not too hard to find in NYC, at least in manhattan. If you can't find em go here: http://tatesbakeshop.com/store/defaul...

You will NOT be disappointed.

[MMRuth]

I agree - Tate's cookies are wonderful. In Manhattan, they even sell them at the corner Korean market/bodega. I prefer the ones with nuts.

[EastBayShortcake]

Oooo.. I had these for the first time over the summer while visiting NYC - love love love the crispy oatmeal raisin cookies!

[laliz]

Lu's La Petite Ecolier (little schoolboy) dark chocolate TDF

Oreos WHITE FUDGE ~~ seasonal, didn't buy in time last year, have a pkg to share w/office mates this year

Pepperidge Farm Veronas

[16crab]

My vote goes for Double Chocolate Milanos. Girl scout cookies too...especially the Samoas but really I'll take any of 'em. Actually I'm friends with many a store-bought cookie :)

My bro and sil go nuts over those white fudge oreos and my 4-yo did too last year when they sent us a box (never even looked to see if we get them in Canada or not?) Anyhoots, I've found a mould at the craft store specific for coating oreos - going to give homemade a go with white chocolate and see if they get the same reaction...

[goop]

Guilty: Oreos, Girl Scout Cookies
Not-so-guilty: Pamela's gluten free cookies

[krisrishere]

Pepperidge Farm Sausalito and Milano's
Oreo's
Keebler (I think) Chocolate Covered Grahams
Those long wafer cookies with the vanilla filling inside...I don't think they make them anymore.

[vegasmike]

The 2 I like the most are the store brand of oreo type cookies sold at Safeway or Vons. They are close to tasting like Hydrox cookies which were always better than Oreos. Actually Hydrox was the original one and have been taken off the market through mergers. The other one I like are the new Sandies in the dark chocolate and almond flavor, yum!

[dolores]

The LU schoolboy cookies were on sale recently, and I had forgotten just how good they are. One box milk, one box dark, and they are both gone.

[alkapal]

uh oh! sandies -- in dark chocolate and almond? oh my!

[misnatalie]

Newman's Own Organic's Ginger O's Really delicious ginger flavor with cream center. great cookie.
Pim's chocolate raspberry.
Dancing Deer Mango Coconut Macadamia Cookies big sugar cookies with pieces of mango

[lgss]

Enjoy LIfe! http://www.enjoylifefoods.com/our_foo... They're vegan and gluten-free!

[coney with everything]

Peek Frean's raspberry or strawberry jam and cream sandwich cookies. God, what a treat those were, because we had to get them at the Canadian comissary (when we lived in Germany, roughly the period that dinosaurs roamed the earth)

Every once in a great while I see them in the store and buy them. They are still yummy.

[Duncan]

stroopwafels and girl scout thin mint! anyone know where you can buy stroopwafels in the atlanta area?

[watercress]

Mmmm... cookies.
1I DeStrooper Almond Thins
2) LU chocolate wafer cookies
3) Pepperidge Farm Geneva
4) Oreos (just the cookie part)

[BerkshireTsarina]

Chocolate purist cookie-lover's vote:
Choco Leibniz dark
Lu Le Petit Ecolier dark (NOT the super-dark, let's maintain a sense of proportion here)
Nonni's Biscotti Decadence
and, off duty, I'm with the Hob Nob Lady!

[uptown jimmy]

I've almost completely lost my sweet tooth as I've aged, but I'll chime in here:

Pinwheels, hands down. De-freaking-licious.

Anyone remember Mystic Mint cookies? They were really good frozen or refrigerated.

[jfood]

jfood has not seen pinwheels in years. dothey still make them. and mystic mints were a regular growing up as well.

[FelafelBoy]

Yes, I used to take 5 minutes to consume one of those windmill cookies. I think they had a combination of a cinammon and ginger type taste. I can't recall what the exact taste was, but I do remember they were unlike any other cookie I had ever tasted, and when I used to drink milk, were a delicious combination with it!!

Were the pinwheel cookies the ones with a chocolate coating, cookie/cake interior and some other coating, like a firmer bottom? I remember such a cookie that was so much fun to devour!!!

(Haven't had the Pecan Sandies in decades. Sorry to hear that their quality has decreased. Most of these manufacturers are using cheaper ingredients now - vanillin instead of vanilla, corn syrup instead of more basic sugar, artificial colors, artificial flavors, etc. That's why it's refreshing to read the ingredients used in the new cookie line of product, "TLC" made by Kashi. I have found, though that the taste of the Vienna Fingers and Stella D'Oro Lady Stella variety hasn't changed much from their taste of years ago.)

[alkapal]

that's good news about vienna fingers. i haven't tried one in years.

and the windmills are based on the dutch speculaas cookie, i have determined.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speculaas

they are particularly good with milk -- esp. dipping in the milk, and biting on one of the scattered almond slices in the cookie! here you can read the spice blend that is so tasty: http://www.godutch.com/windmill/recip...

