Product Review-- Hershey's Chocolate Chunk Premium Cookie Mix

  I actively avoid boxed and bagged dry cookie mixes for one good reason--they taste like crap. The simplicity of making cookies without all the ingredients hits close to home--lazy lady, hungry for something sweet, don't wanna mess up the kitchen/get a lot of stuff. On a whim, I decided to try Hershey's boxed cookie mix. While being a rebel and ignoring that whole "don't eat the cookie dough" warning on the back of the box, culinary tensions rose. Was this batch going to taste like the bland dry cookie mix from Family Dollar? Would it be the tasteless baker's dozen failure (with the strange tasting chocolate chips) from the gift basket I tested many moons ago? Yes darlings, this is a short product review for yet another food thing. I like food, you like food, and most people like cookies.



  First of all,UGH. GOOD. Those worries were tossed out the door with the first taste test bite. I broke off a piece after letting the first batch cool. It was soft, rich, buttery, and the chocolate chips were perfect. I didn't have time for milk or coffee. I had another one just to confirm the goodness. I split up the flawless batch of 15 cookies between the fam and I, scuttling away into the night with my cookie haul like a pear-shaped thief.

  They were so freakin' chewy. Cannot say that enough. Even after I gave them time to cool off, they were STILL chewy and perfect. The chocolate chips weren't bittersweet. These have to be actual chunks of Hershey's Chocolate all cubed out in the dry dough mix. We're talkin' good pieces, too. None of those reject pieces that were about to be sent to the fire. What blows my mind--the requirements to make the cookies happen--WATER AND BUTTER, people. When I read that in the store, you should have seen my face. I'm in the middle of the baking aisle in Wal-Mart, staring and giving extreme Southside of Chicago side-eye to the box. My thoughts as I scanned the box--"This can't be real. These are gonna SUCK!" Since they were kinda on the cheap side, I just went ahead and bought 'em. Worst-case scenario, some lonely soul wanting a snack would eat them as a last resort.

  I was wrong about the suck factor. I used Land O' Lakes butter, tossed in my three tablespoons, and threw caution to the baking winds. The batter tasted so bland and slightly salty, and I expected the worst. As they baked, I started smelling "mall cookies". You know the ones. Melted in your mouth, became one with your body, and lingered on your tongue until you ate something else. The coveted mall cookie that every kid tugged at mom's pants leg for. Alas, your begging days are over. It takes eight to ten minutes for these cookies to bake. It all happens so fast that it's like....this can't be real. Cookies this good can't possibly come from a dry mix with butter and water.

  They're just as good as a batch from scratch. They compete with nana's secret cookies. Better than the stuff in the plastic tubes next to the cinnamon rolls. Better than the frozen stuff I'm always getting from Schwan's. Dudes, ladies....every dang body...this cookie mix is it. Shut it down, start baking, indulge.