Why? Because she asked for it... (please don't call me a heretic)

After anxiously waiting for wonderful Maven's cookie package, it finally arrived on friday, and as soon as I got home, I grabbed my knife and did a RowanGrey (opened the box.)

I spread the contents on the table and took the Oatmeal Crisps out of the bag, since Maven had mentioned that the batch had not come out very crispy.

The review will be based on the following criteria:

Taste: 1-5
Aroma: 1-5
Overall: Texture, consistency, make-up

Despite the fact that Maven had mentioned the Oatmeal Crisp batch did not come out crispy enough, the airing out helped and they were crispy, especially considering the amount of time they were in their bags. The texture is that of biting into brown sugar with some oatmeal taste, very crumbly. To a degree it tastes more like sugar than actual oatmeal, but considering that it is called a crisp and not a cookie, this is rather perfect. One suggestion: Add about 5% more oatmeal, want to retain the 'crisp' effect but crank up the oatmeal flavor. The consistency is great and it passes the crumbleness test.

Taste: Our version: WOW. According to the scale 3.5-4 lacking in the oatmeal department. If it was just a sugar crisp about a 4.5

Aroma: About 10 times less pungent that the taste. So about a 4.

Overall: Really (x9) Good.

Seriously, Maven. You rock!

On my next segment we will review another cookie from the batch! :D

Yay!

That's about my feelings, as well. Next batch there will be a little less butter, more oatmeal, and a longer 'soak' time to bring out the oatmeal. I'm probably going to pick up some steel cut oatmeal, as well, since it's fuller bodied.

I was pondering trying a cocoa variation as well.

I love it when women talk about food. HAWT!

Can I make a general comment/question in this thread about cookies?

OK...thanks.

dear Ms. Cookie,

I like my chocolate chip cookies lightly brown...like this

my wife likes them kind of white...like this

I personally think the flavors all come together and carlemize when they lightly brown...otherwise you might as well just eat the fricken cookie doe out of the bowl.

Thought?
Opinions?

edit; crap my links is brokenz...

dbl crapz

Maven...you know!

Well, despite not seeing the samples...My own opinion is that a chocolate chip cookie should have a crisp exterior, with a creamy, gooey center. The coloration should be lightly tan, similar to a dark honey. The chocolate chips should no longer be perfectly shaped, they should be melty little pools of goodness within the firm texture of the dough.

Color is dependent on sugar, butter, pan, and consistant heat--if the cookies are 'checked' too often during cooking, the oven loses too much heat and carmelization is interrupted. Use shortening, and the cookie will toughen before it cookies--the melting point is too high and the flour never really breaks down properly.

Ummm...yeah...The above either enhances my geek reputation or completely shatters it.

I'm strangely okay with that.

Mexican Chocolate Cookie Review

Never actually experienced a cookie that was both moist and crumbly. This was actually a first for us. At first, the aroma was evident right away. The flavor was very chocolate, through and through. The flavor hit us in the back of the throat and did linger a little while after finishing the cookie. Consistent with the texture os a regular chocolate cookie but it just tasted 10 times better.

Taste: Our version: F**KING AMAZING. According to the scale 5. BEST CHOCOLATE COOKIES EVAH

Aroma: Very pungent 5.

Overall: Very impressed. Really (x25) Good.

On my next segment we will review another cookie from the batch! :D

OK.

OK.

The words

OK.

Sh*t

OK.

The words coffee cookie

OK.

Sh*t

OK.

Those sound good

OK.

/dies

Ah come on Maven!!!! What are ya doin' to us??!!

Well, right now I'm giggling...But that probably doesn't help.

Ummmm...teasing? Yeah, that sounds about right.

And Moe, shall I mark you down for some coffee cookies?

Yea, I'm thinking that would be a good idea.

MMMMMM Yes! on everything you said...and if you hit quote on my above you can copy the links and view them, I think we're on the same page here.

It sounds like you really know your chocolate chip cookies, and they are my absolute favorite. *hint* *hint* :-)

I apologize, the 2nd cookie review turned out to be for the Mexican Chocolate cookies and not the Coffee cookies.

Sugar Cookie Stars Review

We had 2 flavors of cookies with this kind, Almond and Mint. Taste wise they were good; nice to taste other flavors than just sugar. The coloring effect was brilliant, upon breaking the cookie you could see the layers of colors within the dough. Very well executed.

Taste: 3.5 to 4
Aroma: Not as pungent

Overall: Very well made for a sugar cookie. IMHO, not as orginial as the other flavors we got, but still great nonetheless.

I blame myself...I promise that all further cookie shipments will include labels.

Me too. Please.
PS: my favorite so far is the one with cinnamon (and maybe cardamon?).

ALRIGHT, for the ACTUAL Coffee Cookie Review

It is very strong of coffee. It tastes of being dipped in coffee without actually being dipped in coffee. The smell was very strong of coffee. I would believe that the ration of the coffee Maven used for this batch is right on the money. It looked like a biscotti, but it was surprisingly soft for one. We really enjoyed that.

Taste: 5
Aroma: 5

Overall: 5. Awesome job! Really a keeper for the line.

Chocolate Chip (and 24 hour Chocolate chip cookie(I couldn't tell the difference)
Taste:4.5 Probably the tastiest chocolate chip cookie I've ever tasted
Aroma: 4 um very good, I don't think I've ever checked the aroma on a cookie before.
Overall- Despite not being what I thought was my ideal cookie texture (soft, extra gooey) these cookies were a wonderful combination of crunchiness and softness and tasted delicious....kind of the same for the 24 hour Chocolate chip cookies, what is the difference.

Marshmallow Blondies
Taste:5 Extremely Tasty!!!! The 2nd best cookie I've ever eaten (the 1st best being a weed cookie and having an unfair advantage)
Aroma:4 not as strong as the chocolate chip cookies but still a good smell
Overal:While it was unusually rectangle shape, that really didn't count for or against the cookie for me. It was relatively soft and consistently delicious throughout the whole cookie. If I could eat this cookie fresh from the oven, I would probably reach taste Nirvana in my mouth and become enlightened......this cookie being 2nd only to a weed cookie makes me wonder about how amazing a Maven weed cookie would be.....but that would be impossible....

We received our shipment yesterday, and love it...

Of the aged vs regular chocolate chip cookies, we liked the aged better; texture was more uniform and it was less sweet. Both were excellent, though. They definitely satiated our sweet toofs!

Also dug into the vanilla bean sugar cookies... Nmmm Nmmm Nmmmm..... Uniquely pungent and adult-tasting cookie. Very nice!

The marshmallow blondies were also great but disappeared so quickly I need to eat another one to judge from.

All of this is my way of saying THANK YOU, MAVEN, you are very generous!

Interesting...I thought the blondies were too sweet on the day they were made, but after sitting for a day or two, they mellowed. Your reviews bear that out--these need to 'air' a bit!

I'm probably going to make another pair of batches of chocolate chip cookies to compare, but with 'my' version of chocolate chip cookies, which are a bit gooeyer.

And yes, cookies will be going out Monday. :)