[Catskillgirl]

Aha! cloves, cardamom... no wonder my younger self had no idea what made these so delicious! I loved these cookies and lost all restraint while consuming them.

[HillJ]

Stella D'Oro chocolate has changed but the cookie has not.

[uptown jimmy]

Pinwheels have a chocolate cookie bottom, a big, puffy ring of marshmallow, and a chocolate coating. They have a hole in the middle.

They're still available here in the South, and now they are available year-round. They used to only ship them in wintertime.

[jfood]

And the trick to eating them was to stick your finger in the hole and eat the circumference leaving a nice tulip-looking chocolate last bite from the chocolate in the middle.

[alkapal]

pepperidge farm "verona" cookies with the strawberry filling. shortcaky -- not too sweet filling. no cloying or strange aftertaste. simple and delightful. http://www.pepperidgefarm.com/Product...

i used to love pf's "bordeaux", but the flavoring has become too artificial -- or something. i am a former devotee, and will still go for them for some variety.

the keebler pecan sandies used to be superb. now, they have the same artificial taste as so many others. so sad.

windmill cookies (voortman?) and walker's shortbread.

and yes, i remember mystic mints, uptown j!

[greygarious]

I have never been disappointed in the several varieties of Trader Joe's house brand cookies which I have tried. Particular favorites are Pinachios (white chocolate/pistachio), Caramel Cashew. the tiny almond sugar cookies, and the chocolate lace cookies. Most of them don't look like much, but you will be pleasantly surprised!

[L_W]

Take a Nutter Butter, eat the cream, re-fill with Nutella
Take an oreo, eat the cream, refill with Peanut butter
Take a Vienna Finger, eat the cream, refill with (one side) Nutella and the other side Peanut Butter

I think I have a theme going on here :)

[Catskillgirl]

OT, but I used Nutella as the filling in a chocolate layer cake - heaven on a plate!

[FelafelBoy]

I bought a box of Stella D'Oro cookies today and learned that the variety I was thinking of that I liked so much is called, "Lady Stella," which consists of a variety of cookies - half vanilla/chocolate, chocolate with sprinkles, vanilla with sprinkles, vanilla with colored frosting, and other varieties. I hadn't had these in years, and I may wind up in the hospital for the amount I had. They were as good as the last time I had them, which is surprising, because SD uses palm oil now vs. the other oil it used to make, and normally when there is such a change, the taste and quality is different. These taste the same. (I tried them with green tea, and later with ice cream. These different beverages allowed me to consume the entire box without tiring of them.)

I would rate this variety of cookie assortment among one of the best for this level of product. It's not a Keebler Pecan Sandies kind of quality for a cookie, but for what it professes to be, it is very good. And the Lady Stella variety allows an adult to think he is having fun while plowing through the box of cookies. Normally such a task is hard work. With the different shapes, sizes, and colors, this effort is just plain fun.

[Catskillgirl]

I enjoy your use of ice cream as a beverage. It certainly makes eating cookies even more enjoyable!

[suse]

Stroopwafels.....by a MILE! They look so dull, but they're the best.

[vegasmike]

The only good cookies were Hydrox and they quit making them. You can have those phoney copies like Oreos. Hydrox was the original and the best!

[Pia]

Carr's Lemon Ginger and Le Petit Ecolier with dark chocolate.

[FelafelBoy]

I thought Oreos were the first, and Hydrox copied them. I remember there used to be fighting between those people that swore that Oreos were the real version of this cookie vs. fans of the Hydrox version claimed that their favorite was the better version.

While I remember Oreo as being the original and the original for this kind of cookie, I much preferred the Hydrox version - it seemed sturdier, hardier, and of better quality. The Oreo seemed to disintegrate faster, not to say it was bad, but as compared with the Hydrox, it was of a different texture and hardiness, not as much to my liking! I think the Hydrox cookie was a bit larger, too.

[beelzebozo]

i had a teacher in middle school who not only had keebler's fudge stripe cookies on hand, but distributed them to students with optional peanut butter spread on the bottom. in retrospect it seems a little irresponsible to be pumping all that fat into twelve year olds who already have no regard for their health in an area so fraught with obesity, but hey, who can argue when it's shoved in your face?

as far as my favorite store bought box cookies:

[1] oreo. double-stuf is a bit much for me, but i think the classic is perfectly balanced.
[2] pecan sandies. again, a cookie that isn't going to make many "best of" lists, but that buttery cookie with the hint of pecans is like a clinic in cookie restraint. it's fantastic.
[3] danish wedding cookies. you know the ones i mean: in the big pink box, covered in powdered sugar.

as far as store-bought cookies go, i usually stick to ones that i can't so easily replicate or top at home. i've never had a chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, or white chocolate macadamia cookie that tops the ones i can make in twenty minutes at my house, so i don't even bother.

[FelafelBoy]

<< i've never had a chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, or white chocolate macadamia cookie that tops the ones i can make in twenty minutes at my house, so i don't even bother. >>

Try the Kashi brand of "TLC" (Tasty Little Cookies) Oatmeal Raisin Flax cookies. I bet you will say, "not too bad, not too far different from what I make."

