Whenever I make a joke about eating unhealthy, I always mention my weakness, cookie butter. Without fail, someone around me is like, “What’s cookie butter?” This always shocks me, because once you know the glory that is cookie butter it’s difficult to imagine a world where there are people who’ve never tried it. I realize, of course, that not everyone has access to a Trader Joe’s (sadness – although you can buy it on Amazon!), so as a public service I decided to spread the word about this magnificent spread. Let me teach you, little grasshoppers.
For the sake of this post I went to my local TJ’s and bought the three different kinds of cookie butter available for purchase. You know, so you could see what they look like. Not so that I could fall into a shame spiral and polish off all three of them within ten minutes of hitting “publish.” Ahem.
I know what you’re thinking. You want me to take off the lids so you can look inside, don’t you? Alright, alright! Twist my arm.
Have you ever seen anything so beautiful in all your life?
Okay. So there are a few things you need to know about this stuff. The first is that, while most people hear the “butter” part of cookie butter and assume it’s like butter, it’s not. For one thing, it doesn’t have the consistency of regular butter – more like peanut butter. It’s also easy to eat by the spoonful, which you would never do with butter (at least I hope not). What it actually tastes like is closer to cookie dough.
The second thing you need to know is that it literally goes on anything. The jar lists a number of things you can put it on, including ice cream and celery (ice cream AND celery? Wha?), which sounds ridiculous until you try it and see it’s true. If you ask me, though, it goes best on my tongue.
The third thing you need to know – full disclosure here – is that it’s ridiculously fattening. That shouldn’t really come as a surprise since it’s called COOKIE FREAKING BUTTER, but it’s easy to be fooled into thinking it’s not as fattening as it is because it only has 90 calories per serving size. That doesn’t sound so bad until you realize after eating half the jar that each serving size is about as big as a thimble.
Regular peanut butter on the left, regular cookie butter on the right.
Still intrigued and don’t care how many calories it has? Okay, good. You made the right choice.
Now the last thing you need to know is the difference between the three types. The O.G. cookie butter is made with Speculoos, a kind of shortbread biscuit. Some will tell you that it tastes like gingerbread, but there isn’t any ginger involved. I personally liken it more to those yummy biscuits, but if they were completely pulverized, made into an amazingly smooth spread, and then filled with the secrets of the universe.
The second type, Cookie & Cocoa Swirl, mixes in a Hershey’s syrup-esque chocolate with the cookie butter. The result is a spread that is much sweeter than the O.G. spread. It’s ah-mazing, of course, but some might think it’s almost too sweet.
The last type is crunchy cookie butter, which is just like the O.G. spread but with chunks of speculoos cookie in it. This one is my favorite, but just as people have very passionate feelings about crunchy vs. creamy peanut butter, people have very passionate feelings about crunchy vs. O.G. cookie butter.
Alright! You are now officially ready to try cookie butter. Have any questions? Let me know. I’ll just be over here with these three jars and a spoon.
This post is only sponsored by my tongue and expanding waistline.
Valerie says:
A) You practically made me salivate all over my computer as I read this, and b) Although I’m up extra early to head out to the gym, I need this (all three!!) NOW!!!
MUCH LOVE (and shared calories!!) from Ohiooooo!!
Valerie
samatwitch says:
Unfortunately – or maybe fortunately for me! – we don’t have Trader Joe’s in Canada. They sound delicious, especially the crunchy on. (I’m not a fan of chocolate.) I do like cookie dough in pretty much any form. I used to make dozens of chocolate chip cookies each year for gifts and could easily let them stay in the freezer for weeks or months if I had extra, but the cookie dough – minus the chocolate chips – I could eat by the spoonful.
Heather says:
I sometimes wish I didn’t like chocolate.
TheOtherElle says:
Bite your tongue, woman!
Katrien says:
As a Belgian, inventors of the spread and big speculaas-lovers, I can only confirm it is lovely and pretty addictive. Of course my country may also be one of the biggest Nutella and other chocolate-spread consumers so …
MG says:
I certainly never knew! I would have to drive a distance for a TJ’s as well. BUT, you had me at “English biscuit”. Do you mean like a Biscoff? Omg, I’m in the process of losing Biscoff weight for theist year. (You know what I mean). They make a Biscoff SPREAD, although it wasn’t called cookie butter, that’s what it was. Those things together. Yikes! I don’t know how I discovered Biscoff but it was like a sickness the day I found them at the $ Store. FOR A DOLLAR of course. Only once, but the. I checked every time. 45 lbs down and an embarrassing amount to go. Darn you Biscoff. (That chocolate one looks great!)
