Urban Cookies: Unforgettable gourmet cookies and cupcakes

With a name like Urban Cookies, I couldn’t resist checking this place out.    Being a city girl, having lived in Chicago, Houston, San Francisco, Los Angeles and now Phoenix I was compelled to see if their sweet offerings stood up to such a stylish name. 

As I drove to the Central Phoenix location on 7^th Street and Highland, not knowing what to expect, I couldn’t help but wonder was it merely the location that brought about the name or were these cookies really something special.

The Urban Cookies bakery offers gourmet cookies, cupcakes and single layer 8x8 sheet cakes in the same flavors as the cupcakes.  Fascinated by their name, it was only fitting that I focus my taste buds on their cookies first.   As I gazed thru the baked goods display case, I liked the variety they offered:

• Simple –milk chocolate chip 
• Trail – almonds, sunflower seeds, raisins and oats
• Tropic – pineapple and coconut
• Featured Cookie - Double Chocolate with Sea Salt.   

Then there is the “The Urban”. The Urban is the flagship cookie that got the ball rolling for husband and wife team, Brady and Shaun Breese back in 2005. 

At first site, the Urban set itself apart from any other cookie presented.  With ingredients like dark chocolate (imported from Belgium), walnuts, coconuts and oats this chunky “non-perfect shaped” cookie had a lot of character and bearing the name of the bakery, I knew it had something to prove.   And with the first bite, it proved it.  This cookie is simply and generously delicious.  With such bold elements like coconut and oats, I was surprised that it didn’t turn into a glorified oatmeal cookie with a clever name.  But no one ingredient overpowered the other.  The ingredients all mingled together to create a deliciously unique taste and texture that makes you say “now that's what I'm talking about!”

The folks over at Urban Cookies are meticulous about creating their yummy treats with the freshest and highest quality ingredients.  They are committed to organic (whenever possible) and obtaining ingredients from specific purveyors, both local and international, that uphold high quality standards like their own.  Urban like, “The Urban” cookie is dense and eccentric. It is both chewy and crispy and heavily populates your palate with a flavor combination that leaves a lasting impression. 

Urban Cookies also have a variety of decadent cupcakes which include: brown velvet (their version of red velvet), black and white, carrot cake, chocolate chocolate, vanilla, and a seasonal specialty cupcake.

The Brown Velvet cupcake came about because Urban Cookies bakery does not use any food dyes, etc.  Besides the color difference from the traditional Red Velvet, it did not disappoint in the least on presentation and taste.  The cake is a luscious chocolate flavor with a moist pillow like texture.  That combined with their wonderful cream cheese frosting and topped off with chocolate sprinkles makes me call this one “brown heaven”. 

So in response to my concern of whether the name Urban Cookies was based purely on the location, or even the swanky store front digs, the answer is “neither”. The cookies and cupcakes are definitely what they are all cracked up to be.  One bite and they’ll have you rethinking your strategy for cheat days. 

The next time you’re thinking about picking up some indulgent treats to share over coffee with coworkers or an after dinner delight with family and/or friends, don’t forget about Urban Cookies.  You can stop by the store front at 4711 N. 7th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85014 or order online at http://www.urbancookies.com/ .

The Cool Factor: Urban Cookies offers their customers a custom gift option that lets you to design your gift box packaging based on the event.