I doubt you would use the number of ingedients Kashi uses, all of which would be considered very healthy, and all the more so for such a boxed prepackaged product of so-called "junk food." When you eat these things, you can actually think you are eating real and healthy food.

[ipsedixit]

I actually think the Costco Kirkland brand of chocolate chip cookies are very very good, and very similar to homemade.

[beelzebozo]

i've tried them, and they're fantastic, to be sure. again, though, i've made so many batches of homemade cookies of those few basic types that it takes zero brain power to toss together the dough and add what i want from there. i use alton brown's "the chewy" cookie dough recipe for the most part, but i've also adapted cook's illustrated "crispy oatmeal cookie" for when i'm in the mood for something with crisp outer edges and a nice chewy middle. it works particularly well for the chocolate chip cookies.

[jfood]

OK Jfood for mainstream:

Top choices:

1 - Mallomars
2 - Oreos
3 - Nutter Butter
4 - Milanos
5 - Fudge Stripes

[HillJ]

Can I get some love for Stella Doro Cookies,,, Anisette Sponge, Breakfast Treats, Chocolate Filled Cookies....

[Angela Roberta]

Mama mia, yes! Breakfast Treats, Roman Egg Biscuits, Lady Stella Assortment, and Chinese Almond Cookies. Don't let me near them! They go down so easy. Very fun and delicious to eat.

[FelafelBoy]

Yes, the SD cookies you listed are great junk food. I don't know how anyone could eat just one cookie and call it a day. Of the assortment, I like the cookies with the colored frosting on top, as well as the ones with colored sprinkles, and also the ones that were a combination of half vanilla/chocolate flavor and color. Roman egg biscuits are deadly - they do resemble a hybrid cross between a cookie and a pound cake!!

Your listing Chinese Almond Cookies reminded me of the best packaged almond cookie I have ever had ... made by the Maurice Lenell Cooky Company (yes, that's how the spelling is on the package!) out of Chicago, IL., called "Mr. Chan's Chinatown Almond Cookies." They contained few ingredients, no preservatives, and were much richer tasting than most other such cookies I have had. I think the company either doesn't sell them at retail stores anymore, changed the recipe, or changed their company name.
Someone once told me they could only be bought in the Chicago area. (Maybe one of our Chicago and/or Illinois friends can fill us in on this!)

I will remember these cookies as the best I have ever had for that kind of cookie. It came in a red-colored package with symbols of dragons appearing on the front of the package breathing out the Yin/Yang symbol. In the middle of the package design was a picture of an emperor. If I was the designer, I would have pictured him eating a cookie, or feeding one to one of the dragons.

[Catskillgirl]

Breakfast Treats! I haven't had them in ages. Now I need some. Thanks a lot. *G*

[HillJ]

Cats! We all deserve a Breakfast Treat! (bg)

[Catskillgirl]

Yes, and these are better for you than the nachos people are eating for breakfast on the Addiction thread! So, so good.

[guby]

Mrs. Fields semisweet chocolate cookies... individually packaged for freshness and deliciously soft and chewy. For a healthier cookie fix, Kashi Dark Chocolate Oatmeal cookies are pretty darn good.

[mizinformation]

I see several favorites already listed like the dare maple cookies and stroopwaffels, but I didn't notice any mention of Newman's Own Ginger-Os. I can't buy them because I can't leave them alone, but while I wouldn't call them "healthy," the ingredients list is short and normal-sounding.

[KevinB]

Frankly, we don't eat that many store bought cookies any more.. my wife is a fantastic baker, and her cookies put Mrs. Field's to shame. So if we have cookies, they are usually Oreos to throw in the kids' lunches.

But I do remember Dad's Oatmeal Cookies (that's a brand, not my father) from my youth. They were very crunchy, so we always had them with milk, and dunked them to soften them up.

[KaimukiMan]

Dad's were the best. I had forgotten about them. Big too. Sometimes mom would turn them into ice cream sandwiches for us. For us they weren't store bought, we bought them from the little shop they had at one side of the bakery in Oakland. It was always a treat, and amazing how many of those cookies would disappear before we got home.

[robertjsweet]

pepperidge farms soft baked cookies...oatmeal cranberry, milk chocolate caramel, dark chocolate brownie captiva....a double chocolate cookie....milk chocolate chunk, milk chocolate macadamia.... need milk with any of these.....

[coll]

Although not technically a cookie, I love the new Kashi TLC pumpkin flaxseed spice bars, I keep telling everyone it tastes like a pumpkin cookie (sort of crunchy though) and love that it's actually got some nutrition in it.

