Show Me What Ya Got, Cookie!

My regular readers (thank you!!) are well aware of my high standards when it comes to coffee and chocolate. I save myself for the best, thank you. But there is a third category nearly as dear to me as those two, and that is cookies. Like Prue Leith said on the Great British Baking Show, they have to be worth the calories. So here’s a story about my recent “Oreo” style cookie experience. (Read on for the explanation.)

It began last weekend when I headed up to Empire to close up my camping trailer for the winter. On the way I stopped at the Cops & Donuts store in Clare, as is my wont, and picked up two of my favorite cookies, a classic chocolate chip and a double chocolate with chocolate frosting. (Are you sensing a pattern here?)

This is how you show off the goods! Photo from Tripadvisor.

Cops & Donuts, for those unfamiliar with the bakery, was purchased by Clare policemen when its predecessor was due to close. Their quality, focus on community involvement, and some clever use of social media resulted in what’s considered a landmark destination, and a practically required stop for our family when we headed that way.

And their cookies are massive.

Photo from Cops & Donuts website.

My standard method for tackling these puppies is to break off pieces and nibble on them, which I do during the remaining drive, then in my trailer, then on the way home. They are too good to eat quickly, and would probably kill me if I tried. As it turned out, they lasted just long enough to get me home.

And that would normally be that. Except this morning I made a quick shopping trip, and on my way out of the parking lot my eye fell on a corner of the nearby mall. Several times I’d spotted what was either a cookie shop or YACO (*), and this time I decided to find out one way or the other. So that was how I ended up at Ann Arbor’s crumbl store.

Photo from Mlive.

While it is indeed a bakery, several things about it contrasted sharply from my experience at C&D. First, it’s a chain, with around 1,000 locations. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it does mean they use corporate standard ingredients, machinery, and baking processes. I have come to prefer local and quirky for such things, but I was there, so why not try their stuff.

And their presentation just did not measure up to C&D. Instead of the counters and shelves stuffed with the goodies, they had a tray on the counter marked “Display Only” with an example of each cookie available that day. Reminded me of a typical Starbucks, which displays their baked goods (one of each) in a dumpy small case like they’re almost embarrassed to show them. The cookies themselves looked reasonably appealing, and they had a chocolate chip and an M&M version, so I asked for one of each. And then the fun began.

You order on an app, and while there were options to buy boxes of 3, 6, and a dozen cookies, I couldn’t find any way to order just one or two. Finally someone otherwise engaged in the prep and baking came over to help. She flipped the screen over to her and began tapping. Twelve taps later she was still working.

“That’s a lot of work for two cookies,” I said helpfully. She said something about the slow app and kept at it. Finally she had it done and asked how I’d like to pay. “I can do cash,” I said. Oops. She had to remove her gloves, take my cash, open the drawer, study my change for a bit to make sure she had it right, then put on new gloves. Guess I should’ve just tapped my card.

She then opened a cabinet, took out my cookies, and placed each in its own pink box. And my “green” self couldn’t help it. “You can put them in one, and save the other,” I said. She shrugged. “I can’t take the box back.” I’ve heard this line many times; once they give something to you, they can’t take it back. Health department, they claim. Funny how Zingerman’s happily takes back the napkins and extra bag I don’t need. (Hope I haven’t just gotten them in trouble.)

So look, I’m not criticizing the fine people who work there. They were all busy doing their jobs. But as someone who spent over 30 years as a process improvement specialist, observing anyone’s process and spotting inefficiencies is second nature. Plus I like doing it. If I had ten minutes with the CEO I’d have some things to share with him. But he’s a billionaire, so what do I know.

Oh, and the cookies? Quite respectable. Thick and chewy. The chocolate chip had more flavor than the M&M, but C&D’s versions win for me. They are also nowhere near the size of C&D’s cookies, yet they cost more ($9 for the two). Hmm…not exactly a recipe to make me head back there anytime soon.

And speaking of Zingerman’s – yeah, pull my arm – I happened to go to their southside café later in the afternoon. Along with coffee they offer pastries and candy, including fancy-dancy bonbons made locally.

Tell me you can look at that case and just walk away.

While I waited for my oat-milk latte (in my reusable cup, natch) I perused the bonbons, as also is my wont, and chatted with the guy behind the counter. Who recognized me from my morning post-workout stops, a touch I appreciated. He made some recommendations and offered samples, but I noticed one of my favorites – the Arabic Coffee – was missing.

“Oh, yes,” he said. “They came out not quite perfect looking, so we put them in the samples.” He retrieved one and handed it to me (sans box). Just a tiny smudge on the top was enough for them not to put them out for sale. Tasted great, though. Guess what I will be going back to again and again when I want a tiny treat?

So there’s my recent Oreo experience with desserts. One “meh” sandwiched between two really good ones. Not a perfect analogy. I like everything about Oreos. Cheap and mass produced? Yep. Still love ‘em. Deal with it.