Frito-Lay Chips

Update Review, 2026: Cheetos

I've tried them crunchy, I've tried them puffy, I've tried all the flavors.  Cheetos are not for me.

Cheetos Crunchy.

"Bring a cheesy, delicious crunch to snack time with a bag of CHEETOS® Crunchy Cheese-Flavored Snacks. Made with real cheese for maximum flavor."

I didn't grow up liking Cheetos.  I didn't like them a few years ago when I tried them out of novelty for my blog.  And yet ... I decided to give them another try, after actually enjoying the Japanese Grilled Steak flavor available in China.

I ... didn't hate them.  I wouldn't say I liked them, but I can see the appeal more.  Great crunchy yet slightly airy texture.  Incredibly fake cheese that is slightly endearing.  They seem very munchable.  I finished my bag, but I wouldn't buy another.  2.5/5.

Crunchy Cheddar Jalapeño.

"Bold, cheesy CHEETOS® meet spicy jalapeño in this DANGEROUSLY CHEESY® snack. CHEETOS® Crunchy Cheddar Jalapeno Cheese Flavored Snacks are made with real cheese and just the right amount of heat."

To try to get myself to like Cheetos a bit more, I tried the cheddar jalapeño ones next.  And ... eh.  I mean, the texture is cool, crunchy but airy inside, but I don't find myself wanting this texture compared to puffier options, or classic chips.  They were nicely zesty from the jalapeño though, and fairly cheesy.  But just not a snack I'll ever gravitate towards, and I didn't want the full mini bag.  2.5/5.

Crunchy Buffalo.

"This flavor brings together two favorites – the signature cheesiness of Cheetos® and the classic tanginess of Buffalo sauce! No get-together will ever be complete without a bag of new Cheetos® Crunchy Buffalo!"

Next up we had the buffalo flavor.  Same form factor that just isn't compelling to me.  Well coated pieces.  Crunchy.  But, eh.

The flavor was less cheesy, vaguely buffalo/hot I guess, but definitely not particularly spicy, and I wouldn't have identified it as buffalo flavored otherwise.  It did have a bit of a creamy/dairy thing going on, which turned out to be, from the ingredients, a mix of sour cream, buttermilk, cream cheese, and skim milk (in addition to the cheddar).  I think that was supposed to be like ranch or blue cheese that you dip your buffalo wings in?  But it was a bit muddled.  A bit better than other flavors, but still, not really the product for me.  Higher 2.5/5.

Cheetos Crunchy Flamin' Hot.

"Hot, spicy flavor packed into crunchy, cheesy snacks. CHEETOS® Crunchy FLAMIN’ HOT® Cheese Flavored Snacks are full of flavor and made with real cheese."

And lastly, for completeness, the Flamin' Hot branded ones.

I liked these the best, by far.  Same form factor obviously, but these were notably less cheesy, and since I don't really like the classic Cheetos flavor, this was a win.  Now, you might think they were less cheesy because they were, well, flamin' hot as they say, but they really weren't particularly hot at all.  It might be just because of all the red dye, but my brain thought they tasted almost tomato-y, sorta like the Japanese Cheetos I had tried before.

So, yes, not cheesy, not spicy, so if you were looking for those things, which makes sense given that is what they are supposed to be ... probably a let down, but for me, they were sorta savory crunchy things that I liked more than the other flavors.  Still not something I'd buy more of though.  2.5/5.

Cheetos Puffs.

"Bold, cheesy flavor with a light and airy texture. CHEETOS® Puffs Cheese Flavored Snacks are full of flavor and made with real cheese!"

On paper, I should like these.  I love corn puff snacks.  I like cheddar cheese.  The form factor is appealing.  The flavor is appealing.  And yet ... with every one I eat, I think "yeah, meh".

The form is good, but I find them perhaps a bit too airy compared to similar styles of snack.  But that is minor quibble.  Really it is the taste, that is just too fake cheese for me.  I suppose the same reason I can't really bring myself to like the taste of Kraft or Annie's mac.  I know there is cheese powder in there, but the taste just isn't for me.  Low 2/5.

Cheetos Puffs Flamin' Hot.

"Hot, spicy flavor with a light and airy texture. CHEETOS® Puffs FLAMIN’ HOT® Cheese Flavored Snacks are full of flavor and made with real cheese!"

Well, these were confusing to my brain.  I liked them more than the standard cheddar flavor Cheetos Puffs, but I don't think I actually liked them.  But they were certainly interesting.

The form factor was the same as the basic Puffs, although again, I thought I should love them but kinda didn't, just a bit too airy and the base doesn't really taste like much.  And like the Flamin' Hot Cheetos Crunchy, they luckily didn't have any classic Cheetos cheese taste, even though they do still have cheese.  

So what DID they taste like?  Well, it certainly wasn't Flamin' Hot either.  No heat really.  To me they tasted strangely sweet.  Yes, sweet.  Not spicy, not cheesy, sweet.  And yet they were brilliant red, and confused my brain.  

I didn't know what to make of these, really.  I was fascinated in a way, but I think I didn't actually really care for them all that much.  2.5/5.

Cheetos Puffs Cheese Pizza.

"Enjoy the flavors of classic cheese pizza on your favorite Cheetos Puffs."

I tried these for completeness.  And ... well, they turned out to be my favorites, which I'd never expect.  I can't say any other "pizza" flavored product has ever appealed to me, I usually find them honestly nauseating. 

The form factor of the big airy puff was as expected and I did like that.  I think what I liked the most is that they didn't taste like, well, Cheetos.  In fact, they don't use cheddar at all, so the signature Cheetos taste just truly isn't there.  They do have a cheese element, mozzarella, because, pizza, and they do taste like tomato sauce and some savory herbs and spices.  Yes, sorta pizza.  And yes, it sorta works.

Would I get them again?  No.  But did I dislike them less, and maybe even nearly like them?  Yes.  Higher 2.5/5.

Original Review, 2023

You need no introduction to Frito-Lay, I know.

Frito-Lay is probably the largest manufacturer of potato chips in the US, encompassing a slew of brands: not just Lay's, but they also own Sun Chips, Tostitos, Doritos, Fritos, Cheetos, Ruffles, Ms. Vickie's, etc, etc.  And, they are owned by PepsiCo themselves.  No little mom and pop shop here, so, not a brand I'd actually seek out for any reason.

But since I've recently been addicted to salty snack foods, I figured I had to give these classic chips a try again, for old time's sake.

I can't say there are any real winners, but it was a fun walk down memory lane.  The chips really haven't changed in years!  I've consolidated my notes from a bunch of the different brands into this single post, except for Ruffles, Cracker Jacks, and Miss Vickie's, which I reviewed independently previously.  I've also included the relative newcomers, Lay's Air Pops and Kettle Cooked varieties.