[FelafelBoy]

Yes, I forgot about them. I was very impressed with their quality also. I hadn't considered them to be a cookie, more of a cruncy granola type bar, but I guess if they were shaped differently and called a cookie, they might be perceived as one. I tried several varieties of those bars, and they were all very good, at least for that kind of a product, and far better than the other similar bars made by other companies. The competition's bars are soggier, more sugary, and consist of ingredients that are not of the quality used by Kashi. Note that these bars when they are not on sale, are not inexpensive, but at least you have peace of mind knowing that your "junk food" snack has greater elements of healthy ingredients than you might otherwise be consuming in some other prepackaged snack type cookie/bar.

[sunkissedbabe43]

Has anyone tried the new oreo strawberry milshake cookies? I saw them at Target today and was pretty tempted.

[meatn3]

TJ's Triple Ginger cookie
Just about anything by Dare (several mentioned already)
Chocolate/Tangerine cookie by Dancing Deer Baking Co.
most everything Immaculate Baking Co.

[tarteaucitron]

The Lemon Daisy cookies by Dancing Deer too. They use real butter and other good stuff, and the presentation is really cute.

[meatn3]

Mmmm...just tried the Lemon Daisy cookies. Very nice, not too rich or too sweet. Lemon tastes like lemon. They look so sweet you almost hate to bite, but then you're glad you did!

[hipchick47]

I have a new favorite cookie.........................WALMART Sams choice lemon white chocolate cookies. They taste homemade. Crispy yet soft,very fresh tasting,kinda like the texture of PF sausalito w/out the coconut. There r several varities in this new cookie line. The dark chocolate chip sounds good, but the chips are awful.

[mamamia]

stroopwafels, stroopwafels, stroopwafels
I discovered them while dating a Dutch guy in college - his family in L.A. would send them to Arizona because we just didn't have a cool Dutch imports store(and still don't!!). I went to NL on a trip a few years later and stuffed my suitcase with them.

I do enjoy Mothers iced ginger snaps as well.

As a kid: grandma always had Keeblers Fudge Stripes on hand, so I was all over those.

[ipsedixit]

mamamia,

You can get stroopwafels at The House of Rice Store in Scottsdale, AZ.

The House of Rice Store
3221 North Hayden Rd
Scottsdale
[phone]

[emily]

If you want to order some FRESH, delicious stroopwaffles, try www.caramelcookiewaffles.com. They're made by the Dutch Brothers Bakery (in Billings, MT!) and are so much better than the imported ones that might have been sitting around for who knows how long.

[CrazyOne]

Oh, now you've done it. I might have to try those. I kept buying a couple tins of stroopwafels each time I went into Trader Joe's pretty much until they ran out. They get them in with the rest of the holiday stuff, so the ones I bought in Feb or maybe even March had indeed been sitting around that much more. They were imported from Holland, though. Addictive!

[jhopp217]

Maybe I just skimmed this thread to quickly, but nobody mentioned Girl Scout Cookies. Ok, granted you can't buy them in a store, but they are not fresh. Somoas are my fave.

As for true store bought cookies - Pepperidge Farms Sausalitos, Nutter Butters, and my childhood favorite PF's Chessmen. The greatest dunking cookie ever. Sorry Oreo lovers.

[Catskillgirl]

Thin mints. Mmmmmmm. And the peanut butter sandwich cookies. Double mmmmmmm. I wish I knew some Girl Scouts - I never see them when they're taking orders!

[Kate is always hungry]

It was Thin Mints for me too, until I found Ovenbaked Crispy Fudge Mint cookies at the 99 cents only store (now $1.00). I eat them only after they've spent a few hours in the freezer. In Southern California, Girl Scouts don't take orders very much anymore. If anyone is taking an order, it is their mother or father, at work. Usually, the moms and the Scouts set up a table of cookie boxes in front of a grocery store or other high foot traffic business and hawk their cookies.

I have been eating Thin Mints for probably longer than most Hounds have been alive, and I now prefer the dollar store version for its superior flavor.

[alkapal]

kate, weren't you the hound over on the tj's thread whom i told about the trader joe's chocolate mint goodies?

fyi, hounds, the "white chocolate" covered peppermint bark candy bar at the checkout line counter is superbly "girl scout thin mint" as thin mint used to be!

[Kate is always hungry]

Hi alkapal!

I'm the hound. I didn't see them last time I was at TJ. I'm going tomorrow so I will report back.

Thanks,
Kate

[coney with everything]

chocolate covered peppermint jo-jos--they're in a narrow box of 12. The TJ's I went to yesterday had them with the Xmas stuff, not with the regular cookies.

Freeze them...yum

[Kate is always hungry]

Of course! I freeze anything chocolate mint. TJ's here I come.

[Kate is always hungry]

I went to TJ yesterday. I saw peppermint Jo-Jos but not chocolate covered. Are you sure they are chocolate covered? I was really looking forward to freezing them.

[alkapal]

yes, i'm sure cause i bought some. they are in a long, narrow box -- unlike the other peppermint jo-jo's.

did you find the white peppermint bark candy bar near checkout? like it?