Leiah says:
I was just going to mention Biscoff! We don’t have a Trader Joe’s here in my corner of the Bayou State but we do have Biscoff and that’s a good thing.
Glenda says:
Biscoff on a hot waffle and top off with whip cream!!! To die for!!! I’ll have to try the crunchy one Heather!!!
LizL says:
The Biscoff Spread tastes JUST like this cookie butter.
Heather says:
Yep, just like the Biscoff spread!
Kathy C. says:
Are all of the flavors nut free? My kids are peanut/nut allergic and I think this would be a heavenly substitute!
Janette Z says:
Yes! They recently opened a TJ’s in my neighboring big city and I made a special trip there just to get a jar of this stuff. Needlesd to say, my life is different now. My favorite way to eat it is to spread it across my eggo waffle. I tried it with a cut up apple once and thoight I was going into diabetic shock. Anyway, its amazing.
Heather says:
The first time I read this I was half-asleep and thought you said you spread it across your LEGS and I was like, “damn, she really goes for it.” LOL coffee is my friend.
Giselle says:
LOL Omg I just laughed so hard. The thought of you being shocked at her talking about spreading this on her legs just killed me. I really am holding back tears. I think I need more sleep.
Kirsten says:
I love cookie butter so freaking much. I refuse to share it with my family and haven’t even introduced my kids to it. I also have been known to stash secret jars of it around my house ( you know like an alcoholic with vodka). I know I should be ashamed, but I am not. Cookie Butter is heaven and glory and therapy by the spoonful. Amen.
Heather says:
I fully support this behavior. I have to hide it from my kids because they become sugar fiends!
Anadi says:
I first found out about this in a crepe stand in Paris. Of course, I had to go to the grocery store and buy a jar to take with me. I didn’t make it through customs because I only had a carry-on bag. They took it away from me and I was never able to even eat a spoon out of it because I was saving it for when I got home. Seriously sad day. You should have heard my arguments: but it is not even liquid!
Jennifer L. says:
Alas, no TJ’s in Arkansas.
Amber says:
I was thinking the same thing
Heather says:
You can buy it on Amazon…you know, if you want to treat/torture yourself. http://amzn.to/1r9IUiR
M says:
I have the one on the right. It does taste gingerbread-ish to me but better!
Emily says:
You forgot to mention the COOKIE BUTTER ICE CREAM, which is basically the most amazing thing on earth.
Heather says:
You know, I was really unimpressed with the cookie butter ice cream I tried! I just wanted MORE cookie butter. But obviously I should give it another try. For science.
Chrissy says:
If you can’t get to a TJ, look for Biscoff spread. It’s just like cookie butter, and I’ve seen it at Walmart, Target and Meijer.
MNMom says:
My teeth are hurting. Im not sure what to think, only that it will never be in my house, it looks addictive!
Heather says:
I feel like a good friend would tell you not to try it because ADDICTION, so I won’t tell you how incomplete your life is without it.
MNMom says:
I feel like I need to try it, and I have a Trader Joes very close to me. If it becomes a problem, I will send it away to my daughter at college. never say never I guess……
Johanna says:
I have been wanting to try it… Now that you have laid out all the amazing qualities of cookie butter, I am definitely going to pick some up next time I am at TJ’s. I will probably need to hide it from my husband.
Jodi says:
I just checked and there’s a Trader Joe’s 53 miles away from me. Might have to make a special trip.
ida says:
You must try the biscoff spread, so much better than tj’s! It’s available at most grocery stores and target
Heather says:
I’ve had it! I didn’t like it as much but maybe I should try it again.
Amanda says:
I love the cookie butter – it is amazing! But it gave me horrible stomach pains – had to return it all! But now I am craving it more than ever!
Heather says:
I wish it gave me stomach pains…other than expanding stomach pains, that is.
Deb Young says:
I just recently tried the original and the cocoa swirl. There are no words to describe the deliciousness!!!!
Deb V says:
Speculaas are actually Dutch cookies with many spices. Super crunchy and super yummy.
