[Photo: Robyn Lee]

A lot of review samples cross our desks at Serious Eats—some better than others, some worth a mention, some not even worth a second bite. But we were pleasantly surprised by the cookie tray that showed up from e. e. cookies this week. The New York-based business, currently shipping nationwide and available for delivery in Manhattan, was started last year by longtime home baker Kori Stanton. These aren't super-cheffy cookies, but they have an appealing homemade, just-out-of-Mom's-kitchen quality that we fell for.

Chocolate Chip cookies, while perhaps not on our list of the very best in New York, aren't too sweet, have a slight salty bite, are nicely pliant with a little crunch and a whiff of vanilla. (We could've done with more crisp around the edges.) Even better were the Triple Chocolate Chip with Pecans, loaded with dark, milk and semi-sweet Ghirardelli chocolate so that there's chocolate in every nibble.

Chocolate-cherry cookies have plump dried cherries and melty pockets of Ghiradelli dark chocolate. Oatmeal cookies are loaded up with cinnamon and nutmeg, and studded with dried blueberries and cranberries rather than raisins; the peanut butter start with an already plenty peanut-buttery cookie dough and load it up with peanut butter chips, Reese's pieces and Reese's peanut butter cups. And the white chocolate macademia cradle big, buttery nuts with sweet dried cherries.

These aren't cookies unlike any you've had before—and in fairness, some customers will always balk at paying a premium price for cookies ($21.95/dozen). But if you're looking for a hostess present or a birthday gift, and you're not into baking yourself, we'd happily recommend these homey, tasty cookies as a good alternative.

e. e. cookies

Available online for delivery or shipment
eecookies.com