SPOTTED AT THE 2018 SUMMER FANCY FOOD SHOW (HEY, COOKIE EDITION)

Spotted on Shelves is showing off what was in the aisles at this year’s Summer Fancy Food Show (FFS) in New York City. I scoped out new products from familiar brands and interesting things from up-and-coming companies.

As is the nature of trade shows like this, I was plied with free samples and the occasional tote bag. This did not affect what was chosen to appear in this column or my opinions of the products, but it did affect my waistline.

Cookies were one of the more fun product categories at FFS. How can you not be happy when looking at or eating a cookie? Here’s a roundup of the cookies that delighted me in some way at the show.

Belgian Boys Mini Cookie Stash Belgian Chocolate Chip Cookies

The Belgian Boys are back with more adorable packaging and a new flavor of their mini cookie stash cookies. These are fairly basic chocolate chip cookies, but their appeal lies in their mustache shape. They’re small but just the right size to give yourself a cookiestash, which is pretty cute. If you post a cookiestach selfie on social media and it’s chosen as that month’s Rock That Stash, the company will donate to the charity of your choice. That’s decent of them.

Currently available on Jet Blue Airlines, grocery and wider availability in September/October.

D? Gourmet Edible & Bakeable Cookie Dough Mixes – Sugar Cookie, Brownie Batter and Signature Chocolate Chip

Technically not a cookie (yet…) but – Dõ, the insanely popular New York City shop that doles out cups of unbaked cookie dough, is moving into the home market with edible cookie dough mixes. What makes this different from whipping up a batch of any cookie dough and scarfing it? You can get salmonella from FLOUR now (for the love of Ernest J. Keebler, is anything safe anymore?) and Dõ heat treats their flour to kill any nasties. For the true Dõ experience, make the mix, then stand outside your house for an hour with 100 of your friends before coming inside to eat it.

Available for purchase on Dõ’s website in August, retail distribution soon afterwards.

Dewey’s Bakery Limited Edition Doughnut Shop Collection Soft Baked Cookies – Old Fashioned Glazed Doughnut, Chocolate Glazed Doughnut, Apple Fritter, and Cinnamon Bun

I’d never tasted Dewey’s Cookies before FFS, but I’m a convert. Their flavors were familiar but done really well. The lemon tasted like real lemon, the banana tasted like real banana…the snozzberry tasted like..you get the picture. The Doughnut Shop cookies lived up to their name – soft with a crackly sugar coating that reminded me of doughnut glaze. The flavors are what they claim to be. They’re just lovely. My only complaint is that there’s no holes in the middle.

Available early 2019 in major grocery chains nationwide.

Dewey’s Bakery Limited Edition Fall Cookies – Moravian Style Pumpkin Spice Cookie Thins, Soft Baked Pumpkin Pie Cookies, Moravian Style Apple Cider Cookie Thins, and Soft Baked Apple Spice Cake Cookies

Dewey’s had several collections of limited edition products on display for FFS, including this line of fall flavors. I did not sample this particular group of cookies, but based on my other Dewey’s tastings, it’s a safe bet they’re delicious.

Available starting in September/October in major grocery chains nationwide.

Dewey’s Bakery Limited Edition Valentine’s cookies – Chocolate Dipped Vanilla Hearts Mini Cookie Thins, Moravian Style Brownie Crisp Cookie Thin Hearts, and Powdered Sugar Raspberry Heart Shortbread Cookies

The standout of this Valentine’s Day collection for me were the Raspberry Heart Shortbreads. The shortbread had an intense but authentic raspberry taste and crispy texture. The powdered sugar coating was a nice change of pace from most cookies, but as a New Yorker who wears a lot of black, it’s the scarlet C of a cookie addict.

Available early 2019 in major grocery chains nationwide.

The Sweetery Beer Buddies Biscotti – Rind & Stout and Yippee IPA

These biscotti cookies were designed to pair with and dunk into beer. The airy but rigid structure did a great job holding onto liquids when dunked, but didn’t lose its crunch. The Rind & Stout flavor were chocolate-based with pretzel and pork rinds mixed in. Yippee IPA flavor were lemon cookies with SouthWest seasoning. Both were a nice balance of sweet and savory. The creator called them “Dog treats for guys” which was funny but easy to see – the flavors did lean a little dude-y. The Sweetery also has a existing line of Wine Sticks, designed to pair with wines – so, cat treats for ladies?

Available now in select gourmet shops and regional grocery stores.

Made Good Soft Baked Mini Cookies

When I tasted these little cookies, they were good, but didn’t bowl me over. Then reading the box and literature, I wondered if they’re the most “friendly” cookie on earth. They’re vegan, organic, Kosher, gluten-free, common allergen-free, non-GMO, produced in a nut-free facility and safe to send to school with your kids. I’m exhausted from just typing that list. But they still manage to taste like cookies, so nice work! As a childless adult in the age of deadly allergies and everything intolerance, I’m terrified of the prospect of ever having to provide food to groups of children. Bet I’ll be remembering these if an impromptu kids’ birthday party ever springs up around me.

Coming in late Summer/early Fall to grocery stores nationwide.

Fancypants Baking Co. Apple Crisp Cookies

I’m kind of an apple freak. The house I grew up in was wedged between two apple orchards. These cookies had my attention as soon as I spied the big red delicious word “APPLE” on the bag. Hi, Fancypants…how’s it going? Oops! 3 of your cookies just fell into my mouth. These had the quiet applessence of a cider doughnut in a small, thin, crispy cookie. Not a Jolly Ranchers level punch in the mouth, but like something your grandmother would make. They were simple and lovely and easy to eat the whole bag in one sitting (cough – not that I would know, but I might know…)

Available in grocery chains this fall.