A good local bakery for cookies?

chocolate chip cookiesThis is a question from AOA Mary:

Any thoughts on where to get really good cookies?
It's all someone asked for for his birthday and I'm not the kind of girl who can make good cookies... even if I had time, which I don't.
I can tell you cakes, cupcakes, food -- but I'm stumped for cookies.

Let's not get into a situation where Mary has to bake. Everyone will be happier.

So, if you have a suggestion -- please share!

photo: Flickr user jayneandd

Comments

Schuyler Bakery!

http://www.yelp.com/biz/schuyler-bakery-inc-watervliet

Oh, Sovrana's on S. Lake in Albany. Their cookies are 90% butter and 10% other cookie ingredients, which in my book is a very good thing.

Also Crisan on Lark St. Their sour cherry/dark chocolate cookies will make you seriously consider an all-cookie diet.

The Cookie Factory in Troy! I go once a week :-x

The fudgie cookies at the Cookie Factory in Troy! A regional tradition!

Our Daily Bread's cookies are great. Its a little bit of a drive to Chatham, but worth it. Also, you can't go wrong with Crisan. Everything from there is fantastic.

Dolce and Biscotti -
www.dolceandbiscotti.com
280-6173
Parkwood Plaza C-Park

Excellant cookies

Troy Cookie Factory! http://www.cookiefactoryllc.com/

http://www.cookiefactoryllc.com/

Primo Cookies.

There is a good place in Troy on Rt 2 - not sure what its called but its on the curve just before you come to the intersection with Pawling Ave

Believe it or not, Price Chopper cookies are really quite good. Big, soft and gooey. plus they are everywhere, so if you don't have time or the others aren't convenient..always easy to get to a chopper. There are even "gourmet" chocolate chip if you want the homemade look.

Italian cookies..Bella Napoli in Latham.

Bountiful Bread in Stuyvesant Plaza also has awesome cookie goodness. A bit super sized though.

I know you don't want to make your own, but if you happen to change your mind, here's the EASIEST and BEST recipe for peanut butter cookies (and they are flourless!):

1 cup Peanut Butter (chunky or smooth, whatever you like, natural works)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. baking soda

Mix all the above in a bowl. Roll into balls. Bake on cookie sheet at 350 degrees for about 10 min, until golden brown. If you cook longer, they'll be crisp. If you cook slightly less, they'll be soft and chewy.

The sugar cookies at Bountiful Bread are so delicious.

I also love the Italian cookies from Bella Napoli--I always get a box at Easter and Christmas.

Other than that, I make cookies at home!

I thought of another option - the French Macaroons from the Placid Baker in Troy (and the Troy Farmer's mrkt)

Ugh. I'm going to reveal a secret that myself and some other Averill Park dwellers know. Youngs pharmacy, on Rt 43, on top of just being the greatest pharmacy on the planet, also makes PHENOMENAL chocolate chip, peanut butter and oatmeal cookies. I am certain they are filled with crack and made by the Kebeler's elves' Burden Lake relatives.

Crisan's on Lark St ... not just for their sour cherry/dark chocolate cookies (which are heavenly) but their stuffed chocolate chip cookies as well ...

(1) cookie factory
(2) the fresh market
(3) check out yelp.com

Bake For You, owned by Linda Kindlon, is AWESOME! Linda makes the best variety of cookies and she makes scones and brownies, too!

http://www.bakeforyou.com/

Scratch on Madison and Lark has really good chocolate chip, oatmeal cranberry and spice cookies..We go there at least three times a week just for them!

So easy: Scratch Bakery & Cafe on Madison near Lark.

The first cookies that I've had that has convinced me that my chocolate chip cookies are not actually the best (grrr). They also serve vegan and gluten free baked goods and the best iced coffee anywhere.

It got that far down before Crisan was brought up?!?!?! I've been off my game, but they are my most favorite-est cookies. Scratch is a close second... Everything else... well... they're not on my radar. :)

I would like to agree with Jessica R on the french macaroons....mmmmmmmmmmmmmm and they look festive for a birthday.

Also I would like to agree with Dolce and Biscotti cookies. When I was dogsitting over Christmas my coworker had them in her house and I thought I would eat one.. and then another ... and then another.. they were so good I couldn't stop until I accidentally ate the whole bag. Lemon something or other.

I would also like to comment on the Cookie Factory in Troy. My fiancé is allergic to nuts so we were asking what has nuts in it,
and not only did they not really seem to know what they put nuts in they were really mean about it. Like some how his LIFE THREATENING allergy should not inconvenience them for 2 minutes to tell us the ingredients. There is no reason to be mean about it, Bettie's Cakes (though not cookies) by contrast knows exactly what has nuts in it and everything is kept separate, and they have always been a lot nicer about it.

Mary, I second the shout out to Linda Kindlon, Bake for You. Linda used to own Peaberry's Cafe (in the old Gecko space) and her baked goods are AMAZING. She uses real ingredients: butter, sugar, etc. and uses locally sourced, organic where available.

@Shannon - saw your recipe, could not resist even on this 90+ degree day. Made them in cupcake liners for easy clean-up. Wowza. They are going on my list of "easy and filthy good."

I still say make them. I have recipes and photo tips on my blog but if any look good and she wants them made, I'm local and can be contacted through blog. sample recipe here...
http://cookiebake.wordpress.com/2011/01/21/cookie-of-the-week-poppy-seed-sand-cookies/

Did AOA Mary really just ask that?! I mean... I mean... Spring St! The Corner! They are so good!

I never comment...but had to jump in! I can't believe no one has mentioned Schuyler Bakery in Watervliet. A lifelong favorite, and delightful if you love chewy chocolate chip cookies like I do.

@abby - Awesome! I love sharing that recipe. Everyone seems to love it.

Thanks for all the great suggestions, everyone! I've gained five pounds just reading them. @-S Ha! Every once in a while I get the urge to sample what else is out there in the great big world. But I always come home :-)

I'm late to the party, but I would have asked what are your criteria for a good cookie.

I'm more of a crisp rolled cookie kind of guy. But I know most people have a preference for soft drop cookies. And then apparently there are some people who like them large and covered with a ridiculous amount of frosting. Oh, and I shouldn't forget those who like those colorful Italian cookies you buy by the pound and eat by the handful.

Still, one of my favorite things to put in my mouth are these snicker-doodles a friend of mine used to make that were like little mounds of rich cake dusted with cinnamon sugar.

If I had enough lead time, for you, I would bake them. After years of begging I finally got the secret recipe, as long as I promised to credit the cookies to their original baker (and continue to keep the recipe a closely guarded secret).

For me, it's bake for you!

Depends how much you like the person...Levain's in NYC makes to die for cookies that can be mail ordered. They may be a bit pricey, totally worth it though.

Debie's kitchen, and Bella Napoli are 2 of the best around.Say hi to Debbie at her madison ave location, and Domonick at Bella Napoli!

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