Carol's Cookies FAQs

Cookie storage & care

Question:
How do I keep your cookies fresh?
Answer:
We recommend that you freeze our freshly baked cookies within 48 hours of receiving them to lock in freshness, if you have the restraint to not consume them as you unbox them.

  • Carol’s Cookies can be frozen for up to 6 months
  • Cookies can be refrozen twice during that 6-month timeframe, given they are only at ambient for a maximum of seven days
  • If not enjoyed within five days, Carol’s Cookies should only be stored frozen. Storing them in a cooler will dry them out more quickly

See our Cookie Care & Storage Guide for more information.

Question:
What is the shelf life of your cookies?
Answer:
Short answer: 180 days frozen, five days at ambient temperatures. Longer answer: Each flavor varies a little from one to the other, but the range is between four and six days at room temperature.

Our Cookie Care & Storage Guide has storage tips for each flavor.

Question:
What is the best way to defrost Carol’s Cookies?
Answer:
To enjoy Carol’s Cookies, simply let them sit at room temperature for approximately two hours to fully thaw. If your plans change, no worries—our cookies can be refrozen up to two times before they start to lose their signature moistness. Check out these other tips to keep Carol’s Cookies fresh.

Question:
Can I reheat my cookies? (Best practices for warming)
Answer:
Yes! We recommend you begin with a cookie at room temperature. You can reheat it in the microwave– just pop it in for 20 seconds on each side. You can also reheat in the oven – 350°F for approximately 60 – 90 seconds.

Question:
What is inside the cookie gift boxes?
Answer:
We have a variety of cookie gift boxes available for delicious gifts. The Small Cookie Gift Box contains 8, 6-oz handmade cookies. If you need a bigger gift box, check out the Large Cookie Gift Box, which contains 12 6-oz handmade cookies. We also have a Four Cookie Gift Box for a little treat and a gift box of Carol’s mini cookies–2 and a half dozen mini gourmet cookies.

Cookie ingredients & flavors

Question:
Can you send me your recipe?
Answer:
Carol’s recipe is a family secret, silly. We have never divulged the special ingredients and techniques that make our homemade cookies so incredibly unique. Other bakeries and individuals have tried to replicate our famous cookies, but nothing compares – we are the original Carol’s Cookies. We do have some delicious cookie recipes available on our blog–check them out!

Question:
How large are your cookies?
Answer:
Our giant, signature gourmet cookies weigh nearly a half-pound each. You can taste the pure butter and hints of brown sugar in every bite!

Question:
How many calories are in a Carol’s cookie?
Answer:
You can view the nutritional information for our most popular cookies below, including calorie counts per cookie. For a full list of all our cookie flavors and detailed nutritional facts in downloadable PDFs, visit our Cookie Flavor Finder.

Top 5 Flavors (Calories per 1.4-oz Mini Cookie):

  • Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookie – 200 cal
  • Chocolate Chip Cookie – 210 cal
  • Kitchen Sink Cookie – 190 cal
  • Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookie – 210 cal
  • Toffee Chocolate Crunch Cookie – 200 cal

Looking for something specific? Email our bakery at info@carolscookies.com, and we’ll be happy to help!

Question:
Do you have allergen information available?
Answer:
You can check the ingredient lists and allergen information for each cookie flavor. Our sanitation process is performed at least four times daily, which greatly reduces cross-contamination. We produce all of our cookies in batches, starting with the flavors that contain common allergens (wheat, dairy, eggs) and progressing to the ones with more severe allergens (tree nuts, then peanuts). Please note that our cookies are still made in a facility that processes nuts, regardless of how effective we are at controlling allergens

Question:
Are your cookies made with natural ingredients?
Answer:
Yes, all of our cookies are made with the best, all-natural ingredients. We use 100% pure butter, premium chocolate, unbleached wheat flour, pure cane sugar, and whole, farm-fresh eggs that we still crack ourselves.

Question:
Any new flavors coming soon?
Answer:
We are always looking for fresh recipes! We have created some winners like the Toffee Chocolate Crunch in recent years, and the Kitchen Sink Cookie, too. We’re testing new recipes weekly. A few of our new flavors can be found at Whole Foods Market throughout the United States, including the Birthday Cake Cookie, Almond Cookie, and Toffee Fudge Brownie Cookie. If you have a fun recipe to suggest, please contact us here! Find some yummy cookie inspiration on our recipe blog.

Question:
Is there a cookie subscription?
Answer:
Yes–our Cookie of the Month Club is the ultimate sweetest subscription gift! We have 6-month and 12-month subscriptions available! Check out the gifting program schedule.