In Canada, cookie butter is available at Costco…just sayin’
Lisa says:
I haven’t seen cookie butter at our Costco in Prince George.
Whenever I go visit our cousins in Washington state, I always make a trip to Trader Joes just before we cross back over the border. I grab anywhere from 3 to 6 jars of cookie butter for my stash. Crunchy is my absolute favorite! I haven’t tried the cocoa swirl yet, but I grabbed two jars on our trip in August.
Tracey says:
I haven’t seen it at our Costco in Edmonton. My in-laws go to Montana every August, I may have to put an order in with them.
Amy says:
I also have schooled many folks about cookie butter. My favorite is the original. On a side note, as a child my great-grandmother, who was born in the 1890’s, regularly gave us kids a sick of butter as a “treat” and we ate the whole thing every time!
Giselle says:
Really? Not even with a piece of bread? You just got a stick of butter and took bites? It sounds.. I don’t know. Not very flavorful and like it would make you sick, no?
Lindsey says:
Does it have a nut base? I used to eat peanut butter by the spoon full and recently found out I was allergic to nuts and am going through withdrawals. Maybe I have found a substitute?!?
Heather says:
The label on the outside says, “May contain traces of tree nuts, milk, and eggs.” So it sounds like it isn’t nut-based but made in a factory with nut products
Skye says:
I’m also allergic to nuts, but thankfully not allergic enough that I have problems with things made in the same factory, so I’ve been fine with TJ’s and Biscoff brands (I can’t remember whether Biscoff also says may contain nuts). Try looking for other brands- they often call it speculoos spread (speculoos is the generic name for that kind of cookie). There seem to be a decent number of brands out there so maybe there’s one that’s totally nut-free! I’ve never been able to eat Nutella, so this is my Nutella substitute
Lauren says:
Soooo….not to get everyone overly freakishly excited like I currently am, BUT my TJs insider at my local store told me that they are getting (any time now)… wait for it….Cookie Butter CHEESECAKE. He told me this about 2 weeks ago and I have been stalking the store every few days ever since.
Lupe says:
Ahh, I may have to lug my 3 children to the always crowded Trader Joes in Union Square for a jar of the crunchy one. Last time I went there I had my oldest two, now seven and six, in a Phil and Ted’s double stroller so hopefully this time I’ll have a much better experience.
What else do you recommend from there? Any tasty, healthy, lunch box snacks?
Happy to see you were in my city recently, I live in Queens, a few stops away from Times Square via the 7 train.
Sus says:
Their orange chicken (“Chinese” take-out style) is really great. As are their fig bars and granola bars. And their tortilla chips. Lots of snacks!
Heather says:
Suuuuuch a wide snack selection. My kids go nuts for the TJ’s version of pirate’s booty (it’s corn-based) and the fruit squeezes. We also like their vegetable chips! Mike and I love their frozen food section – lots of low-cal options for the nights we don’t feel like cooking. They also have good fruit leathers and tons of fresh seasonal fruit that I put in the lunch boxes.
I’ll go through my “stock” and give you more options! Oh and I second the orange chicken, it’s amazing!
Jordan says:
third-ing the orange chicken! Also, their dark chocolate peanut butter cups are my favorite thing ever. Love TJ’s snack selection!
Kim says:
You really had to introduce that to people who do not get it in their country (Canada)? Sigh. Looks absolutely heavenly. I guess it’s a good thing we don’t have a TJs.
Heather says:
You *could* always order it from Amazon…
Bettyagnes says:
Target and Cost Plus World Markets sell the equivalent, Biscoff spread. If TJ’s is out.
Steph says:
The line (“Okay good. You made the right choice.”) cracked me up! Austin now has Trader Joe’s but my waistline or lack thereof is bad enough:(
Erin says:
That’s it. I NEED a Trader Joe’s in my town.
Jackson says:
I had never heard of it before your post and won’t buy it because I would sit and eat the entire jar IN ONE SITTING. Sigh.
Nicole says:
So, if you’re a pumpkin-aholic (*cough*HeatherSpohr*cough*), try it spread on pumpkin waffles or pumpkin pancakes.
Just sayin….LIFE.CHANGING.
Heather says:
But but…I put pumpkin butter on those things!!! Now I have to try both.
