Anyone who knows me can tell you I am the biggest sugar fanatic. Cupcakes, ice cream, candy- I don’t care what form it comes in, as long as it has sugar. But there is one sweet treat that reigns supreme…the cookie.
While some desserts are densely sweet and others a little bland (yes pound cake, I’m talking to you), the cookie provides the perfect sugar to starch ratio. It’s sweet enough to make you crave it but not so sweet that you can stop after one (many of my Friday nights will attest to this). However, while I’ve been a cookie connoisseur for many years, I’ve yet to find a place in Boston that meets my standards. That is until I discovered Cow and Crumb.
One day, I was in the midst of a particular cookie craving and sought some guidance from Yelp. After searching for “delicious cookies,” I came across Cow and Crumb Baking Company with 5 stars next to its name. If you’ve ever been on Yelp, you know that getting a 5-star rating is next to impossible so I instantly knew I had found something special. I contacted the CBO (Chief Baking Officer), Hilary, and she invited me over to her headquarters to sample cookies and share her story. I invited my fellow intern, Kerry, thinking we would indulge in a few cookies and a couple minutes of interesting conversation. I certainly didn’t anticipate the overwhelmingly scrumptious and inspirational experience it became….
Upon entering Hilary’s apartment Kerry and I were confronted with a mouth-watering aroma wafting from the plates of plump, gooey cookies on her coffee table. And within five minutes of our visit, it was clear Hilary is just as genial and impressive as the cookies she bakes. After attending the Cornell Hotel School and then the Cambridge Culinary Institute, Hilary got a job at two famed Boston bakeries, Flour and Sofra, and began baking and selling her cookies in her spare time. Eventually, the word got out about Hilary’s delicious flavor combinations (peanut butter-pretzel-chocolate chip anyone?) and she quit her day-job to work on Cow and Crumb full time.
Together with her “better calf”, Megan Elias, Hilary manages every aspect of her cookie business- from online orders to the actual baking. “I love running my own company because it enables me to fulfill so many different roles. My routine changes every day,” Hilary says. But while Hilary’s tasks may change, her commitment to quality is unwavering. “I love that Cow and Crumb is growing and of course I want to make a profit, but the quality of the cookies is most important. If the cookies stop being delicious, then we don’t have anything!”
Cow and Crumb offers the most innovative flavors I’ve ever seen (I’ve already had dreams about the “Chocolate Monster”) and they only use all-natural ingredients. And since Cow and Crumb delivers their cookies through the mail, Hilary often stores the cookies, and then tastes them several days later to make sure they’re just as yummy as the first day she baked them. And while Hilary says her job comes with some definite culinary perks, her favorite part is hearing from her customers. “I put so much love in my cookies and nothing makes me happier than hearing how much people enjoy them,” she says.
By now, it’s obvious I am in love with this new company, but don’t just take my word for it! See what Kerry has to say…
“There’s no questioning the fact that Cow & Crumb makes phenomenal cookies. One of my favorite things about C&C is the variety in their flavors. These ladies are so innovative! I never would have imagined an orange and cranberry cookie with a hint of coconut, but Hilary did and, in my opinion, perfected it. Another personal favorite was the soft, brownie-like “Chocolate Monster” with walnuts and toffee. Can you say “yum”?! Of course, Chocolate Chip is also available for all of you classic-loving collegiettes. It’s safe to say, whatever your cookie craving may be, Cow and Crumb has a treat that will satisfy any sweet tooth.
Believe me when I say you MUST try Cow & Crumb! It couldn’t be easier to try them because if you order online, they’ll be shipped right to your door! Let us know what you think. I have a feeling you’ll be crazy for C&C in no time!”
*All photos are from my personal camera or cowandcrumb.com