A recurring theme at House to Home Organizing is a desire to move away from stuff and towards experiences. One can hardly think of a more enjoyable experience than eating a warm cookie. We spoke with Andrea of the Connecticut Cookie Company to learn more these local sweet treats.
What is your background, how did you get started?
Well, I've been designing in the fashion industry for over twenty years. Baking was my "therapy" when I designed for Abercrombie a.k.a. "Aberzombie" when I was there a while ago. Growing up (in Cincinnati, Ohio), my mom baked a lot using the vanilla extract from my grandma's hometown in Indiana. I was more interested in decorating cookies rather than baking when I was a kid.
Cookies are in the title, what kinds and do you have non-cookie items?
Sure! First off, the foundation of the business is our pure vanilla extract. A 75+ year old recipe. We also have: cake pops, edible cookie dough, coffee, tea, espresso, cupcakes, GIANT chocolate chip cookies, cakes and our signature "Quick fix brittle" (almond toffee britlle with Belgian Dark Chocolate Sea salt with graham cracker). Also, around Thanksgiving we have pies. Everything is made from scratch using our CT Cookie vanilla extract.
You are based in Fairfield, where can people buy your cookies?
Our cookie shop is location at 2385 Black Rock Turnpike in Fairfield. We're across the street from Trader Joe's and next to Lenox Jewelers. Two miles off the Merritt Parkway; five miles off 95. Our cookies can also be ordered on our web site: CTCOCO.com. You can see what we're up to on instagram.
Does anyone ever ask about custom orders?
Oh yes, we do A LOT of custom cookie orders for showers, weddings, graduations, corporate - you name it! We've done custom cakes and cupcakes for a few catering events. I would say the best custom order we've had to date was (sad story) one of our customers was dying from cancer. She loved our oatmeal raisin cookies (she even said they were to die for! ha.) she planned her funeral gathering around our cookies and had cookies and milk in her memory. Which we all thought was amazing!
What do you suggest for someone with special dietary restrictions?
We do bake gluten free cookies, cake pops, brownies and edible dough. Our facility does contain nuts.
I'm sure people are jealous that you get to work with cookies all day, what is it really like?
Ha, people do say that. We work nonstop and when customers come into the shop saying "it smells so great in here!" that makes it all worthwhile.
What are some of your most popular items?
Chocolate chip cookies, our pure vanilla extract, edible cookie dough, quick fix brittle, cake pops and sugar cookies.