Classic Lays

Lay's actually makes a large variety of fairly interesting sounding flavors now.  In addition to the classic Barbecue there is Honey Barbecue or Sweet Southern Heat Barbecue.  A number of flavors promise some spice, like Chile Limón, Flamin' Hot, Pico de Gallo, Tapatio.  And who can resist Dill Pickle?  But I stuck with the basics.

Barbecue.

"Each bag of LAY’S Barbecue Flavor Potato Chips are a savory reason to smile. Our trademark seasoning captures everything you love about a summer barbecue: a smoky aroma, finger-lickin’ good BBQ flavor and of course, a crispy crunch."

When I think of classic barbecue chips, these are it.  I haven't had them in years, but the moment I had one recently, I was instantly transported back in time.  They taste exactly as I remember.  Fairly tangy, sweet, crispy.  Not remarkable in any way, generic as can be, but they aren't claiming to be anything else.  I was glad to remember these, but don't really feel the desire to have any more.  I am kinda curious to try the new barbecue flavors Lay's has added though. 3/5.

Update Review:  A few years pass, and, time to try these again.  I appreciated them even more this time.  Classic bbq flavor.  Seriously, these remind me of childhood.  They are so crispy, so, just, *what* BBQ chips are supposed to be.  In my mind anyway.  I'm glad to keep these on my every-few-years rotation. 4/5.

Update Review (2025): Ok, I'm actually hooked on these.  Just very good, classic bbq chips.  They never disappoint. Maybe even 4.5/5.

Sour Cream & Onion.

"Each bag of LAY’S Sour Cream and Onion Flavor Potato Chips is a little reminder of how good the simple things are. LAY’S Sour Cream and Onion Flavor Potato Chips have been a flavor favorite for many years. The tart sour cream taste and onion flavor are blended to create the perfect seasoning that people have come to love."

A generic, classic Lay's flavor.  Not that sour creamy.  Not that oniony.  But the little flecks of green bits on the chips brought back instant memories.  Are they good?  Not really, but, memories.  2.5/5.

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Classic.

Well, yup, aptly named.  Thin chip, no real flavor or texture, decently salted.  Nothing particularly interesting here. 2.5/5.

New England Lobster Roll.

"A taste of fresh lobster served on a buttery grilled roll."

For the summer of 2018, Lay's introduced a line of ridiculous flavored potato chips (nothing new there), limited edition, dubbed the "Tastes of America" line, available only in retails in the local region (or, online), 12 varieties in all.  

In honor of the Northeast, they were inspired by ... the Lobster Roll.  (For the curious, the others were Truffle Fries, Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Popper, Thai Sweet Chili, Fried Pickles w/ Ranch, Chile Con Queso, Fried Green Tomatoes, Cajun Spice, Pimento Cheese, Crab Spice, Lobster Roll, Deep Dish Pizza, & Ketchup).

Lobster Roll seemed like a reasonable thing to chip-ify, or at least, chips (or fries) on the side with a lobster roll is a traditional pairing, so, why not?  They are complimentary flavors.  So when I visited the Northeast this summer, I eagerly purchased a bag, not that I had high hopes.

I did not taste lobster.  I did not taste lobster roll dressing.  I did not taste "roll".  I did not taste butter.  There was literally nothing about this that resembled a lobster roll.  If they were going for a hot lobster roll, shouldn't I just taste lots of butter?  If cold, mayo and celery?  None of these flavors were present, which makes sense, given that, besides butter, they weren't in the ingredients (I did taste them before reading the ingredients though).

What they did taste like was a slightly more zesty version Sour Cream & Onion.  Which, when I read the ingredients later, makes sense.  They do have sour cream and onion powder, and the additional ingredients found in them beyond what is in the Sour Cream & Onion are just red bell pepper and garlic powder (nearly last in the ingredient list), plus brown sugar and butter.  Bell peppers, garlic, and brown sugar doesn't exactly scream out "lobster roll" ... nor do sour cream and onion of course.

This flavor could have gone badly, imagine ... fishy tasting chips, more like asian shrimp chips?  But those would require an ingredient like anchovies or shrimp powder at least.  These chips certainly won't offend anyone on taste alone.

Overall, these were a fine chip, didn't taste bad, and were better than regular Sour Cream & Onion actually, but lobster roll they were not.  3/5.

Kettle Cooked

I'm not sure when Lay's introduced kettle style chips to their lineup, but it was after my youth years when I ate a lot of chips.  They make a handful of flavors, ranging from the mundane "original", salt & vinegar, bbq, etc to the slightly more interesting "Flamin' Hot"  and "Maui Onion".

Jalapeño.

"Each delicious chip is packed with the flavor of real jalapeños, ready for your enjoyment."

I actually liked these quite a bit.

The kettle style was very fried, crispy, oily, and rather generic (they *are* Lay's after all!), but, I liked the curled up style in particular.

They were quite flavorful too - not spicy in a hot heat kind of way, not the kick I'd expect or want from something called jalapeño, but again, mainstream Lay's product, they can't bring too much heat.  They were quite flavorful and zesty though, sorta like a Sour Cream & Onion that was more interesting.

Overall, one of the better Lay's chips out there.  3.5/5.

Baked

"Frito-Lay’s line of Baked snacks are baked, not fried, to give you the great taste you’ve come to love with Frito-Lay snacks."

You can get most of the classic Lay's popular flavors (sour cream & onion, cheddar & sour cream, barbecue, etc), several styles of Cheetos, and Tostitos, all in baked form.

Original.

Original Review (2018):

These were sorta like untasty Pringles.  Reconstituted potato starch rather than slices of potato like the baked Kettle chips.  Not much flavor.  Not very salty.  Very thin.  Yet I tried them a few more times.  They were never that good on their own, but I eventually enjoyed them dipped in mac and cheese or mushroom soup (I'm weird like that).

Update Review (2022):

These were ... quite boring to be honest.

They were strangely airy, and mostly tasted like compressed potato buds.  Somehow not very salty either.  Just, meh.

1.5/5.

Baked Crunchy Cheese.

"You want cheesy? CHEETOS® Baked Crunchy Cheese Flavored Snacks are dangerously cheesy and 50% less fat than regular cheese flavored snacks. You can let your inner cheetah run."

For those looking for a healthier option, Cheetos offers the regular and Flamin' Hot varieties in a baked form.  Crunchy only.  I tried the regular.

I haven't had regular Cheetos in, um,  maybe 10 years? (clearly never my snack of choice), but these tasted exactly as I remembered.  Crunchy, and although baked and 50% less fat, these certainly didn't taste strangely healthy.   Which I guess is good?  But they were still Cheetos, and I just don't really like the form factor.