[dolores]

Thanks to you, alkapal, I sought out and bought (had a list) of everything recommended here at TJs. My opinion, from best to not so best, based on what went like lightening and what is still hanging around:

--the 99 cents amaretto cakes were excellent. When I went back for more, they were gone.
--the TJ shortbread (they were handing out pieces with their free excellent coffee, what a cool store) are exquisite. Sorry, Walker, you've been replaced.
--the chocolate covered peppermint Jo-Jos are a complete dessert in one cookie. The chocolate is outstanding -- how DO they do that, use an outstanding chocolate while every other manufacturer is using plastic chocolate? -- the cookie is good, the peppermint pieces are a nice touch, and one, just one, cookie is so very rich, it satisfies even a sweet-a-holic like me.
--I found the Metropolitan cookies, sorry to say, meh.
--I also found the peppermint Jo-Jos, sans chocolate, to be ordinary. Does TJ chocolate cover OTHER Jo-Jos?
--the peppermint bark is good, but not like the chocolate covered Jo-Jos good.
--oddly, the peppermint bark candy bar is still in its wrapper. I wonder why?

By far the best of my scientific excursion, then, were the shortbread and choc. covered Jo-Jo cookies. To die for, as the saying goes.

Oh, and the nut cookies I made with the TJ salty and sweet trail mix were excellent.

Hmmmm, I just thought of something -- can the Oreo cookie truffles (the hit of the holiday) be made with the choc. covered Jo-Jos? Uh oh................

Thanks again, alkapal.

[alkapal]

thanks for the report. dolores! i love shortbread, and so must try it. i'll look for the amaretto cakes, too. i haven't tried my choco-covered pepp-jo-jo's.

as i mentioned elsewhere, the pepp bark candy bar is far better than the bark in a can. (oh no, did i say "bark"?!?!? LOLOL!)

[dolores]

Unless they restock them, I think the little amaretto cakes were just for the holiday. I tried freezing the shortbread cookies to eat them slower -- it didn't work.

Trust me, you will lovvve the choc. covered Jo-Jos.

Okay, now I have to go open the candy bar!

That didn't take long -- I agree, the candy bar has more white chocolate on top of the dark chocolate, and tastes better.

And I still have to marvel at the quality of chocolate that TJ uses -- incredible stuff.

[alkapal]

lol, dolores, i went and opened the choco-covered mint joe-joes. it is good, and one does go a long way to satisfying that sweet tooth! ;-).

and i agree about the chocolate quality! excellent. no waxy-choco-flavor.

i recently got "burned" buying from boy scouts "chocolate" covered popcorn and pretzels. when i opened the packages (inside the huge -- expensive -- tin), the treats were "chocolatey" (how in heaven's name can that be called "chocolatey"?) -- horrid. next time, my antennae are going to be fully arrayed for this fraud upon chocolate -- and me!! (i don't blame the poor boy scouts; they probably didn't know that "chocolatey" wasn't really chocolate!).

RIP-off!

[lucygoosey]

I love that sweet and salty mix. I am so copying and making cookies w/ it. genius!

Weighing in on store cookies. Tate's are our fave. They're a bit pricey but they taste so close to my gram's that I "need" them sometimes.

[dolores]

Thanks, lucygoosey! Love the dog pic.

Tates is a new name to me.

[coney with everything]

Yes indeed, as alkapal says. Long narrow burgundy-colored box--like Breton or Carr's crackers. If your TJ's has all their Xmas stuff piled together, they'll probably be there.

Ate the last one yesterday...must...get...another...box...

[Kate is always hungry]

I'll check the other Trader Joe's. Now I must have those cookies!

[pringle347]

Brent and Sam's cookies are good....but I also find that the best choices are either at Whole Foods, or in the organic aisle of my local market. Far fewer chemicals (or none), no trans fats, no HFCS... I'm not sure this makes them "healthy"...enough of them will still pack on the pounds....but definitely the far lesser evil!

[Emme]

Brent and Sam's Key Lime White Chocolate Chip... stellar.

[babaoriley7]

Those look suspiciously like the ones you can get at Target. I think Archer Farms brand. Must be an outsourcing deal and yes they are really good.

[im_nomad]

I second all Walker's Shortbread mentions. And if a Tunnock's Tea Cake counts, definitly vote for that !!! I also like those Anna's ginger thins and the Orange thins that i think you get at Ikea.

Other favorites:
-mint girl guide cookies
-Pirate Peanut Butter cookies (Mr. Christie)
-Maple Leaf cookies (Mr. Christie's I think?)
-All Purity brand products.

If we are including granola bars here, those sweet and salty varieties are good. I think any of those "breakfast bars" or soft granola bars are just glorified cookies anyway.

[Davwud]

The best store bought prepackaged cookies are the Presidents Choice Decadent CCC's.
PC is a no frill brand here in Canada and this cookie is simply awesome.

DT

[im_nomad]

i second that one.....160 for two of those cookies isn't TOO bad.....problem is, stopping at two.

[was_bk]

My fave chocolate chip cookie are Betty's Best Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies

They have the perfect proportion of nuts to chocolate to cookie. btw, these are a crispy rather than a soft/chewy cookie.

