This week I traveled to Crumbl Cookies in Mishawaka to review their gourmet treats widely popularized on social media.
If you are unfamiliar with this sweet-treat establishment, the menu has a rotating schedule with four to five flavors changing each week. The cookies are roughly four and a half inches in diameter and are offered in groups of four, six and twelve. The company was founded in 2017. As of 2022, Crumbl has over 500 locations across the country.
When I first arrived at the store front, situated next to Mission BBQ and Qdoba, there was a long line trailing out the door. Upon entering, the smell of freshly baked cookies floated through the air. I ordered using a touch screen kiosk from a selection of six flavors: French Toast, Almost Everything Bagel, Milk Glaze (ft. Fruity Pebbles), Iced Oatmeal, Classic Pink Sugar and Milk Chocolate Chip. After ordering four cookies, I watched nearly a well-oiled group of Crumbl team members portioning dough, monitoring the ovens, sweeping the floor, boxing cookies and helping patrons. After promptly receiving my order, I went home to begin the taste test!
The service provided at the Mishawaka location was excellent, but I’d like to address some current headlines about Crumbl. Recently, a TikTok emerged exposing Crumbl employees using Betty Crocker Cake Mix in the dough. Crumbl addressed the video attributing the ingredients to enhance the flavor and texture of the product. This seems pretty sinister, but… on with the review.
The Iced Oatmeal Cookie
I began my taste test with the Iced Oatmeal Cookie: a soft baked cookie with cinnamon, a spice flavor topping and sweet icing. This option is accessible for all sorts of cookie connoisseurs, even those who tend to shy away from the typical oatmeal raisin. Crumbl uses a dough without raisins and large oat pieces but still stays true to the classic taste of an oatmeal cookie.
Rating: 3.5/5 shamrocks
The Classic Pink Sugar Cookie
Next, I decided to try the Classic Pink Sugar Cookie: the most widely-recognizable option in the store. While this cookie may remind you of crumbly cake-like sugar cookies, don’t be fooled. The pink icing tastes like almond extract and artificial cherry flavoring. With a harsh topping and a texture that’s almost as edible as Play-Doh, Crumbl ensures this flavor is fun to play with — but not fun to eat.
Rating: 2/5 shamrocks
The Milk Glaze (ft. Fruity Pebbles) Cookie
To get the taste of the last cookie out of my mouth, I opted for the Milk Glaze (ft. Fruity Pebbles) cookie. I was initially suspicious of this cookie because its name resembles a Spotify musician’s credits. However, my reservations quickly dissipated after sampling. The structure is simple: a plain cookie base topped with fruity pebbles coated in a sweet, sticky frosting. Although the cereal was soggy, the flavor will throw you back to a classic childhood breakfast.
Rating: 3/5 shamrocks
The Milk Chocolate Chip Cookie
After another disappointing sample, I decided to go for an old-reliable: Milk Chocolate Chip. This cookie started it all for founders Jason McGowan and Sawyer Hemsley. The duo embarked on a quest to bake the best chocolate chip cookie and it seems they succeeded. Imagine a Nestle Tollhouse cookie served fresh out of the oven … but on steroids. The ratio of buttery dough to sweet chocolate chips is perfect and leaves you beyond satisfied.
Rating: 4.5/5 shamrocks
While the menu is unique, the prices at Crumbl are pretty steep. As a result, the oversized cookies serve as a glorified and sugar-filled novelty experience.