I'm curious what regular Cheetos eaters think of these. 2/5.

Cheetos 

Cheetos are, well, cheesy products, that started as puffs or crunchy sticks, and now have evolved into ... popcorn (which I've reviewed separately).  Mac 'n cheese.  Flamin' versions.  Etc, etc.  Signature feature?  They leave you with orange cheesy fingers.

Crunchy Cheetos.

Regular Crunchy Cheetos come in a variety of cheesy flavors, ranging from the original "cheese flavored" version, to all sorts of spicy additions like Cheddar Jalapeno, to a line of "Flamin' Hot" products, each more and more intense.  I started with the classics.

I wasn't ever a huge Cheetos fan as a kid, but I of course have plenty of memories of orange stained finger tips.  I preferred the Puffs version to these crunchy ones, even back then.

It turns out, that "cheese" still coats your fingers even as an adult, and I still got some joy from licking it off, long after my bag of chips had run out.  The chips themselves I still don't really care for, but there is something in that fake cheese flavor that at least makes me nostalgic.  But, I have no plans to eat these again.  2/5.

 Crunchy XXTRA FLAMIN' HOT.

"Turn up the heat with extra hot, spicy flavor packed into crunchy, cheese snacks. Take it to the next level with CHEETOS® Crunchy XXTRA FLAMIN’ HOT® Cheese Flavored Snacks."

Since I don't care for regular Cheetos, I might as well go all the way in the Flamin' direction right?  The most intense of all of the Crunchy Cheetos is the "XXTRA Flamin' Hot" version, as it is not just "flamin", it is "XXTRA".  And if color is an indicator of "extra-ness", then yes, these ones certainly are the most loaded.  I expected standard orange colored Cheetos, and was surprised to see they were, uh, bright red?  Honestly, it threw my brain off, I'm used to them being orange.

But besides the ridiculous color, they mostly tasted like, well, Cheetos?  Crunchy, fake-cheesy, a bit spicy ... and, like all Cheetos, just not my thing.  2/5.

Cheesy Jalapeño Cheetos® Mac ‘n Cheese.

"Introducing Cheesy Jalapeño Cheetos® Mac ‘n Cheese—Chester Cheetah®'s new twist on everyday mac and cheese that’s creamy, outrageously cheesy and just the right amount of heat. Just add water, microwave for three minutes and bon appe-Cheetos! You’ve got yourself a 5-star mac (according to Chester). Also available in a classic Mac ‘n Cheese box."

Yeah, ok, I tried the mac and cheese, the easy to make cup version (they also make a stove top cooked version), both are available in 3 flavors.

Add water, cook.  I somehow lost my notes on this, but I remember NOT being pleased.

Fritos

Fritos are corn chips, available in several formats such as the bigger Scoops and more fun Flavor Twists, and they come in a variety of flavors. They also make several Fritos branded dips.  I don't like Fritos, in any forms.

Fritos.

Another one from childhood: Fritos!

They were salty, crunchy, and had a slight corn flavor, but really didn't seem to be nearly as flavorful as I recalled.  I turned them into Frito pie, which was significantly better, but still not something I want more of.

I also tried a bunch of the flavored offerings, including BBQ and Chili Cheese.  I just found the flavors ... strange. 1.5/5.

Fritos Flavor Twists: Honey BBQ.

The Fritos product line has greatly expanded over the years, to say the least.  Mostly as new flavors of the standard Fritos shaped corn chips, but also into ... twists?

I loved the shape.  The crunch from the ridges was quite nice.  And the honey bbq flavor was also nice.  But the corn chip base?  E.g. the fritos themselves?  Not my thing! 1.5/5.

Sun Chips

"When SUNCHIPS® first hit shelves across the country thirty years ago, we had this gonna-rock-your-world idea. What if we combined the goodness of 100% whole grains with incredible flavors to create truly one-of-a-kind deliciousness?"

I remember when I discovered Sun Chips.  I think I actually bought into the idea that they were healthy chips.  Lols.

Even though its been 30 years (!), Sun Chips really are still quite unique in the market.  At least, I don't know any other chips that are very similar.  Although they do use whole grains (corn), and have less fat than regular chips, these are still, um, chips, and are certainly not healthy.

Sun Chips now come in 5 varieties - the "original", harvest cheddar, french onion, and garden salsa that I've had before, and now, an on-trend spicy chili lime flavor.

I go through periods of really craving these chips, and, in particular, I think they pair really, really well with deviled eggs or egg salad, or cottage cheese with sprouts, tomato, and honey mustard.    They grainy, hearty nature just pairs so nicely.  But as a regular chip to just snack on, or have with a sandwich or salad?  Eh.

Harvest Cheddar.

"The flavor of real cheddar cheese is layered onto a delicious whole grain chip to create this tasty combination."

Original Review (2014): Classic grainy, sorta hearty Sun Chip base.  Decently cheesy.  But, not really that great.

Update Review (2022):
The cheddar chips are the variety I have most frequently, as they seem most common around town.  

I always find myself pleasantly surprised by them - I love the hearty nature, the sorta-healthy grainy nature to them, and the cheesy level is just right, and somehow doesn't taste too fake.  The cheesy quality comes from use of romano, cheddar, and parmesan cheeses, plus buttermilk, whey, and yeast.

I'll continue to get these when the mood strikes.

3.5/5.

Garden Salsa.

"The taste of red tomatoes and green jalapeno peppers delivered right to your mouth on waves of whole grain goodness."

Original tasting notes (2014): 

These were a new one for me.  They had the same kinda grainy, hearty chip base, with a bit of zesty tomato taste.  Not bad, but not particularly good.'

Update Review (2022):

I didn't seek the garden salsa flavor out, they came in a mystery bag I received, and thus, it was time to branch out and try a new flavor.  I wasn't particularly excited though, as I'm just not really a salsa person.

These were good though - same hearty, grainy base that I like, just this time accented with tomato-esque tones, although they do still taste a bit cheesy.  They do have cheddar, romano, buttermilk, and yeast on them like the harvest cheddar variety though, which balances out the tomato qualities.  I didn't taste the jalapeno though, nor anything else "salsa" like, besides the tomato.

Overall, fine to mix it up, but I prefer the cheddar.

3/5.

Garden Salsa (July 2022).

A few months later, another random bag of Garden Salsa Sun Chips wound up in my possession.  I felt about the same as before - a hearty chip that you need to be in the mood for, kinda interesting tomato-y flavor, no real kick like I'd expect from salsa.

Not something I seek out, but, they are fine. 3/5.

