Nestle’s pre-cut cookie shapes pass tasters’ muster
The gifts are wrapped, the tree is gorgeous and the children are nestled. But if there hasn’t been time in all the rushing around to bake a plate of cookies for Santa, Nestle Toll House may have taken away the last excuse.
The new cookie shapes come pre-cut in a package in the refrigerated section of the supermarket. Pop out the shapes. Place them on a cookie sheet, and in 8 minutes you have gingerbread men, sugar cookies and even-shaped chocolate chip cookies hot from the oven.
Nestle has even included two colored icing packets so the cookies can be decorated after they cool. And the scraps can be gathered, rolled out and cut with the family’s favorite cookie cutters.
The tasters on The Spokesman-Review reader food panel thought the cookies were good enough to pass muster, especially if time is short.
“(A) great crunchy cookie. Not too sweet and could pass for homemade,” Tina Johnson said of the sugar cookies.
Larry Inman liked the effort, too. “Not too sugary nor too crumbly. As baby bear would say, ‘This is just right.’ “
Others said the cookies were too crisp and had no flavor. Overall, the cookies earned three stars for flavor.
“(It’s a) cheap factory substitute for a real cookie,” said Andy Hoye.
The gingerbread cookies were ranked highest by the panel, earning three-and-a-half stars.
“Yummy. This beats a gingersnap any day of the week. Great crunch, and the ginger is not too overpowering as most store-bought cookies are,” said Skip Hubbard.
Peggy Kazanis also liked the cookies. “Rich ginger flavor. I like the spicy flavor and crisp crunch.”
Donald Clegg would have liked to have tasted more ginger. “Crisp, crunchy, not too sweet. Very mild ginger flavor, which could use a boost, but still good.”
Nestle Toll House also offers its signature chocolate chip cookies in cut-out shapes. The panel also gave those cookies three stars for flavor.
“For a quick store bought cookie, It’s OK,” said Vicki Deschaine.
Hollman agreed: “This cookie was a bit sweet with the frosting. Without, the cookie is tolerable… not five-star, but not awful. If pressed for time, this is an all-right choice.”
Nancy Robinson said she might buy the chocolate chip cookies, “A very good cookie, very chocolaty, and it also tastes better than it looks. I would eat these.”
Kazanis said her kids would love the cookies warm out of the oven.
But Hubbard might eat them before his kids awoke on Christmas morning. “The perfect balance of dough and chocolate chips, and great chewy goodness.”
Nestle Toll House Cookie Shapes Gingerbread
Price: $3.59 for an 18-ounce package
Nutrition per serving (2 shaped cookies with icing): 110 calories, 4.5 grams fat (1 gram saturated, 37 percent fat calories), 1 gram protein, 17 grams carbohydrate, 10 milligrams cholesterol, less than 1 gram dietary fiber, 130 milligrams sodium.
Taste: • • • 1/2
Value: • • • 1/2
Comments: “Not bad. The texture was a bit powdery around the edges, but chewy and nice in the middle, with decent spice and flavor. Not a must-have, but not awful. The price is right though.” – Laura Hollman
“Not bad. Good ingredients. Enjoy with milk.” – Marilyn Moore
“Too crisp and dry. Possibly made by elves.” – Marcia Oranen
“Good because the ginger taste is subtle and not overpowering like most ginger edibles.” – Larry Inman
Nestle Toll House Cookie Shapes Sugar Cookies
Price: $3.59 for an 18-ounce package
Nutrition per serving (2 shaped cookies with icing): 110 calories, 4 grams fat (1 gram saturated, 33 percent fat calories), 1 gram protein, 17 grams carbohydrate, 10 milligrams cholesterol, less than 1 gram dietary fiber, 100 milligrams sodium.
Taste: • • •
Value: • • •
Comments: “If you like moist, chewy sugar cookies, don’t go for this one. But it has way more flavor than bakery sugar cookies.” – Laura Hollman
“Nice cookie, crisp with great flavor. (The) frosting is a big plus.” – Nancy Robinson
“A little crunchy, a little chewy – pretty darn good.” – Skip Hubbard
Nestle Toll House Cookie Shapes Chocolate Chip Cookies
Price: $3.59 for an 18-ounce package
Nutrition per serving (1 shaped cookie with icing): 120 calories, 5 grams fat (2 grams saturated, 38 percent fat calories), 1 gram protein, 17 grams carbohydrate, 10 milligrams cholesterol, less than 1 gram dietary fiber, 100 milligrams sodium.
Taste: • • •
Value: • • •
Comments: “This cookie was made too thick, and one does not need frosting on a chocolate chip cookie.” – Marilyn Moore
“Not enough chips, not enough chocolate flavor. Not enough reason to purchase.” – Donald Clegg
“Soft with good flavor. My favorite … I like a thick, soft cookie.” – Marcia Oranen