Our Story
Long before ‘vegan’ became a symbol of conscious coolness on hipster-hangout menus, I was on a quest to create a different diet and lifestyle.
I gave up the all-American love—the hamburger—when I was 10, upon realization that the very backyard barbecued burger I grew up eating came from a sweet ‘mooing’ creature. Yet, I continued eating meat (often deniably known as animals) of other sorts—pork, chicken, turkey, fish—somehow not making the connection that these beings were no different from the endearing cow. One day, fast forwarding more than 10 years, I sat in my office eating a simple, grilled piece of chicken. And, it hit me. If I couldn’t kill it, why could I so mercilessly eat it? From that day onward, I was vegetarian. And, within a year or so—having been diagnosed with an acute allergy to milk and eggs—I was not only vegan, I was raw and, as a health remedy, gluten free to boot.
After two years on a purely raw vegan diet, I learned to listen to my body. Vegan—or ‘compassionate living’ as I like to call it—along with a gluten free diet, became the best and most freeing choice.
The hunt
Another 10 years later, with countless local and global travel adventures—and a personal mission to make my entire life compassionate, from food, to fashion to beauty and beyond—I find the art and act of ‘vegan hunting’ among the most thrilling of passions and past times. Scouring blog posts. Curiously chatting with local shop owners. Reading restaurant review after restaurant review. And, simply pounding the pavement. Getting lost down the dusty streets of Bangkok in search of a vegan donut. Biking along Amsterdam canals for a hearty meal. Venturing kilometers away from reason to discover a new, local delight.
My goal is to share this compassionate lifestyle with everyone—vegan, flexitarian, omnivore or otherwise—saving you and your friends time, energy and experimentation in giving conscious and compassionate eating a nibble or two and connecting more deeply with the world while you’re at it. Experience says that being vegan (and gluten free) can truly be an enlightening, uplifting, fulfilling, energizing, lighter and simply feel good way to live. So, why not give it a taste? Here’s to eating, and living, it up!
May you always discover, taste and compassionately hunt anew…
What do cookies have to do with it?
Going vegan (or at least hunting vegan) doesn’t mean giving up the sweet goodness in life. Far from it. That’s why I created c.cookies.
More deeply, I gave birth to c.cookies to give everyone a daily caring moment of deep connection with one’s true self and all others. That’s why we exist. Because, if you’re anything like me, taking a moment to simply sit, in pure pleasure (sans guilt) and mindful connection with myself—and others—is a rare, yet essential treat.
The creation of c.cookies
Taken on its own, finding tasty vegan treats takes a ‘hunt’. Searching for vegan AND gluten free delights? You really have to put your nose to the ground and your search into Google. And, as I learned first hand, the moment you step out of the ‘anything’s possible’ net of New York City, you often have no choice but to go cold cookie (or nibble on something resembling sweetened cardboard).
As a lover of sweets and an ardent childhood baker, it was clear I had no choice but to create my own sweets—from cookies, to cupcakes to pies and everything in between. My kitchen became a living lab, especially when—thanks to a friend’s encouragement—I started a popular blog column called “Vegan That”, taking everyday delights and turning them vegan (and gluten free). From salted caramel ice cream to donut muffins, one primordial obsession stuck: the chocolate chip cookie. Basic as it may sound, I had yet to find this classic reimagined—with moistness, crispness, buttery-ness and chocolaty goodness—all without the standard ingredients that make it all work. Notably, butter, eggs, milk chocolate and even brown sugar.
After nearly a year of ingredient hunting and experimentation, to virtual perfection—making gluten free blend after gluten free blend and trying every butter and egg substitute surface able, I took a turn to Amsterdam. (Serendipitously, Amsterdam is home to the original cookie, known as a ‘koekje’.)
Being an ocean away from this classic American staple, I began creating with compulsive conviction. Recreating the recipe in order to work with different European ingredients, new ovens and even fresh elevations and humidity levels. Alas, more than six months later, c.cookies came to life. The original compassionate chocolate chip cookies. Born in NYC. Handmade in Amsterdam. Vegan. Gluten Free. And, made with close to 100% organic ingredients (although we’re not yet certified) and loads of love.
Tokens of love
While we’re still in our very early days, one thing is for sure. The craft of carefully creating each cookie is a true token of love—the kind of wholesome love we believe is worth sharing with friends and strangers alike. Beyond the beautiful ingredients we use—from our own custom flour blend to organic coconut oil and coconut blossom sugar—the ingredients of consciousness, care and compassion are the ones we’re most proud of. So, thank you for being a part of our journey and our story. Bite by bite.
If you’d like to take a taste, let us know. We love to share our compassionate cookies with you, and with it, a truly sweet moment, together.
love and gratitude – xx,
Jennifer Barckley
| compassionate Vegan Hunter |