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French Onion.

These were always my favorites.  Grainy, french onion flavor, but I didn't find them not particularly good the first time I tried them as an adult.  Of course, the next time I thought the flavor was good, and liked the graininess.  Hmm. 3/5.

Air Pops (Review May 29, 2015)

Sour Cream & Onion.

I expected these to have the same awful consistency as PopChips.  Luckily, they didn't.  Sure, they weren't the greasy, crispy creations I know as regular chips, and indeed were healthier tasting, but they at least still seemed to be potato, rather than styrofoam.

The sour cream and onion flavoring was quite good, strong.  But I still prefer regular chips.

Barbeque.

Just like the Sour cream & onion, I was impressed with the flavor of these.  Very mesquite flavored, deep barbeque.  And just like the sour cream and onion, I thought the texture wasn't awful.

But ... I still didn't want many of these.  The flavor of the sour cream and onion was slightly better.

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Billy's Bakery, NYC

Billy's is a small chain of bakeries (3 locations, does that count as a chain?) in New York.  One is quite close to my office, so their cakes show up from time to time.  I've tried it when there are leftovers and my conclusion is the same each time: in a city with so many great bakeries, this one is just too mediocre to be worth a visit.  I clearly must be a minority though, as they've been around since 2003 and obviously have opened multiple locations since.

Visit #1: 2023

Someone brought cake the office, and I was excited to finally get to try Billy's, as I had walked by so many times.

Carrot Cake. $80.

"Cinnamon batter with carrots, coconut, pineapple and pecans; topped with cream cheese frosting and chopped pecans."

This cake wins a number of awards for being the best carrot cake in NYC.  I love carrot cake.  I love carrot cake loaded up with stuff.  This sounded like my kind of carrot cake. But alas, I wasn't impressed.

It wasn't particularly moist.  The addition of shredded coconut made it fairly dry, although I'd expect the pineapple to help balance that out.  It was loaded with chopped pecans, which I do like in my carrot cake, but, this was very pecan heavy.  Great crunch, but, then I just didn't actually taste much carrot cake.  I think that is my real issue with it ... I tasted more coconut and pecans than carrot, and it ate very dry.  The cream cheese frosting was average.

Overall, fine, but certainly not rave worthy.  3/5.

Visit #2: June 2026

Several years elapsed before I had Billy's again. I tried 3 totally different items this time, hoping to find a winner.

Sheet Cake. $259.
Grasshopper Pie. $43.
Gluten-Free Vegan Mini Chocolate Chip Cupcakes. $29/dozen.

Vanilla Sheet Cake w/ Vanilla Buttercream.

"Classic yellow butter cake flavored with pure vanilla extract; frosted in Vanilla Buttercream."

The main attraction was a large sheet cake (16"x12"), which they say serves 36-54 (that's quite the range!) and costs a whopping $259.  I wish I could say it was worth that.

This was an amazingly boring cake.  The quality seemed no better than a generic grocery store.  The yellow cake was a bit dry, and had no real flavor.  The frosting was very fluffy, which was great, but it tasted like sugar and little else.  No vanilla flavor, but also, no butter really either.  Just, sugar.  A plain, very sweet, very boring, below average for a bakery really, cake.  2/5, if that.  I'm really shocked it came from a real bakery.

Chocolate Chip Cupcakes (GF, vegan)

"A mini version of our popular Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip cupcake is made with NO eggs, NO milk, and NO butter. Contains refined sugar. Frosted with non-dairy Vanilla Buttercream."

The cupcake was about on par with the sheet cake, even though it was both gluten-free and vegan.  The cake was very dense and dry, and just tasted a bit odd, yes, bad gluten-free.  The frosting was fine, but again was pretty generic sweet frosting, no real flavor to it.  The cake part barely gets a single star, frosting gets maybe 2.5/5, still just a 1/5 item.

Grasshopper Pie

"Fluffy whipped ganache and mint in a crushed chocolate wafer crust, then garnished with Andes mint crumbles."

This was by far the best item in the lineup, although at first I was confused and thought it was just a frosting pie.  It kinda looked like what a child might make with a premade store bought crust and can of frosting.  

It didn't really taste the mint (even once I knew it was supposed to be mint), and it too tasted like just fluffy sugar, although a slightly more complex fluffy sugar with a bit more body to it, which I guess makes sense as this was considered a whipped ganache.  The bits of Andes mint on the edges were the only real clue it was minty, and I liked the texture they added too.  

The chocolate crust was the best part, very tasty, good chocolate flavor, great texture to mix in to the green fluffy ganache.  I definitely enjoyed this more than any other Billy's item, but I wouldn't go out of my way for it, still just a mid-tier 3/5. 

Visit #3: July 2026

A month later, someone had boxes of Billy's cupcakes, tons left over. I nearly didn't take one, given my previous experiences, but in the end, I couldn't resist.  Plus, I hadn't yet tried a cupcake after al.

Red Velvet. $4.75.

"A southern classic…a mild cocoa flavor with a bright red color, finished with cream cheese frosting."

This was not a good cupcake.  The cake was dry, it didn't have much cocoa flavor.  The frosting didn't taste like cream cheese, and tasted slightly like chemicals.  I did not like this, I did not finish this, I didn't even bother trying to warm it up and serve it a la mode to save it.  Just not good. 1/5.

Visit #4: October 2026

Fall Florals Cookie Cake.  $69.

"Celebrate the autumn season with our stunning Fall Florals Cookie Cake. Featuring a rich, chocolate chip cookie base decorated with handcrafted buttercream roses and daisies in warm autumn tones, this festive treat is finished with an inscription of choice. It's the perfect centerpiece for your fall gatherings and celebrations!"

This was pretty awful.  The cookie itself was soft, it had that right distribution of chocolate chips, it should have been decent but ... it just did not taste good.  It tasted like a highly processed packaged cookie, not like something you'd get from a real bakery.  I tried it several times and the base flavor was just off putting.  Honestly, 0/5 for the cookie base.

The buttercream frosting was fine, sweet, not really wholesome, but fine.  3/5.

Overall though, 1/5.

Confetti Cookie w/ Vanilla Buttercream. $4.25.

"Our classic chewy sugar cookie with confetti quins baked-in. Frosted with a thick layer of buttercream frosting (assorted pastel colors)."

You'd think I'd never try another Billy's cookie again after that cookie cake, but ... there were so many of these left over, and I was really craving something sweet.

This was actually really quite good.  The base cookie was thick, soft, sugary, had a great depth of flavor to it, particularly for a simple sugar cookie.  I really enjoyed it.  4/5 sugar cookie base.