Since they and are sold at the Wholesale Unlimited stores in you guessed it...Hawaii I have to get my fix by mailorder to nyc

http://www.cybersnacks.net/bettys_bes...

Next up I have to echo earlier posters and go with most varieties of TimTams. While great as a slam, they are even better mixed up in vanilla ice cream!

[Emme]

I love Carr's Whole Wheat Crackers because they're slightly sweet, and taste like an English biscuit.

Mother's Taffy Cookies are really yummy... love the cream and the cookie base
Trader Joe's Vanilla Jo-Jo's
TJ's also has a new sesame dried cherry cookie cluster that comes in that small square plastic box (there's also a granola dried cherry that I haven't tried that come in a round tub)
Keebler's new dipping stick Cheesecake flavored sandwich cookies
Lu's White Chocolate topped shortbread squares
Leibniz Butter Rectangular Cookies/Biscuits
Something nostalgic about Lorna Doones, Vienna Fingers, Nilla Wafers
Snackwell's Creme Sandwiches aren't all that bad for being lower cal supposedly, nor are their Devil's Food Cookies.

[FelafelBoy]

Yes, Lorna Doones - one of the all time classic cookies. Come to think of it, there probably is, or should be a "cookie hall of fame" somewhere in the country. It would consist of the all time favorite cookies of the public, with a permanent registry of cookies that have a status that is irreplaceable, cookies whose popularity withstood the test of time, left their mark in the memories and taste buds of the public, and were unique in their own way.

In that regard, I think cookies such as Lorna Doones, Vienna Fingers, Oreos, deserve a place in the top 10. Although we can recommend our favorite cookies, I think most of us would acknowledge that there are a few cookies that deserve to be placed in the top 10 of cookie history.

One cookie I forgot to mention that I used to devour, and that used to devour me, was Keebler Sandies Pecan Shortbread Cookies. I wouldn't put this cookie in the top 10, but I remember eating them as a very young child and thinking of myself as more of an adult, more mature, by eating such a substantial rich cookie. It seemed so rich. I must have consumed huge amounts of calories in the quantities that I did as a small kid.

I used to love many of the Girl Scout Cookies, especially the peanut butter, shortbread, and lemon cookies.

Cookies with that inner filling cause us to be more deliberate with our consumption of the snack, and to nurse it as long as possible until the last bite.

I remember taking at least five minutes to consume one Vienna Finger, and that was with no breaks during the project!!!

[othervoice]

You and I have pretty much the exact same list.....great minds think alike. I could eat a package of Lorna Doones with a tall glass of milk without blinking an eye. For that matter it could be a package of Oreos, Vienna Fingers or Pecan Shortbreads.

[Grainiac]

I'm a big fan of TJ's Joe Joe's and 365 Whole Foods brand Fig bars. Mmmmm :)

[FelafelBoy]

I had high hopes for TJ's Fig bars. I assumed they were similar to Fig Newtons. They were good, but resembled more a cake type bar that you squeeze out a long package than a crisp cookie or something like a Fig Newton. If I wanted a cookie, I wouldn't buy this. It was also very sweet, causing me to flush a bit after I had several. (Yes, I know, I am only supposed to eat one per sitting, but I don't have this experience with most cookies that I overindulge with.)

[coll]

I love all types of Trader Joes oatmeal cookies, and gingersnaps. Oh and the maple leafs. Pretty much all of them.

[rudysmom]

i just tried Lu lemon-ginger sandwich cookies, they are quite yummy. i didn't dare look at the side of the box, but i think that one cookie is considered a serving (HAH!).
and speaking of dare, i love the Dare maple cream cookies. the lemon ones are a close second.

[KevinB]

You beat me to the punch! I was going to nominate Dare's Maple Cream; I guess I'll have to second yours. They are like a mouthful of Canada!

[AmyH]

I was also going to nominate Dare's Maple Cream cookies. And their chocolate fudge ones, too. Those things are addictive!

[Blush]

Dare's Chocolate Fudge are definitely one of my favourites, along with PC Decadent Chocolate Chip.

[meatn3]

I just tried their coconut variety - very good!

[turqmut]

I like the lemon Dare's with the cockatoo on the bag.

[AmyH]

I wish we could still get PC cookies. I loved the ones with the raspberry jelly in the middle. The key lime ones, too. For a while we could get them at WalMart (not PC brand but probably made by them), but no more. WalMart does have an excellent toffee chocolate chip cookie, I think it's their store Sam's Choice brand.

[piccola]

I was just going to mention the PC Decadents! I'm not a chocolate chip lover, but these guys are irresistible.

[corgette]

My first thought when I saw this thread was the Lu lemon-ginger cookies. I like the slightly salty cookie with the decent tang of the filling.

They are GREAT with tea. Mmm.

