Recipes

the best worst cookies

Hi!

I bet you were expecting something else on ELR this morning!

Me too.

So…what did you do yesterday?

I made some really crappy cookies! Then I ate them.

I wasn’t going to blog about these failed macaroons actually. I was going to hide them away in my personal vault of epic culinary fails and never speak of them again….

But then I realized that, while hideous and not functional in the least bit, they are incredibly delicious! I swear it. And I just thought, well, maybe it would make your day better to see how much of a klutz I am in the kitchen sometimes. Most of the time, I like to pretend I’m all Giada or something (It’s BRUSC-ETTA! BRUSC-ETTA!) but really, I’m just a weirdo who talks to her cat all day.

And eats ugly cookies.

It’s true! My mom always told me I was a very special child.

Here’s what you need to make your own batch of Best Worst Cookies!

I know, right? The idea is really good. But don’t make them. Really…don’t.

However, since they were so delicious in their ugly state, I’m going to keep working…keep trying…keep trucking along. I know that someday, I’ll have a winner. And until that day, I’ll just continue to eat my ugly cookie scraps.

P.s.—instead, you should totally make these. And maybe these too. Oh, and these! Just for good measure.

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  • Molly @ RDexposed
    July 13, 2011 at 4:48 am

    I make about 153 errors when making a recipe for the first time.

    And sometimes for the 10th time. Label me a klutz, too!

    • Kaley [Y Mucho Mรกs]
      July 13, 2011 at 5:34 am

      I am a total klutz when it come to baking. The good thing about flour, sugar, and such things is that they are forgiving. My mom’s recipe said to chop the zucchini for the zucchini bread. Turns out, you should shred it. Oops. Still tasted good, though.

  • Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat
    July 13, 2011 at 4:57 am

    It’s nice to know that even trained chefs like you make ugly baked goods Jenna! ๐Ÿ™‚

  • amy walters, aDESIGNdock
    July 13, 2011 at 4:59 am

    Love this Jenna! As a bit of a bird-brain in the kitchen, it’s soooo refreshing to know that even the fabulous kitchenista’s have “their days”!
    Can’t wait to one day here the recipe when you get it just the way you like it!
    Cheers, amy*

  • Heather (Heather's Dish)
    July 13, 2011 at 4:59 am

    hey, i’d call them successful if they taste good…you could just crumble them on top of yogurt or ice cream!

  • Blog is the New Black
    July 13, 2011 at 5:00 am

    The ingredient list still sounds delicious- don’t judge a book by it’s cover. YUM!

  • Baking 'n' Books
    July 13, 2011 at 5:02 am

    They look like those “Crackle” cookies – only coconut-y. Hmm…when you link to the “these” your suggesting – could you maybe write out what the “these” are instead??! i.e. chocolate-chip cookies, etc? It takes a while for my browser to upload the photos/ads ๐Ÿ™

    • nickee
      July 13, 2011 at 7:02 am

      I usually just hover the mouse over “these” to see what the link shows up to at the bottom. If there is one I want to see then I click on that ๐Ÿ™‚

      • Amber K
        July 13, 2011 at 9:25 am

        Darn, that doesn’t work for me! I always have to click, because putting the mouse over it does nothing.

  • Brooke @ Bittersweetb
    July 13, 2011 at 5:07 am

    I have been having some baking disasters myself lately just drink of glass of wine and perspective sets in and then try try again!

  • SunnySeedLisa
    July 13, 2011 at 5:15 am

    Hey, at least you have me craving coconut right now! And don’t worry, I’ve made far worst…once I tried to bake cookies in a frying pan.

    • Clizia
      July 13, 2011 at 7:15 am

      Welsh cakes are basically cookies baked in a frying pan! And they’re delicious ๐Ÿ˜€

  • Lauren @ What Lauren Likes
    July 13, 2011 at 5:16 am

    hmm they sound delish! to bad they didnt look the part ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Notyet100
    July 13, 2011 at 5:16 am

    Macroons umm have to still learn this ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Bec
    July 13, 2011 at 5:19 am

    Haha. I love it. I am sure that even Martha Stewart has her own ‘coconut cookie’ Achilles heel… mine happen to be macarons as well

  • corey @ Learning Patience
    July 13, 2011 at 5:28 am

    Thanks for sharing — If you don’t succeed – Try, Try Again!!! ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Yolie @ Practising Wellness
    July 13, 2011 at 5:31 am

    Lol! So funny! It’s nice to see the other, less perfect side, of Jenna the incredible cook…it makes me feel somehow better and more at peace with my culinary flops, lol! As well as giving me confidence to keep going and trying ๐Ÿ™‚ However bad these turned out, not only did they taste good (yay!), but the photos also look beautiful, as always! xyx

  • jodi
    July 13, 2011 at 5:40 am

    remember its not about what’s on the outside but what’s on the inside – lol….p.s. doesnt everyone talk to their cat?! ๐Ÿ˜‰

  • Evan Thomas
    July 13, 2011 at 5:43 am

    Try adding 1/2 cup coconut butter as a binder. Should do the trick.