Shipping information

Question:
Why Can’t I Ship Ground to California?
Answer:
Everything must arrive within two days of shipping from our bakery to ensure optimum freshness. We ship our handmade cookies and gifts from our bakery in Northbrook, Illinois, every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. This schedule ensures that our cookies, which contain no preservatives, arrive fresh and delicious to your door within two days. To ensure peak freshness with your delivery, learn more about our shipping process.

Custom cookie orders

Question:
Do you have an easier way to order larger quantities of gifts?
Answer:
Absolutely. Please use our order template for orders over 10 gifts. You should fill in your recipient’s address information and email it back to us for faster processing.

Question:
Do you give discounts for large-sized gift orders?
Answer:
Our goal is to provide the highest quality and most delicious cookies at the best possible price for customers. Pound for pound, we have the best deal out there–7 pounds of cookie goodness in our Large Gift Box! We will work closely with you to find the most cost-effective solution for your gifting needs. Please contact us for additional information.

Question:
Can you include our logo on your packaging?
Answer:
Yes! The minimum order for customized, imprinted gift boxes is 100, and the minimum order for customized Coffee Cups is 72 pieces. There is a one-time screen charge for each logo, and customized orders require you to prepay based on the quantity ordered. Please call our bakery directly for more details, or email us your information to info@carolscookies.com, or fill out the form here.

Question:
Do you decorate cookies with frosting, or can you make custom cookies for me?
Answer:
We’re not able to create decorative cookies in this way. We have tried doing shapes and frosting in the past, and it works better with shortbread bases and not the style of cookies we produce by hand.

Question:
Can I include a personalized message with my order?
Answer:
Yes! If your order is a gift, you can include a personalized message in the shipping information section during the checkout process.

Question:
How do I know who sent me the gift?
Answer:
Each gift box includes a gift message card inside. Just open your box and check the card to see who sent you your sweet surprise!

Where can I find Carol’s Cookies in-store?

Question:
Do you have your own Carol’s Cookies retail stores?
Answer:
No, but we sell to upscale retail accounts, restaurants, caterers, and select distributors throughout the United States. Find more information on where to buy Carol’s Cookies.

Question:
Where can I find your Mini Cookies at grocery stores?
Answer:
We sell in select grocery stores so we can maintain our premium, homemade quality. Our cookies can be found at Whole Foods Market throughout the United States in their self-service cases in the bakery section, usually labeled as Cookies-by-the-Pound. You can also find us at Sprouts Farmers Market from coast to coast in their self-service kiosks. New Seasons in the Pacific Northwest also carries a wonderful variety of our handmade Mini Cookies.

Question:
I am local, and I understand your bakery is not a retail store. Where can I find cookies in the Chicago area?
Answer:
You can find our handmade cookies at Sunset Foods in the northern suburbs, Boar’s Head Café in the Loop, and select Shell gas stations and coffee shops. Prefer to order directly? Place an order online for pickup at our Northbrook, Illinois bakery—or have our cookies shipped anywhere in the U.S.

Other questions about Carol’s Cookies

Question:
Who owns Carol’s Cookies?
Answer:
Carol’s Cookies is proudly owned and operated by its founder, Carol Goldman, and her son, Jeff. What started as a passion for baking in her home kitchen grew into a nationally recognized brand, known for its handmade, gourmet cookies. Since selling her first batch to a local grocery store in 1974, Carol has remained dedicated to using the same high-quality ingredients and small-batch baking process that made her cookies famous. More than 40 years later, Carol’s Cookies continues to be a family-run business, delivering freshly baked, oversized cookies to customers across the country. Learn more about Carol’s story.

Question:
Is Carol a real person?
Answer:
Yes, Carol is a real person. In fact, if you call the bakery, you may be one of the lucky ones and talk to Carol since she answers the phones when she’s not back in the bakery working on new cookie recipes with her bakers.

Question:
Do you offer bakery tours?
Answer:
We are a wholesale bakery and not a retail location. Due to health department regulations, we cannot offer bakery tours to the general public. If you order cookies online and choose to pick up your order at our bakery, we do have a viewing window and offer free smells!

Question:
Is Carol my friend’s cousin?
Answer:
Carol gets this a lot! We hear this when we travel as far as California to do demos. Perhaps your friend may be related to Carol in one form or another. Carol is from Saginaw, Michigan, and attended the University of Michigan. She has been living in Chicago for nearly 60 years. So maybe that will help fill in some of the holes for you in your friend’s family tree?

Question:
How do you ensure the safety and quality of your products?
Answer:
We uphold the highest food safety standards to ensure the quality and integrity of our products. Our facility undergoes regular third-party audits, and we maintain strict sanitation protocols in line with FDA, and CDC guidelines. Our team receives ongoing training on food safety, workplace hygiene, and sanitation best practices. By continuously monitoring and enhancing our procedures, we remain dedicated to delivering safe, high-quality products to our customers.