[ipsedixit]

Wheat Thins
'Nila Wafers
Fig Newtons
Pepperidge Farm "Soft Baked" Choclate Caramel
Animal Crackers
Ritz Bits Peanut Butter Sandwiches

[tinymango]

*gasp* fig newtons? it's a cake, not a cookie!

anyhow. i cant wait to try the kashi on this reccommendation. especially since i have a weakness for oatmeal raisin cookies.

am i the only one not that impressed by pims? i hate that soft cookie/cake thing...

in response to the mcvities- yum, mcvities are great, my favourites are the milk chocolate digestives.

also, halloween oreos. yes, just halloween with the orange centres. (which, i could not find this past halloween, for the first time in my life, since theyve begun making them!)

yes, to: stroopwaffels and walkers shortbread <3

also, when in health stores i find it very difficult/impossible to resist those alternative baking company big chocolate chip cookies.

[FelafelBoy]

I have thought of Wheat Thin type crackers as cookies at times - they do contain a fair amount of sugar and resemble a cracker only in their crispness, thinness, and saltiness. Other than that, they can satisfy a sugar fix for a cookie. My preference, strong preference is for Wheatables - their taste and texture appeal to me much more than the Wheat Thins.

Pepperidge Farms has a line of many variety of crisp higher end cookies contained in a small bag. They do have a richer taste, resembling more of a fancier cookie. Because of their extreme crispness, I can eat them only with some liquid.

Fig newtons leave me with the illusion that I am eating something entirely healthy. The best thing about a fig newton is that it reminds you how tasty plain figs are, and that you really don't need the flour covering and additional sugar over the fig as well as mixed into the pureed fig mixture.

Amazing that the Ritz people didn't realize that they could have combined their cracker business with the cookie business years ago. It was well-known that people loved to spread peanut butter on their crackers.

I loved the plain taste of animal crackers. I assume that vegetarians have their version of these cookies since they must abstain from consuming such a product.

[viperlush]

If you are including crackers as a cookie substitute, I like sugar crackers, something that I've found at a local asian grocery store. Basically saltine like crackers with large sugar crystals on top. Not as sweet or heavy as a cookie and if I remember correctly 1/2 the calories.

[Emme]

do you happen to know the brand name?

[viperlush]

No sorry I don't remember. I haven't gotten them in awhile. Just remember that they were in a clear and orange plastic bag and I found them in the snack section.

[dreamsicle]

Are you talking about Malkist Crackers? I don't know if they are available in the US, but we used to have the Garden ones as teatime snacks in kindergarten in Hong Kong. I loved the slightly sweet and sticky sugar layer on the top of the crackers!

You can see a picture of the crackers on this website: http://www.garden.com.hk/web/b5_insid...

[viperlush]

Not the exact one that I've had, but similar. The sugar was more crystal and not really caramelized. But these do look like them.

[ipsedixit]

Now, that you mention it. There's a geat Chinese sugar cream cracker that's fabulous. Dunno, or recall, the name, however ...

[ArikaDawn]

I don't like the pim's either. I've only had the orange variety, but I tossed them after tasting one.
I reeally like Fig Newman's and reduced fat Fig Newtons. I like them cold or heated, smashed a bit, and top with a scoop of non-fat vanilla fro-yo.
I don't know if graham crackers qualify, but they tend to really satisfy any cookie craving I may have. The reduced fat variety is just as good as the regular too. Teddy Grahams always have, and continue to rock my word. The new oatmeal flavor is awesome. Newman Oh's are also good and satisfy an Oreo cracing with a slightly more wholesome ingredient list.

[Catskillgirl]

Graham crackers with a square of chocolate candy bar on top are my new sweet obsession.

[ipsedixit]

What, you have something against marshmallows??

:-)

[Catskillgirl]

I actually had to have s'mores last summer, after reading a thread on CH about them. They're now officially too sweet for me! But I did love them when (much) younger!

[ArikaDawn]

I bet they'd be good with dark chocolate. It'd cut the sweetness a bit. I'm going to have to try it.....for scientific purposes of course.

[janemarcet]

The difference between a cake and a cookie may cost the British taxman a lot of money soon..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7340101.stm

A cute website on all things biscuit-/cookie-related is

www.nicecupofteaandasitdown.com

though it may cause food envy, as I'm not sure how many of the brands they discuss are available in the States.

I LOVE mcvities!!

[Laurella]

We're fans of Next to Nature brand peanut butter sandwich cookies. (We don't like any of their other cookies, though). No trans fat or hydrogenated oil, no refined sugar. Mind you, they're certainly not health food, but we call them hippie Nutter Butters and they fill that niche quite nicely. (We get them at our co-op).

[Budino]

along those line, we're crazy about Country Cottage brand mint chocolate sandwich cookies. Think oreos with mint cream. No trans fat or hydrogenated oil, though I do think they have sugar.

They are absolutely addictive and are fondly referred to as "the evil cookies" around the budino household.

[moh]

FelafelBoy, I am going to have to refuse to answer the "healthiest and yet desirable cookie" question. I don't eat cookies for health reasons, so I don't think I can be unbiased!