The buttercream was again fine, soft, fluffy, sweet but not cloying.  Slightly above average.  3/5.

Overall, 3.5/5 and one I'd gladly get again.

Butterscotch Gingerbread.

"A new take on an old favorite…classic gingerbread cookies filled with sweet butterscotch chips."

This really was exactly as advertised.  A fairly standard gingersnap (thin, crispy, good ginger flavor, some spicing, hints of molasses), with plenty of little butterscotch chips in it.  The butterscotch chips were very sweet, and only partially melted, and I still am not sure if I liked them with the gingerbread, but they were good.  I grew up in a family that served butterscotch pie at the holidays, so to me, this was two holiday things coming together in a way that makes sense, although I normally have them side by side, not combined.

Not a cookie I'd normally pick or I'd want again, but it was a decent cookie.  3/5.

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Brown Bag Sandwich Co

My office brings in popup food stands every week for a 3-day run.  I've loved the exposure to local vendors, many of which don't have permanent locations but are found at night markets, food festivals, etc so it always feels extra nice to support these smaller businesses. This week's vendor, Brown Bag Sandwich Co, was a departure from that format though, as they do indeed have two locations in Manhattan and they are quite popular.

"We created a chopped sandwich menu that pays homage to all of the NYC deli’s that came before us. We focus on house-made meats to ensure that our product is quality, consistent, and accessible. We’re not your average corner store."

Brown Bag Sandwich Co has only been around for 2 years.  The second location opened just about a year after the first. It has been very popular, in part I think fueled by collabs with brands like Mike's Hot Honey, HOKA, Extra Butter, Grillo's Pickles, Leon's Bagels, 7th St Burger, and more, and perhaps from the chef's background as a Michelin starred chef.  As you may have guessed from the name, it is a sandwich shop, featuring hot or cold sandwiches, and a few sides.

Menu.

For our event, we had the choice of 3 sandwiches and 2 sides.  All sandwiches were cut in half, and we could pick one half sandwich, and one side.

Sandwiches:

• Italian: Prosciutto and soppressata, topped with sharp provolone, fresh mozzarella, sweet hot cherry peppers, red onions, tomatoes, and shredded romaine, drizzled with our house-made Italian dressing.
• Chicken Caesar: Roasted chicken, topped with romaine lettuce, house-made croutons, parmesan cheese, and chives, drizzled with Caesar dressing.
• Marinated Eggplant & Stracciatella: Chimichurri marinated eggplant, topped with red pepper romesco, stracciatella cheese, and arugula.

Sides

• Mac Salad: Macaroni pasta, tossed with shredded carrots, scallions, black pepper, fish sauce, and our house-made mac dressing.
• Potato Salad: Red bliss potatoes, tossed with melted leeks, dijon dressing, dill, and tarragon.

The sandwiches were all cold options, which makes sense, but I think many of us were disappointed that their popular chopped cheese variations were not an option.

Half Sandwich + Side.

I was very interested in both sides as I love deli salads, and I wasn't really interested in the sandwiches (I'm not a sandwich person in general, but in particular, I dislike chicken, Italian dressing, and chimichurri, and since the sandwiches were premade there was no way for me to get the Italian hold the dressing, the chicken caesar hold the chicken, or the eggplant & stracciatella without the marinaded elements).  I asked for both sides instead, but was told the rules were one sandwich and one side.  Doh.

I visited two days in order to try both sides, and got the same half-sandwich both times (I tried it the first time, gave it to a co-worker the second).

Chicken Caesar Wrap. $18.

"House-Made Roast Chicken / Romaine / House-Made Croutons / Parmesan / Chive / Caesar Dressing."

People love this wrap.  I don't like chicken, but I like Caesar, and it seemed the most appealing of the three options.

It was good.  It had big hunks of white meat chicken, it was not overdressed, and wasn't at all soggy. There was sooo much chicken in it, which I'm sure is wonderful if you like chicken.  The croutons were very ... bready.  Almost overly flavorful if that makes any sense (specifically, sesame seed bread).  The dressing used Kewpie and had anchovy, so I was certainly a fan of those elements, as I could taste them, and those were wonderful tastes.  The wrap itself was soft and pliable, not doubled up, so it served to hold the sandwich together well, but wasn't too dominant.  It held together well.

Overall, I think this was a great wrap if you like chicken, I just, well, don't.  I'd love a version of sans chicken. 3.5/5 because the dressing was that good, the ingredients seemed high quality, and it really was a well made item.

Mac Salad. $6.

"Macaroni Pasta / Shredded Carrot / Scallion / Black Pepper / Fish Sauce / House-Made Mac Dressing."

The macaroni salad is definitely the item I was most excited for.  I adore macaroni salad, and the fact that they use fish sauce in it for some extra funk made it even more appealing.  

It was good macaroni salad.  The pasta was not too mushy, although I’d prefer even more al dente. It was not overdressed.  It had good flavor from the scallion.  They use both Kewpie and Hellman’s mayo in it, which perplexes me; I’d love to know why the Hellman’s too!  It was really well seasoned with pepper.

Along with being more al dente, I would perhaps prefer some hunks of carrot (rather than shreds) or celery, just something for crunch, and a touch more dressing, but it was good. 3.5/5.  My favorite of the sides.

Potato Salad. $6.

"Red Bliss Potatoes / Melted Leeks / Dijon Dressing / Dill / Tarragon."

I also adore potato salad, although red bliss potatoes are my least favorite, particularly when skin-on.  

The potatoes were fine, just like the macaroni, not too soft, although I’d prefer a bit more firm.  The skins also were sorta peeling off, making it even more red bliss peel forward, so really not my thing.

The rest of it was very flavorful: super herb forward, with tons of dill and tarragon, plus the melted leeks and lots of zing from two kinds of mustard. It also had confit garlic, Crystal hot sauce, Worcestershire, lemon … so much flavor.  I can imagine some not being into the generous amount of leeks.

3/5, although would be a 4/5 if they used different potatoes and cooked them a bit less.

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Mile End Deli

Mile End Deli fascinates me.  

"Mile End Delicatessen brings the comfort and flavor of Montreal-style Jewish cuisine to New York. Since 2010, we've been serving our signature Montreal smoked meat sandwiches, house-made specialties, and Canadian classics in a warm, welcoming space perfect for brunch, lunch, or a casual dinner. From cured & smoked brisket on rye to crisp latkes and rich poutine, our menu celebrates tradition with a modern twist."

Yes, it is a Canadian-Jewish deli, serving comfort food from both cuisines, so think Montreal smoked meats, but also latkes, and of course all the poutine.  It is located in Brooklyn, however I didn't visit myself in person, as we only got treats delivered.

