How many different ways can you say yum? Ruby et Violette’s gourmet chocolate chip cookies come in more than 65 flavors—and you shouldn’t miss a single one! All photography by Melody Lan.

Ruby et Violette:
Bring Me The Ruby Cookies!

CAPSULE REPORT: If only Dorothy had taken off for the Emerald City with a few boxes of Ruby et Violette gourmet chocolate chunk cookies.  The Wicked Witch of the West might well have taken the “ruby” cookies and let her continue in peace with the ruby slippers.

That’s because these most dazzling of chocolate chunk cookies have magical powers, not unlike the ruby slippers. They won’t transport you to Kansas, but they will get you a return invitation from those upon whom you bestow a box...tip the scales in your favor with prospective clients and in-laws...even help you land that house when you aren’t the high bidder (just be sure not to land it on top of the Wicked Witch of the East). These guarantees are not printed on the box, but we have observed the magic. Read the full review below.

NOTE: Following our original review, the company was purchased in 2007 and reopened in 2008 under new management as a bakery café with beautiful packaging, but a largely different set of flavors. Most of our favorites from the original bakery We haven’t tried the new cookies yet, but will do so shortly and update this review.

Overview

The first act of conjuring is Wendy Gaynor’s magical touch in developing more than 65 flavors of chocolate chunk cookie that are truly distinct and delicious, without being precious or gimmicky.* She starts with a basic chocolate chip cookie called the “Perfect Chocolate Chunk.” It’s good, but there’s a good chocolate chip cookie in almost every town, and that’s not where the excitement is here.

*We can’t speak for the Bubblegum Chocolate Chunk because we haven’t had it, but we’ll vouch for the others.

The real reason to go out of your way to order boxes and boxes of these every-calorie-is-doubly-worth-it cookies are the double flavors: Blueberry Chocolate Chunk, Dulce de Leche Chocolate Chunk, Fig Chocolate Chunk, Piña Colada Chocolate Chunk, Violet Chocolate Chunk....† Each is special (we have eaten most of them), and all must be tried—not necessarily at once, although we did get through 30 flavors in one sitting with no adverse effects (the scale notwithstanding).

Flavors While not all flavors are available at all times, there are perhaps three dozen, including a wonderful seasonal selection. The specialty flavors for fall include chocolate chunk with Apple, Chestnut, Cranberry & Walnut, Gingerbread, Maple, Praline, Pumpkin, and Sweet Potato & Marshmallow. Do we have favorite flavors?  Sure—but among 65 choices, our “favorites” list will be larger than the entire inventory of most chocolate chip cookie producers. Here are just the first four that caught our eye as we looked at the long list in the tiny print below: White and Semisweet Chocolate Chunk. This should be the basic cookie everywhere! Oreo Chocolate Chunk. The marriage of two great minds (cookie minds, anyway).

We’re off to see the wizard...to get a jumbo box of these irresistible cookies.

• Mint Chocolate Chunk. It’s like a blast of fresh mint leaf has infused the cookie (we admit we love mint chip ice cream too).
• Banana Chocolate Chunk. Chunky Monkey fans, this one’s for you!

†Not to overwhelm you, but here’s the chocolate chunk lineup: Amaretto, Apple, Banana, Blueberry, Bubblegum, Brandied Peach, Cantaloupe, Caramel, Champagne, Cherry, Chestnut, Cinnamon, Clementine, Coconut Almond, Coffee Cognac, Couch Potato Cranberry Walnut, Crème de Menthe, Crystallized Ginger, Daiquiri, Dulce de Leche, Espresso Bean, Fig, French Marnier, French Vanilla, Gingerbread, Green Tea, Jasmine, Kitchen Sink, Kiwi, Lavender, Lemon White Chocolate, Mai Tai, Malted Milk, Marshmallow, Mimosa, Mint, Mojito, Oatmeal Raisin, Orange, Orange Blossom, Oreo, Passion Fruit, Peach, Peanut Brittle, Peanut Butter, Pear, Perfect, Piña Colada, Pineapple, Pistachio, Praline, Pumpkin, Raspberry, Roasted Almond, Rose, Rum Raisin, S’Mores, Strawberry, Tequila Margarita, Tiramisu, Toffee, Truffle, Violet, White & Semisweet, Wild Berry.