As for most delicious, well, so difficult to narrow down. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. Pim's raspberry
2. Jules Destrooper Almond thins (but they are all good!)
3. Tim-Tams (for the Tim-Tam slam of course!)
4. Walker's Shortbread
5. Yes to Stroopwafels, love those things!
6. Packaged orange chocolate biscotti, I can't remember the brand
7. Classic Oreo

There are probably more, but I have to stop here. Even thinking about them is causing me to gain weight.

[sunkissedbabe43]

I love oreos dipped in peanut butter and of course chips ahoy with some milk. =]

[kimeats]

PiM's orange: http://www.amazon.com/Pims-Sponge-Cak...

[babaoriley7]

I'm going with Double Stuff Oreos. I hadn't had them for like 10 years and then I rediscovered them.

[Smileelisa]

I am with you babaoriley. Oreo double stuff cookies rock. I like them frozen. I also love fig newtons. We have Little Debbie cakes here in NEPA and I think their fig newtons are better than nabisco's.

[dolores]

>>Eating a bit of ice cream afterwards helped.

I like the way you think, FelafelBoy.

Since not being able to eat an entire sleeve anymore -- of course one must eat an entire sleeve, otherwise the karma of the box is off! -- I tend not to buy store bought cookies. Add to that the fact that the cookie itself is reduced -- I recently tried Suzy Qs, what a disaster -- in size and increased in price, and they're not worth the aggravation.

I'd rather dip a spoon into a peanut butter jar for my sugar fix. Oh, and if there's a non-half gallon of ice cream around, I'll dip the spoon in that after the peanut butter. I learned that here!

As to 'used to be's', I liked Nutter Butters and Vienna Fingers and a soft variation on Nutter Butters, which aren't around anymore. Pepperidge Farm cookies are good, as are any of the realllly expensive premium cookies.

Oh, I almost forgot! If you want a realllllllllllly glorious store bought cookie, head to the international aisle and get a package of McVitie's Hob Nobs. Betcha can't eat just four!

[beachmouse]

You can also sometimes find stroopwafels in the international aisle- very thin cookies with a caramel middle layer. Even more yummy when you can park them over a hot cup of coffee or tea for a minute to soften up the caramel a little.

[tinymango]

i've been surprised in recent times to find stroopwafels at my 7-11 next to the cash register.

[wekick]

I bought some @ TJ Maxx.

[FelafelBoy]

I hope this thread exposes us to all the great cookies out there that many of us, myself included, are not aware of, since I try to limit my vices to a few of the same tried and tested junk food items.

I remember what I used to do to Vienna Fingers to change their texture and the challenge they gave me. I would eat them at three different kinds of temperature and freshness - room temperature, refrigerated, and frozen. The most flavor came out at room temperature and the filling easily blended into the wafer when the cookie was bit into. In the refrigerated state, the wafer gave more resistance, offered a cooling sensation, and once the filling was reached, more cooling sensation was experienced. When frozen, the wafer and filling offered an interesting resistance, sometimes parts separating, other times, both wafer and filling merging into one. I especially enjoyed eating colder/frozen Vienna Fingers when it was hot out.

I discovered that if I left the cookies out, the wafer would take on a different texture and taste - the cookie wasn't spoiled, but something changed in its composition to produce what tasted to me like a more "mature" or "aged" cookie. The trick was to reach that point of maturity or fine vintage, if I can borrow that term, before the cookie spoiled.

For awhile Keebler was making Vienna Fingers with various flavored fillings other than vanilla. I'm not sure they are still doing this. One of the enjoyments I had with the taste of this cookie was the element of corn flour in the wafer. When the filling was something other than vanilla, such as chocolate, I found that the taste overpowered the flavor of the wafer.

And as you said referring to the smaller size of some of these cookies - I'm not sure when that downsizing happened, but I do remember my disappointment some years ago seeing Oreos, Hydrox, and some of the other cookies being made in what looked like half the original size. I think Vienna Fingers are still made of the original size.

The Nutter Butters were oblong(?) or round wafers with a peanut butter filling I recall. Reminded me of another similar cookie whose name escapes me that were addictive.

[dolores]

FelafelBoy, we're on the same wavelength when it comes to sweets. You conducted an experiment on Vienna Fingers, I love it!

I like reading all these posts from folks who put ice cream on their cookies -- sure evidence that healthy eating only goes so far.

VF are of the same size? I'll have to get another box soon, before they go the way of the 56oz and soon to be 48oz 'half gallon' of ice cream.

The wafer PB cookies were Nutter Butters? What then were the cookies like VF that were made with peanut butter?

[coll]

I'm pretty sure Mallomars are smaller too, at least they look it to me.

[Davwud]

I'm trying to decide if the cookies are smaller or my hands are bigger.

DT

[charlesbois]

choco-leibniz, by a longshot

[kattyeyes]

Absolutely, hands down, no question. I love my Choco-Leibniz!

[goodhealthgourmet]

best international cookies on the planet are arnott's tim tams from australia.

[karenfinan]

tim tam slam:-)

[sinjawns]

agreed. But only the original.