Julie says:
You know they have Cookie Butter ice cream too, right? #yourwelcome
Heather says:
I do! But I was unimpressed with it. My verdict was too much ice cream, not enough cookie butter. Maybe I just need to add my own scoops of cookie butter on TOP of the cookie butter ice cream (that was a really fattening sentence).
Skye says:
I was really excited to try the cookie butter ice cream but had the exact same thought after I ate it!
Allison M. says:
COOKIE BUTTER ICE CREAM!
http://www.traderjoes.com/digin/post/speculoos-cookie-butter-ice-cream
The closets one is over an hour away but I must go find me some!
Jannette says:
You are so funny.
I just can’t. try. it. Best not to know what I am missing.
Stephanie says:
Okay, so I have a TJ’s three miles from my house. I’ve always seen the cookie butter, but have been too afraid to try it. I think I might have to stay that way… I don’t need another addiction.
kathig says:
I’ve been keeping my jar for “emergencies.” I figure if there’s an earthquake, well, my house may be leveled, but at least I’ll have Cookie Butter!
Darn you, Heather Spohr, I just cracked the lid.
Heather says:
…annnnnnd???
kathig says:
let’s just say, I’m gonna need another jar. You know, for the emergencies.
Anna says:
I’ve never tried it, I’ve been resisting because I know it’s going to be like Nutella – best to just not have an open jar in the house. Of course, if I came up with my own recipe for cookie butter cheesecake or ice cream to take to a potluck, that would give me a reason to buy a jar, you know, because I need it as an ingredient…
Heather says:
See, and if you’re like me when you cook, you have to taste the ingredients to make sure everything is fresh…right?
Amber says:
They have it on Amazon.
Leah says:
Arg, I wish I hadn’t read this. Sugar and I are on the outs, but … damn you, Trader Joe’s.
cindy w says:
This is something that I will never try, because I’d probably never stop wanting it. Better to just look at it and pretend that it’s some peanut butter/Nutella mashup and not be tempted. (Truth: I’m not a fan of Nutella. I mean, it’s ok, whatever, but I don’t like hazelnuts all that much.)
Melissa says:
I’ve managed not to visit our new Trader Joe’s but now I have a huge reason to go. I don’t think I should thank you for it.
Bianca says:
We have the Speculoos spread in France. Soooooo good Not sure I’ve seen any other kinds here though!
Melissa says:
I’m just wondering how you can be addicted to that and still look so amazing! Seriously, I know you always say you are on a diet but you always look great! On another note… my pregnant self will be stopping at Trader Joe’s on my way home from work to pick up some cookie butter. I’ve been craving cookie dough and I obviously can’t eat raw eggs so… a girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do right?
Jeanie says:
I bought the Biscoff Cookie Butter at Sam’s Club a couple weeks ago. I’m not supposed to eat many sweets, but I did manage a sample or six on Ritz crackers. Awesome stuff.
Jordan says:
I love me some TJ’s, however have never tried Cookie Butter. The whole idea of it being reminiscent of gingerbread threw me off- I hate ginger! Might have to give it a shot though. Especially the chocolate one. Mmm.
I love me some nutella, but I did not enjoy Hershey’s new spreads. They taste delightful but they are really thick and un-spreadable. My mom introduced me to Jif’s whips- jif peanut butter whipped with chocolate-I could seriously eat a whole container in 1 sitting.
Heather says:
I despise ginger and gingerbread, so don’t let the fact that some people say it’s like gingerbread sway you. To me it tastes NOTHING like gingerbread!
Jordan says:
alrighty then, guess I’mma have to try it.
PS, saw this and thought of you: http://www.1075theriver.com/photos/pop-pics/39-ways-to-feed-your-pumpkin-403399/23142352/#/0/23141314
SO MANY PUMPKIN THINGS I NEED ON THAT LIST. Primarily: Pumpkin spice cookie dough (nom), pumpkin yogurt, pumpkin spice jif’s whips, pumpkin spice clif bars, pumpkin spice cream cheese… I MUST FIND IT ALLLL.
Heather says:
oh my GODDDDDD. I literally need everything.
Jordan says:
Seriously, I’m going pumpkin food hunting this weekend.
the pumpkin spice kisses are one of my favorite things in the whole world. I made brownie bites with them in the middle last year. One of my best life decisions ever.
sarah says:
Does it have cinnamon in it?
Heather says:
I just looked at the ingredients and one of the last ones listed was cinnamon.
sarah says:
I’m allergic.