  • Holly @ The Runny Egg
    July 13, 2011 at 5:51 am

    Too bad about the cookies — whenever I’ve failed at cookie recipes they turn out too liquidy and don’t set. Looks like you had to the total opposite problem!

  • Courtney
    July 13, 2011 at 5:58 am

    Give these a shot – they are really tasty and look like they are along the lines of what you were going for:

    http://ohsheglows.com/2011/02/20/detox-blonde-macaroons/

  • Cait's Plate
    July 13, 2011 at 6:04 am

    Sometimes my favorite cookies are the ones that don’t actually “work out” but I’ll always use the crumbles for topping on ice cream, oatmeal or yogurt and it’s just perfect ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles
    July 13, 2011 at 6:07 am

    I’m not judging…. If they taste good, I’M IN!!!! ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Gina @ Running to the Kitchen
    July 13, 2011 at 6:13 am

    They may not look pretty but I bet they taste good on top of oatmeal!

  • Kirsten is Comfortably Domestic
    July 13, 2011 at 6:26 am

    Call me crazy but I think your best worst cookies would be great over yogurt. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  • Kristen @ Popcorn on the Stove
    July 13, 2011 at 6:33 am

    As long as they taste good, I don’t think looks matter!

  • Liz @ Tip Top Shape
    July 13, 2011 at 6:36 am

    I love that you posted your baking mishap! Shows that even food bloggers aren’t always superheroes in the kitchen! And I have full confidence in your ability to tweak the recipe. Every recipe you’ve posted here that i’ve tried has turned out beautifully!!

  • Lorie
    July 13, 2011 at 6:39 am

    Hey Jenna-

    I LOVE coconut macaroons!! I’ve been making Angela’s vegan macaroons (I actually recently made them as favors for my wedding) and they are excellent! And are similar to the ones you made. Here’s a link:

    http://ohsheglows.com/2011/02/20/detox-blonde-macaroons/

    • Lorie
      July 13, 2011 at 6:40 am

      …And I just noticed that Courney already posted a link for them… ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Kristen @ Change of Pace
    July 13, 2011 at 6:40 am

    Haha! Hopefully you’ll find the secret and I’ll be able to make these!

  • kaila @ healthy helper!
    July 13, 2011 at 6:43 am

    Glad you’re gonna keep trying cause they sound delicious!

  • Estela @ Weekly Bite
    July 13, 2011 at 6:45 am

    I love it when ugly cookies taste delicious! Especially when they’re already broken apart like that ๐Ÿ™‚

  • katie @KatieDid
    July 13, 2011 at 6:48 am

    looks like you need a binding agent? hahah this is too funny but I’m tempted to try them anyways. There’s nothing wrong with eating a big mound of crumbled cookies in my eyes.

  • Tasha @ Voracious Eats
    July 13, 2011 at 7:02 am

    Maybe a binding agent, like Katie mentioned? The idea is incredible, it just needs a bit more to hold it all together. Sometimes these kitchen disasters are a good thing, they just make me all that much more grateful when things are STELLAR.

  • Joelle (On A Pink Typewriter)
    July 13, 2011 at 7:13 am

    Haha I love it- thanks for the honesty. This happens to me all the time in my kitchen excursions, and I always end up eating the goods anyways, although I wouldn’t hand them out to anyone I cared about.

  • Urban Wife
    July 13, 2011 at 7:19 am

    Cookie crumbles = awesome froyo topping! Thanks for sharing with us your mishap. Even food bloggers can have kitchen fails – gives little ‘ole me some hope! ๐Ÿ™‚

  • kristina@beancakes
    July 13, 2011 at 7:28 am

    haha! you made me lol ๐Ÿ˜‰ don’t sweat the ugly cookies ~ at least you’re big enough to admit to your mistakes, and you’re also a good sport to eat them! good to know that we don’t always have to be perfect like giada ๐Ÿ˜‰
    xx ~ kristina

  • Kristen @ Chocolate Covered Kristen
    July 13, 2011 at 7:33 am

    You could have crumbled them up and passed them off as a yogurt or ice cream topper… as soon as I saw them I thought “I have some ice cream that needs a delicious coconut failed cookie.” PS – your coconut cookie remind me of my serious scone failure last weekend. It wasn’t pretty.