They have breakfast all day (eggs, pancakes, bagels, Jewish nods like challah french toast and whitefish for the bagels), and then soups, salads, sandwiches (including all the smoked meats, schnitzel, etc), the aforementioned huge poutine lineup (including a sorta off the rails general tso's version?!), and all the Jewish sides like latkes, pierogies, knish, chopped liver, and kugel, and deli classics like potato salad, slaw, etc.  

We ordered only dessert.  Their entire dessert menu sounds decent with carrot cake and cheesecake (because, NY), chocolate or cinnamon babka (because, Jewish), and choc chip cookies (with maple, because Canada), along with the two very Canadian items we got.

Nanaimo Bars.  $70/dozen.

"Layers of chocolate, coconut, graham cracker crumbs."

"Layers of coconut, chocolate & fluffy custard".

Two different sections of their website describe the nanaimo bars slightly differently.  They both focus on the chocolate and coconut, but one also calls out graham cracker crumbs, and the other, fluffy custard.  I can safely say that if I wasn't familiar with nanaimo bars, there is no way I'd know what to expect from these descriptions.

But I have had a few others in my lifetime, certainly not a common dessert for me, but enough to know what it is.  Somehow, despite living close to the border, these never seem to have become popular in the Northeast US.  I'm not really sure why, but regional foods be like that.  I do remember back in 2017 when a pastry chef friend made some for me (yes, she was Canadian), and I do remember two years later dining at Momofuku Kōjin in Toronto (review, here) and having an ice cream cake with the same base as nanaimo bars, but they certainly don't show up regularly around here.

Nanaimo Bars.  $6 each.

Nanaimo bars are always made up of three distinct layers.

The base is shredded coconut with cocoa powder (and I guess graham cracker crumbs, although I didn't detect them).  The coconut flavor and texture dominate, and it is kinda dry.  I disliked this in the ice cream cake version at Momofuku, and didn't care for it much here either.  It was fine, but just not textures/flavors I really get excited for. 

The middle layer is the crazy one.  When you hear that a nanaimo bar has chocolate and coconut, you expect that middle layer to be coconut when you see it visually (or at least, I know I did the first time I had one).  But there is no coconut in that layer.  This is the custard layer.

To me this layer tastes like a mix between buttercream frosting and the "stuf" from inside an Oreo.  It is made with butter, powdered sugar, cream, and Bird's custard powder, so yes, the first 3 ingredients are indeed the same as buttercream. It is smooth, sweet, rich, and fairly solid (although soft).  I don't really taste the custard, but I imagine that is what helps the texture be more firm than buttercream.  If you like the stuf in Oreos, I suspect you'll love this.  It was my favorite layer I think, although very sweet.

The top has a very familiar taste and texture, but it took a few minutes for me to realize what it was.  It tastes like a very thick version of the chocolate shell on an ice cream novelty.  It has that same mouthfeel and slightly waxy flavor, not rich like a ganache, which is what it looks like at first, visually.  I wanted more real chocolate, less waxy, but it was uncanny when I identified it as the chocolate shell taste.

The layers were all fine.  They were interesting textures, and slightly different in taste and texture than they look visually.  They go together ok, but I don't feel like they actually accent each other much at all.  But overall, it felt kinda cheap with the not very chocolatey top layer, it ate kinda dry from the base, and it was too sweet from the middle.  Maybe this is why they haven't really caught on outside of Canada ...

3/5.

Maple Butter Tart. $4/each or $45/12.

"Quebec-style mini brown sugar and maple tart."

I believe this was my first time ever having a Quebec style tart/pie, or Tarte au Sirop d’Érable.  I truly did not know these were a thing, despite growing up fairly close to Quebec, and from a family of dessert eaters.  I've had many similar dishes, the classic Milk Bar Crack Pie or chess pie come to mind, or pecan-free pecan pie, but this is obviously different as it uses maple syrup rather than corn syrup, and isn't a true custard pie.  But it certainly reminded me of those more familiar-to-me pies.

The tart shell was flaky and clearly freshly made.  It was kinda sticky from the filling, and kinda greasy though.  Good, but not amazing.  The filling was, well, sweet.  Maple-y.  Very gooey.  Rich.  Kinda too much to just eat like that, but balanced with a scoop of vanilla ice cream?  That was great.

I can't compare this to what a maple butter tart should be like as it was my first.  But I did enjoyed it, once properly paired with ice cream.  I'd gladly have another.  3.5/5?  Maybe higher?

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Panera: The Cookies

Update Review, Summer 2026

I don't seek out Panera, nor do I seek out cookies, but when they throw freebies my way, of course I try them!

Dubai Style Chocolate Pistachio Cookie. $2.99.

"Chocolatey cookie filled with a pistachio cream, topped with a chocolatey drizzle and pistachio pieces."

I got this entirely out of curiosity and because I had a free treat on my account, not because I'm in love with the Dubai style item craze.  It was a relatively attractive looking item with the chocolately drizzle on top, along with all the bits of pistachio.

The cookie was a thick, hard style, relatively ok cocoa flavor.  Not an exceptional cookie, but not bad, about what I'd expect from Panera really.  I didn't taste much additional chocolate flavor from the confectionary drizzle on top.  The pistachios were good quality, they seemed fresh, strong nutty flavor, great crunch and texture.

Dubai Style Chocolate Pistachio Cookie: Inside.

Inside was the pistachio cream, which was the real let down.  It didn't actually have any kataifi, or anything for texture.  I find it hard to call this Dubai style when it really just means pistachio and chocolate.  The cream also didn't have much flavor.  The real pistachio flavor in this item all came from the topping.

So ... mediocre cookie, lower end confectionary "chocolate", decent pistachios, disappointing filling.  Low 3/5, not something I'd get again.

Macaroon 3-Pack. $5.

"Three deliciously crafted macaroons. Pick from Coconut Macaroon and Chocolate Coconut Macaroon flavors."

I ordered two of the coconut macaroons and just one of the chocolate version because I don't like them as much but wanted to at least mix it up a little, but ... alas, they gave me three of those because they were out of the ones I wanted.  Boo.

"A deliciously crafted chocolate coconut macaroon cookie finished with a chocolatey dip."

The chocolate in the base of these is really lost, but the coconut flavor is good, they are soft and chewy, and I really do like the seemingly decent quality chocolate dip.  I really do prefer the regular ones, these are very very low 3/5.  I like them as a topping crumbled on ice cream mostly.

Update Review, July 2025

Chocolate Coconut Macaroon. $1.99.

"A deliciously crafted chocolate coconut macaroon cookie finished with a chocolatey dip."

