Upon returning to the United States during the mid-1980s after many years as an international model, Nikki Taylor, founder of Nikki’s Cookies, couldn’t find any shortbread cookies here that equaled the taste and quality of the treats she sampled while in Europe. She noticed that even cookies marketed as “artisan” in high-end stores such as Bloomingdale’s were the same ones sold in average grocery stores in Italy.
To fill that void, Taylor started experimenting with her favorite family recipes to create her own line of high-quality cookies with no preservatives, and Nikki’s Cookies was born. Twenty-eight years later and still operating out of their Lincoln Warehouse location, the business today offers 17 varieties, including its popular holiday-themed cookies sold in artistic packaging.
Taylor said their signature shortbread variety is a recipe originally from England and dates back to 1629. The gingerbread cookie recipe was brought over by Taylor’s grandmother, who emigrated from Germany. The Old World recipes naturally call for less sugar and salt—condiments that were often expensive and not always plentiful in pre-1900s Europe. Nikki’s Cookies are free of GMOs and trans fats. Wisconsin rBST-free butter is used in the dough formulas. “They’re a healthier choice, and delicious,” Taylor said.
According to Taylor, Nikki’s Cookies was the first company in America to offer flavored shortbread cookies such as Meyer lemon, key lime and maple syrup. The Ladybugs chocolate-covered sandwich cookies are among the most popular and come with either mint or raspberry filling.
Nikki’s Cookies has fun offerings during the holidays. For Halloween, the company offers chocolate sandwich cookies shaped like jack-o-lanterns wearing assorted expressions. Christmas brings Nutcracker-shaped sugar cookies, gingerbread boys in single packages or in their own decorative cottage-shaped boxes, and peppermint snowmen. There is a chocolate heart-shaped variety for Valentine’s Day and butterfly and bunny shapes for spring holidays.
While in Japan, Taylor said the bold and unique packaging of many products in Japanese stores intrigued her. Mindful of how eye-catching wrappers and boxes can not only sell product but also reflect the quality, Taylor puts much effort into the creative and colorful designs that wrap all of the Nikki’s Cookies varieties. The company has won awards for its packaging designs.
Taylor attends food shows nationwide and the company has created two private label cookies for Williams-Sonoma. Nikki’s Cookies are sold at Outpost Natural Foods, Sendik’s, Grasch Foods, Good Harvest Market and many smaller grocers and gift shops. Taylor said she would like to expand sales globally and has ideas for two new products in the works.