  • Arielle from I Don't Know, What Do You Want to Eat
    July 13, 2011 at 7:39 am

    I made a similar recipe, but they turned out famously! Maybe you just need to add some chocolate: http://whattoeattonight.blogspot.com/2011/04/passover-seder-2-desserts-first.html

  • Julie
    July 13, 2011 at 8:07 am

    I love that you posted one of your “epic culinary failures!” When I started baking years ago my roommate and I had tons of epic failures that I’m still too embarassed to admit to! Can’t wait to see the pretty and delicious version of this cookie – hopefully in the not too distant future!

  • jenna
    July 13, 2011 at 8:08 am

    looks alike a perfect oatmeal topping! ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Maria
    July 13, 2011 at 8:17 am

    We all have bad days in the kitchen:)

  • Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga
    July 13, 2011 at 8:21 am

    We ALL have those cookies or those recipes that are sooo good tasting but in terms of actually sharing the recipe with others, well, I know what you mean.

    Sometimes you just have to keep working, keep tweaking and perfecting things before it’s share-worthy…but when it is, I am excited. Love the ingredient selections!

  • Rebekah H
    July 13, 2011 at 8:42 am

    One time when I was in middle school I accidentally tripled the salt in the cookies I was making… didn’t discover it until they were baked. My mom still gives me a hard time about it ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Jess
    July 13, 2011 at 8:49 am

    Look on the bright side, now you have tasty cooking crumbs to use as a topping on everything!

  • Laura @ Cookies vs. Carrots
    July 13, 2011 at 9:03 am

    Hahah, this cracks me up. We all have fails in the kitchen from time to time.

    Based on the ingredient list, I’m sure when you get it right, they’ll be delicious!

  • Mellie
    July 13, 2011 at 9:14 am

    It’s not that bad, at least they taste good!

  • Kristen @ notsodomesticated
    July 13, 2011 at 9:28 am

    Hey, no judgment. If you’ve seen my blog, you know I’ve had quite a few baking fails, myself. But if at first you don’t succeed… well, you know the rest. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Sarah @ Sarah's Modern Bites
    July 13, 2011 at 9:36 am

    Hahaha I am glad they turned out delicious! Maybe you could crumple them on top of something… like a tropical crumble or something?? ๐Ÿ™‚

  • jenna k
    July 13, 2011 at 9:43 am

    definitely good to hear that even you have some kitchen flops. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Katrina
    July 13, 2011 at 10:18 am

    haha I sometimes like fails more because then I dont have to share them!!

  • Lauren @ Healthy Food For Living
    July 13, 2011 at 10:54 am

    Oh, I’ve had my share of culinary failures as well! If you’re interested in a macaroon recipe that uses maple syrup as the sole sweetener, here’s one that I absolutely love: http://www.healthyfoodforliving.com/?p=20013 I also made a lemon version! http://www.healthyfoodforliving.com/?p=21089.

  • Lauren
    July 13, 2011 at 11:06 am

    Looks like there’s no binding agent. Assuming you were going for a vegan macaroon, maybe you could try using the flax eggs?

  • Meghan @ StruggleMuffins
    July 13, 2011 at 11:37 am

    Sometimes recipes that fail in the looks department are winners in the taste department – and its a bonus that you don’t feel bad about scarfing them down with reckless abandon, because its not like you were going to share them anyway, and everyone knows that calories from broken cookies don’t count.

  • Rebecca @ How the Cookies Crumble
    July 13, 2011 at 11:39 am

    I made gluten-free sponge cupcakes last week that sunk in the middle. They were delicious. Then I made I made a second batch with a different gluten-free flour and they looked perfect – but tasted like crap! Sometimes Best Worst are the best!

  • tiffany
    July 13, 2011 at 6:54 pm

    love this post!
    sometimes you fall of the saddle, but just have to get back up and keep riding. that’s the attitude ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Kristin Murdock
    July 13, 2011 at 8:24 pm

    I totally pretend I’m Giada when cooking!

  • old fashioned potato salad โ€” Eat, Live, Run
    July 14, 2011 at 4:36 am

    […] goodness!! With this potato salad, I deem my losing streak in the kitchen officially over. No more cookie crumbs everywhere! No more coconut flakes in between […]

  • Natasha
    July 18, 2011 at 9:38 am

    This actually made my day! I definitely lock my culinary failures in a vault and haven’t really spoken of them (try forgetting your oatmeal squares in the oven for over an hour… oops) but they definitely add some comedic enlightenment to a day.

    OveLoves

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    September 1, 2011 at 12:18 pm

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