Two of my dearest friends are visiting this week. They’ve flown from quite a distance for us to be together: one from Oxford, England and another from Sydney, Australia. And as fate would have it, my husband happens to be out of town for the next two weeks, so the timing is perfect. We’re having an all-out girls’ week.
In the past five days, we’ve had cocktails and sushi, mani/pedis. We’ve watched two romantic comedies (Going the Distance and Love and Other Drugs) and the Oscars, read gossip magazines, had lunch at The Plaza. We’ve gone sightseeing and shopping (followed by shopping and more shopping). But I knew that before the girls left, I wanted to take them to Levain Bakery, reputed to have the best cookies in New York City. So this afternoon we went with a few other friends.
What I love about Levain’s Bakery is, there are just four kinds of cookies: Chocolate Chip Walnut, Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin and Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip.
I love that. When I’m at restaurants with four-page menus I want to say, “Just do what you do well and just that.” That’s what Levain’s does in spades.
Let’s start with size (because when it comes to cookies, size matters). I bought a half dozen cookies to my husband’s work last week. Shortly after I left, I got an e-mail from one of his co-workers: “Mags, these are not cookies! They’re muffin tops.” The man’s not wrong. Apparently no one at Andy’s office could finish a whole one themselves. I don’t know what’s wrong with them—because we did!
They are crispy on the outside and oh-so ooey, gooey, chewy on the inside. Two of the four cookies we bought were still warm and the center of the cookie was precariously straddling the boundary between dough and cookie. Now that’s perfect.
To date, these are the best cookies I’ve had (aside from my mom’s chocolate-chip cookies and Ben’s Cookies in Oxford, England). Not everyone can pop in to pick up a fresh cookie, but they do ship anywhere in the U.S. I’d like to share the experience I had with someone else. And also celebrate the fact that Andy and I just signed a lease for an apartment on the Upper West Side 12 blocks from Levain Bakery. So today, 3MC is giving away a gift box with four cookies.
To enter, just tell us: “What’s your favorite cookie?”
(Giveaway ends Monday, March 7 at 9 AM)
And the winner is #149 – SUSAN! We love her answer: “My favorite cookie is anything I can dunk”
Send me your address, Susan! I’ll get your cookies posted to you as soon as possible so you can get dunkin’ 🙂
Linzer tarts
Aren’t you glad we never have to choose just one?
I’m with the chocolate chip crowd here, but I’d pick brownies first, if that counts as a cookie.
Congratulations on your new home! What will you make to inaugurate the kitchen?
One of my many favorites is a slice & bake pecan shortbread.
Actually, my husband is a huge cookie fan and his all time favs are chocolate chip and peanut butter. He loves them both.
Just found your blog and I will be one of your new fans from Texas!
I never met a cookie I didn’t like but if I have to pick a favorite, it would be homemade butter cookies especially spritz at Christmas time.
oatmeal raisin….hand down!
charlcr(at)aol.com
Because it is Girl Scout cookie season I have thin mints on the brain, but normally I’m a chocolate chip cookie fan and around the holidays a seriously spicy, soft gingerbread cookie is top of my list.
chocolate chip cookies!
While no chocolate chip cookie is safe in our house, the most loved cookie is my husband’s butter and brown sugar spritz. He makes them every Christmas and lately for other holidays as well.
Nutter Butters!
Favorite cookie? What a mean question!
Probably, however, a freshly baked peanut butter cookie with chocolate and peanut butter chips. Yum.
I love potato chip cookies!!!
A seventh grade student of mine gave a required demonstration speech. She did a wonderful job showing, and explaining to all how to make 10 Cup Cookies. So delicious and cookies I have made many times over the years to the delight of many. Yum. Might be time for a batch! Goes to show ya, kids can do a great job teaching peers and adults.
coconut macaroons
Homemade chocolate chip cookies warm right out of the oven.
Oatmeal raisin!!! Mmmm!!
I love SNICKERDOODLES!!!!
good old chocolate chip cookies!
Black and White Half Moon Cookies from Elks Bakery in Endicott, NY (the bakery is long gone, but the founders’ daughter has published a cookbook which includes the recipe for B&W cookies, and I’ve made them several times). Heavenly!!
I’m a chocolate chip girl too. Love them hot out of the oven!
My mom’s Mandelbread! It’s a Jewish cookie like a chewier version of a biscotti with raisins and walnuts and coated in cinnamon and sugar. Ok drooling now haha.
My favorite is a chocolate cookie with peanut butter hidden in the center.
I’ve never had a spritz so I’m going to have to try that one day. I think Snickerdoodles are the best!
Salty chocolate chip cookies!
Chocolate chip
Cowboy Cookies!
Oh Bemoaning the fact that I discovered your blog, from Jamie’s blog posts today at 2:55 my time (which I believe, and going to assume is 4:55 your time!) What a wonderful post! Love big cookies! Love the girl time (and jealous, but hey I have 4 kids – any girl time is appreciated!) Hopefully I can find these guys on-line and order cookies from them anyway!
Oh yeah – favorite cookie – toss up between Choc Chip and Oatmeal Rasin! Both to die for! Mmmmmm…..
My Gram’s chocolate chip cookies, of course!