One day when I was at Panera picking up items for my Mom, I saw a different cookie I hadn't tried yet: the chocolate macaroon.  I haven't liked any of Panera's cookies before, but the regular coconut macaroon I thought was the best of any I had tried, so I was curious to try the chocolate version.  It looked much the same, as both are dipped in chocolate the same way, this one just actually had chocolate integrated in with the coconut too.

It was a decent macaroon.  Super moist inside, good texture from the shredded coconut, strong coconut flavor.  I didn't really taste that much chocolate.  It was fairly sweet, perhaps a bit too sweet.  It only had the very base dunked in chocolate dip, I would have liked more of that for a stronger chocolate flavor.

But overall, it was fine, and I didn't mind it, just not something I'd be all that excited to have again.  ***.

Lemon Drop Cookie (back). $3.09.
Whole Wheat Bagel (front). $1.39.

"Freshly baked lemon sugar cookie topped with lemon flavored powdered sugar."

It is true that I don't like cookies.  It is also true that I don't generally like lemon desserts.  Yet I ordered a lemon drop cookie?

Yeah.  I had a birthday freebie to use, and I've tried basically everything else at this point, so, for research purposes, I opted to try it.  Plus, compared to the other items, it actually looked decent.

It was, for a cookie.  It was thin but shockingly not crispy, really soft and gooey, the only way I like cookies.  The cookie seemed to be a classic sugar cookie, but with lemon added.  The lemon flavor was certainly there, but it wasn't overwhelming.  More lemon than I like, but, if you like lemon desserts, I think this could be a winner.  There was also white chocolate chips, which I liked for the extra texture and bursts of sweetness, but, this was a very sweet cookie anyway, sugar was the first ingredient.

It was also somehow 440 calories.  Sure, it was large diameter, but it was really thin.  I honestly don't understand how it racked up that calorie load.  I guess whatever made it soft and gooey was, uh, butter?

I'm glad I tried it, and I'd recommend to the lemon likers out there, but I won't get another.

Update Review, August 2023

I no longer live near a Panera (pandemic casualty in SF), so I don't frequently encounter their goods.  However, I recently attended an event in New York with Panera catering, and got the opportunity to re-try a few cookies, even though I had never loved them before.  The verdict?  Yup, still don't love these.

Candy Cookie. $2.99.

"Freshly baked sugar cookie topped with semi-sweet chocolate candies."

Big meh to this cookie.  Not as soft as I'd like, not a great chew, pretty boring base (not really buttery as I'd like), and even the off brand M&Ms weren't particularly good.  Not my style of cookie at all. *+.

Oatmeal Raisin with Berries. $2.99.

"A chewy oatmeal raisin cookie with sweetened, dried cranberries and infused, dried strawberries and blueberries."

I've had this cookie before, and didn't find it all that compelling, but, my appreciation of cookies has grown in the past few years, so I gave it another try.  I again appreciated that it was nicely soft, and that it used more interesting dried fruit than just raisins (cranberries, strawberries, blueberries), but, it wasn't actually a particularly good cookie.  Sure, it had a nice chew to it, and was well baked, but, it wasn't as buttery nor sugary as I'd like, and although it had oats, it certainly isn't actually a healthy cookie.  Eh.  ***.  

Petite Chocolate Chipper. $6.69/12.

"12 mini versions of our Chocolate Chipper cookie, freshly baked and made with semi-sweet chocolate chunks & milk chocolate flakes."

Well, this is not a good cookie.  Yes, fairly soft, and yes, nice chunks in it, but, the base flavor wasn't particularly buttery or sweet, or notable in any way.  It tasted highly processed, and not particularly fresh.  Meh. **.

Update Review, January 2018

I've reviewed nearly all the Panera cookies before, but there was one more left to try.

Coconut Macaroon. $1.09.

"A coconut, chocolatey craving satisfied in two bites. A traditional small coconut macaroon with the bottom dipped in chocolate."

One day, I used Panera's Rapid Pickup option to make an order from my phone earlier in the day, with a pickup time set to when I'd be nearby and could just swing in to grab my bagel thin, intended to be used to make melts for dinner.  But when I arrived ... no bagel thins.  In fact, they were entirely sold out of bagels.  Doh.  It turns out that when you pre-order, it doesn't actually pull it from inventory.

To make up for this, Panera offered me any pastry item I wanted.  No pastry item was going to be a substitute for my dinner melts, so I used it as an opportunity to just try something new.  The one type of cookie we had never tried before: coconut macaroons.

The macaron was ... pretty much a standard macaroon.  Soft, shredded sweet coconut.  Nothing particularly notable about it.  The dark chocolate it was dipped in however was quite good, really dark, smooth, flavorful chocolate.  I was impressed with the chocolate.

The macaroons turn out to be one of the cheapest items sold at Panera ($1.09 at my store), and, one of the lowest calorie.  By a shocking amount.  A single macaroon is only 140 calories, compared to Panera standard fare of the 440 calorie lemon drop cookie (or even worse, the 800 calorie Kitchen Sink cookie!), the 720 calorie pecan rolls, 550 calorie cinnamon crunch scones, 580 calorie pumpkin muffins, 540 calorie bear claws, etc.

So, if you like coconut, and want a little sweet treat, this one is not a bad idea.

Original Review, March 2017

As I've said many times, I don't really like cookies.  But, Panera often adds freebies to my account in the form of pastries, and I've never liked most of the baked goods there (aka, the muffins, the coffee cake and danishes, and most of the scones), so, I finally ventured out to try most of their cookies over the past year or so.

The cookie lineup changes every so often, but always features their signature Chocolate Chipper (available in a petite size as well), a classic shortbread, and some seasonal version of an iced and decorated shortbread.  Other than those, they seem to introduce new cookies a few times a year, trying to find some crowd pleasers.  I'd like to note, they don't ever have peanut butter cookies, which would be my top choices!

Anyway, for the most part, I expected to try the cookies, take some notes, and hand over to a cookie-loving friend.  I was pleasantly surprised that I genuinely liked a couple of them.

Oatmeal Raisin with Berries Cookie. $2.39.

"A chewy oatmeal raisin cookie with sweetened, dried cranberries and infused, dried strawberries and blueberries."

Every once in a while, I actually like oatmeal cookies, particularly soft ones, and particularly when they miraculously aren't oatmeal raisin.  I hate raisins, and I'm so grumpy they have taken over the oatmeal cookie market!  Why!

Anyway, this looked like a big, soft, butter cookie, with oatmeal, and NOT raisins!  Score.

The verdict?  It was ... fine.  It was actually quite soft, which I appreciated.  And it did have a decent distribution of bits of dried cranberries, strawberries, and blueberries, decidedly NOT raisins.  But it wasn't particularly buttery or interesting in any way.  I gladly handed it off, and wouldn't want another.

Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookie. $2.19.

"Almonds and a fruity hint of raspberry jam and powdered sugar. A perfect little treat. An almond butter cookie with a thumbprint of raspberry jam and dusted with powdered sugar."

I really liked this.  It was buttery and crumbly, with little bits of almond inside.  The powdered sugar added a nice touch of sweetness, and the raspberry jam in the center tasted fresh and wasn't too gooey or sweet.

A shockingly good cookie, and I'd gladly eat another.

Giant Cookie Box.

On one visit, there was a huge, I mean, huge, cookie on the shelf, unlabelled.  I asked what it was, and the worker told me it is the "kitchen sink" cookie.  It seemed to have everything in it, and sounded interesting, but it wasn't eligible for my freebie.  I didn't get it then, but I couldn't help but notice it every time I visited.  I had to finally get it, as ridiculous as it was.

It was too big for any of the normal pastry bags, so, he put it into a giant box.

Kitchen Sink Cookie. $4.39.

"A salty, chocolatey, caramel confection big enough to share. A large cookie with semi-sweet chocolate, milk chocolate, caramel pieces, pretzels & finished with flake salt."

They aren't kidding when they say this is "big enough to share".

I looked it up later online, and, I kid you not, it has 800 calories (and 43 grams of fat!).  In a cookie.  Yes, compare that to their "petite chocolate chippers" with 100 calories, or even the regular chocolate chipper with 380 calories, and you'll realize the scale I'm talking about here.  This is a monster.

And he wasn't kidding when he said it had everything in it.  While chocolate (both semi-sweet and milk) flakes were certainly the dominant visual item, the caramel actually dominated the flavor, super sweet, and plentiful, infused into nearly every bite.  The chocolate helped balance the sweet though, and the large flakes of salt on top complimented it nicely.

It was a crispy cookie, but mostly in a caramelized way from the toffee bits, rather than a cooked too long way.  I don't normally like crispy cookies, but it worked here, since it was so caramelized.

I didn't find any bits of pretzel in mine, which was a bit disappointing.  Perhaps they were chopped finely and I just didn't notice?  Another ingredient would be nice, but, I don't think was actually necessary given everything else in it, so I didn't mind too much.

The cost of $4.39 sounds a bit insane, for a cookie, at a place like Panera.  This isn't a fancy bakery, this is Panera, selling a nearly $5 cookie.  It is twice the price of any other cookie they sell, because, well, it is more than twice the size.  There is a reason it isn't eligible for the free pastry award!

I'm glad I tried it, but I probably wouldn't get another, just because, well, still a cookie.

Jack-O-Lantern Cookie.  $2.49.

"Freshly baked, pumpkin-shaped shortbread cookie decorated with icing to look like a jack-o-lantern."

I have a memory of really liking Panera shortbreads years ago.  And what is better than a shortbread?  A decorated shortbread!  Panera seems to always have a seasonal shortbread, I recall seeing Easter Eggs around Easter, tulips and daises in the Spring, flip flops in the summer, mittens in the winter, etc.

The astute reader will realize that this is called a Jack-O-Lantern cookie, and the website shows a cookie with a face on it.  Mine had no such face.  I guess the decorators were lazy that day?  All cookies in the store were faceless.  Pumpkin, yes, Jack-O-Lantern, no.

I wasn't very good.  The icing layer was too thick and just sweet, the cookie itself was crumbly, too soft, sugary, and didn't really seem that buttery, the defining characteristic of a shortbread.  And ... this was the shocking part, it was 450 calories!  In a SINGLE COOKIE!  Besides their plain shortbread (only 380), all the other cookies are also over 400 calories.  I know Panera certainly isn't a healthy place, but it is a bit hard to believe that a cookie can rack up those stats.  Definitely not worth it.

$2.49 price for a large cookie I guess was fine, and they are only 99 cents if you get a meal.

Chocolate Chipper Cookie. $2.19.

"A traditional favorite, freshly baked and made with semisweet chocolate chips."

I got this for Ojan, who does actually like cookies.  It looked like exactly the sort of cookie I wouldn't like.  On the rare cases where I like a cookie, it is soft and gooey.  This looked hard and crispy.  Not my style.

Of course though, I tried a bite.  It was actually loaded up with tiny chocolate chips, far more than it looked like.  The bottom view would have revealed just how loaded it was.  The chips were tiny though, so, you didn't really get a deep chocolate flavor.

And it was indeed crispy, and quite thin.  Highly unremarkable.  It also tasted very unhealthy, but not in a good buttery way.  Believe me, I'm all for a decadent dessert, the more butter and cream the better, but this just tasted ... unhealthy.  Highly processed.  I don't know how else to better describe it.

I was curious, so I looked it up when I got home, and saw that this cookie, the single, thin, not actually large cookie, was 440 calories.  I don't really understand.  I wouldn't get this again, obviously.

Candy Cookie. $2.49.

"Freshly baked sugar cookie topped with colorful milk chocolate candies."

Another giant, hard, crispy cookie, another Ojan request.  And ... yup, a hard, crisp cookie, not particularly good, just a plain cookie.  He described it as "halfway between a shortbread and a sugar cookie".  The little tiny milk chocolate candies were basically just small M&Ms in spring colors, very milky milk chocolate.  Ojan liked the candy bits, but wasn't really into the cookie itself.  I didn't like anything about it.

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Gluten-Conscious Triple Chocolate Cookie with Walnuts. $2.69.

"A freshly baked flourless chocolate cookie with a soft, brownie-like texture, made with chocolate chunks, white chocolate chunks and walnuts."

This seems like a crazy choice for me.  I don't like cookies.  I'm not a chocolate lover.  And gluten-free baked goods are rarely impressive.  But, literally every time I visited Panera, I couldn't look past these.  They looked so good.

So finally, I got one.  And failed to photo.  Sigh.

It was a deep, dark chocolate cookie, with generous size chunks of both white and milk chocolate and walnuts.  The texture was soft, as they described, kinda brownie-like, except it was a cookie, and still had a crisp exterior.  A bit hard to explain really.  I liked that.

The flavor was also good, chocolately, fudgy.  I loved the sweetness from the big white chocolate chunks (I know, I know, but I like white chocolate!) and the crunch from the walnuts.

It is described as "gluten-conscious" which I think is because it is not baked in a gluten-free environment.  It does not contain wheat flour, nor, any flour.  I'm still a bit confused by that part honestly.  The first ingredient is ... powdered sugar?  I'm still not entirely sure how it holds together, but, it works out just fine.

For a cookie, this was really quite enjoyable and I'd get it again.

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