This fall the Big Buds are asking: is it cake? Is it cookie? Is it inside out? Is it even relevant? Two cookies walk the lines between all these things–except for relevance, which a cookie can't care about, nor can my style of baking–I'm just following my heart across a strange flavor universe!

Cookies come in a 6-pack polka dot carrying case, with 3 cookies of each flavor.

Carrot cake

This cookie goes out to my friend Andrew, who is a real carrot cake head. It's thanks to him that I ever thought to attempt a cookie version of this classic cake. I originally created it for a custom order, but the custom cookies turned out so delectable that I decided to make it an official pantry member. And what better way to welcome the fall days than with a warmly spiced, root veg cake-in-a-cookie?

This cookie rides said line between cake and cookie with aplomb (many thanks to an air tight base recipe from Scientifically Sweet). It is sufficiently light&tender like a cake, but with enough density and chew to keep it cookie. Like some carrot cake recipes, the dough includes toasted walnuts and finely shredded, unsweetened coconut. The carrots are likewise finely shredded, so that they disappear into the dough without adding a weird, wiry texture–just a subtle flavor and ample moisture. Then, there is the vanilla-flecked cream cheese buttercream filling–an ermine buttercream, meaning that it begins with a vanilla custard base, but then is whipped into light, creamy perfection with cream cheese and butter. The whole package.

Inside-out banana bread

This bud doesn't exactly come clean in its title. So think of it this way: I base all of my Big Buddy cookies on one original revelatory cookie: the banana nutella cookie from Thoroughbread bakery in Austin, TX. I originally came to this tiny bakery-outpost in 2020 while working on my third album in rural Texas. I was there for bread, but so intrigued by this banana nutella cookie in the case that I had to try it. A simple sounding cookie: a banana-infused sugar cookie dough that is filled with commercial Nutella. 6 years later, I still think about it (and if ever I am within 50 miles of Austin, I will hunt it down). I made an homage to this cookie in 2021, but in hindsight I've decided I can't compete with an already perfect, distinctive thing.

So instead, I offer you and inside-out version: a chocolate gianduja cookie, replete with hazelnut butter, blizted caramelized sugar, brute cocoa powder, and chunks of Tony's Chocoloney Belgium chocolate. This gets stuffed with a silky&rich banana vanilla custard. It's a different world, but one reminiscent enough of this transcendental cookie experience that hopefully it pays tribute while also standing in its own strange little category.

CONTAINS GLUTEN, DAIRY&NUTS.