Lil says:
I just explained cookie butter to a friend yesterday! I feel like I am always going on and on about it to everyone I meet. Thanks for the handy link I can just send to the uninitiated.
Jerilynn says:
I dream of being spoon fed the stuff by a scantily clad Shemar Moore. Oh, was that my outside voice? Er, uh, sorry . . .
Greis says:
I AM IN LOVE WITH THE COCOA COOKIE BUTTER SWIRL!!! SO AMAZING!!! (yes, this required yelling!!)
Rie says:
Allergy alert: We had reactions to this spread, so proceed with caution!
Rie says:
I meant to put “Nut Allergy alert: We had reactions to this spread, so proceed with caution!”.
Anna says:
We don’t have a TJ’s here (boooo!!!), but we can get Biscoff in crunchy or smooth! I bake with it a lot but always polish off the rest of the jar with a spoon. My husband wanted ice cream the other day so I was going to the store and asked what kind he wanted. He said, “Biscoff.” I don’t know of anybody who makes that flavor, but it sounded like a darn good idea, so I used our KitchenAid ice cream maker attachment to whip up a batch. I used this recipe as a base (http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/biscoff-ice-cream/) but also mixed in ground up Biscoff cookie pieces and melted some Biscoff to drizzle throughout as a swirl. Good grief! Oh my gosh, I just remembered that there’s still some on the freezer and my mouth watered.
Laura says:
I’m probably the the only person in the United States who doesn’t like cookie butter. I tried it with great expectations and just didn’t really care for it. However, the chocolate one may be right up my alley.
Megan says:
I LOVE ME SOME COOKIE BUTTER. But after some careful testing requiring two jars, I decided…I actually like Nutella a little better.
I’m also grateful that you mentioned “Hershey’s syrup” in your description of the cocoa one, because that told me I probably wouldn’t like it much. I was hoping the cocoa was more like Nutella.
Nicole says:
Mmmmmmm….. I will take all 3 please.
Buffi says:
I’m going to just say it’s a good thing there is no Trader Joe’s anywhere near me. Also? I’m pretending you did not mention it is available on Amazon because I cannot afford bigger pants right now. My ass is ginormous enough add it is thankyouverymuch.
Heather says:
Make this now but add an extra tablespoon of butter and substitute Cookie butter for Peanut Butter!! You will not be sorry.
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1lb. powdered sugar
1 1/2 cups peanut butter (COOKIE BUTTER!!)
1 Cup butter, melted (Add a bit more since cookie butter is a little drier than PB)
1 12oz. bag of milk chocolate chips
Add the first four ingredients together in a bowl. I just smoosh it all together with my hands. (Yes, smoosh is a technical term. I’m expecting a call from Food Network any day now.) Press this mixture into the bottom of a 9×13 pan that you’ve lined with wax paper. I use extra wax paper so it sticks up on the sides and then I just lift the sides to get it out the pan. Once it’s all pressed in, melt the chocolate chips and spread evenly on top. Put in the fridge until it firms. Enjoy.
Jen R. says:
If I’m not mistaken, Dutch windmill cookies are a kind of speculoos. I haven’t tried cookie butter yet, but I have seen it other places than TJ’s. Not sure what the brand was, but I saw some at Fred Meyer’s, for those that have that store nearby.
Jay says:
I seem to remember reading cookie butter here before, but I definitely thought you were kidding and it wasn’t an actual thing.
Jessi @ Quirky Cookery says:
Just saw this and thought you might enjoy…then immediately saw that it was Mike and had to giggle even more, lol:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mikespohr/28-things-people-obsessed-with-cookie-butter-will-understand#430dor3
kathig says:
TJs is now selling cookie butter dark chocolate cups!!! Like Reese’s Cups, but with cookie butter. And yes, I may have bought some…you know, in the name of science.
Liz says:
I don’t know why but I felt you needed to know, while at target last night my friend and I came across cookie butter. I had been wanting to try it since reading this post but hadn’t made it to trader joes yet. It was a different brand at the targ- biscoff, but it also happened to have a 50 cent off coupon attached to it. SCORE! I bought the crunchy and my friend bought the creamy. I MAY have smeared some on my cookies n cream ice cream last night and my husband and I MAY have had cookie toast for breakfast this morning. So thanks for my soon to be expanding waistline. Xoxo and nomnomnom.