All ingredients are premium: pure butter, granulated sugar, dark brown sugar, eggs, pure vanilla, flour, salt, baking soda, imported semisweet chocolate chunks, imported white chocolate chunks, imported purées and flavorings. The chocolate, as you have deduced from the ingredients, is not in chip form, but in generous, mouth-filling chunks. The result is sophisticated yet accessible: child as well as gourmet will adore a box (and demand another).

In addition to purchasing your choice of cookies by the pound, there are special one-pound assortments with clever concepts:

• Blueberry Pancakes. Blueberry Chocolate Chunk cookies and Maple Chocolate Chunk cookies. Should you serve them at brunch?  Of course!
• Champagne and Roses. Champagne and Strawberry Chocolate Chunk (the strawberries are dried), plus Rose Chocolate Chunk cookies. Yes, you can serve them with Champagne.
• Caramel Apples. Gooey Caramel Chocolate Chunk cookies and Apple Chocolate Chunk cookies. And, no hard coating to crack your teeth on!
• Fluffer Nutter. What else but Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk cookies and Marshmallow Chocolate Chunk cookies.
• Oreos and Milk. Oreo Chocolate Chunk cookies and Malted Milk Chocolate Chunk cookies. What a country!
• Peaches and Cream. Peach Chocolate Chunk cookies and French Vanilla White Chocolate Chunk cookies. It’s summertime all year ‘round.
• Tea for Two. Two different tea-infused cookies: Jasmine Chocolate Chunk and Green Tea Chocolate Chunk. Yes, do get them for tea parties, or just for a simple milkfest.

All cookies are baked fresh to order. They can be kept in the original airtight packaging for five days stored at room temperature. Once the package is opened, they can be kept fresh in the refrigerator for two to three days; or they can be frozen and thawed one hour before serving (or microwaved frozen for five seconds).

We have had many fine chocolate chip cookies, but we think we must declare Wendy Gaynor the Wonderful Wizard of Chips (or Chunks, but winner-takes-all).

Amazingly, among the dozens of flavors, Wendy has not attempted THE NIBBLE Editor’s own house specialty, the Halvah Chocolate Chunk cookie. Wendy, we will trade you that concept for some Oreos and Milk, a Tea for Two, a Fluffer Nutter, Caramel Apples, Peaches and Cream, and ....

...they’re all so good, we just can’t stop. But at $18 a pound, we don’t have to, in the wonderful land of Ruby et Violette.

—Karen Hochman

FORWARD THIS NIBBLE to all of your cookie-loving friends, and to anyone who’d like a great gift idea.

RUBY ET VIOLETTE Gourmet Chocolate Chunk Cookies in More Than 65 Flavors 1 Pound Box 3 Flavors, 12 Cookies $18.00 Additional Pounds $18.00/Pound Special Gift Assortments (1 Pound) Champagne and Roses, Oreos and Milk, et al $18.00 Corporate gifts, wedding favors, and catering packages are available. Prices and flavor availability are verified at publication but are subject to change. Shipping additional. Purchase by phone at 1.718.728.6250 When in New York City, visit the cafe at 456 West 50th Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues. RubyetViolette.com Visit our Cookie Section for reviews of more of our favorite cookies.

You can see why these are called chocolate chunk cookies.  No chips here! Shown, one pound of 12 cookies (there’s a second cookie underneath the top layer).

And check out some of our favorite books about baking cookies (or just voyeuristically browse through the beautiful photography):

500 Cookies by Philippa Vanstone. A delicious gift book with recipes, basic techniques, information about equipment, ingredients, and troubleshooting to bake great cookies. Click here for more information.	Great Cookies: Secrets to Sensational Sweets, by Carole Walter. With more than 200 delectable recipes and more than 150 tantalizing photographs, and tips covering every  baking method. Click here for more information.	Big Fat Cookies, by Elinor Klivans. More fun than baking cookies is making big fat cookies. Anyone can whip up a quick batch of 50 different gigantic crispy, chewy, or fancy-pants sandwich cookies. Click here for more information.

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