Posted by Rachel Kashdan
In the summer months leading up to the start of the new school year, several new food vendors burst onto the downtown Saratoga scene. One establishment that has been receiving hype around campus is Plum Dandy Cookies & Milk. As its name not-so-subtly suggests, Plum Dandy Cookies & Milk is a cookie bakery owned by the same local family as Plum Dandy Frozen Yogurt & Toppings, a favorite among Skidmore students. Plum Dandy Frozen Yogurt & Toppings continues to set itself apart from generic frozen yogurt chains with its unique offerings and fun atmosphere. So when posters advertising Plum Dandy Cookies & Milk greeted Skidmore students upon their return to campus, one could not help but expect that it would live up to Plum Dandy Frozen Yogurt & Toppings' reputation.
Plum Dandy Cookies & Milk perfectly combines upscale modernity with charming vintage inspired details. The interior design is simple with sleek and modern white furniture, while decorative teapots, shelves of gourmet candy and robins-egg blue walls create a stylish retro feel. The electronic music playing quietly in the background and the long white iPad bar in the center of the room also help foster a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere.
On the Friday afternoon I visited, the spacious bakery did not feel too crowded and service was both friendly and swift. Within seconds of ordering I was seated at a table with my cake batter cookie sandwich. Aside from the eight different cookie options on the menu, this cookie sandwich is one of four different sandwiches offered. The cake batter cookie sandwich comprised cake batter frozen yogurt with cookie dough pieces sandwiched between two thick sugar cookies. It was wrapped in brown paper with a teal string tied tightly in a bow, like an old fashioned package. It was clear that Cookies and Milk is highly attentive to presentation, and these simple yet well thought-out details truly added to the pleasure of the overall experience.
As someone who cannot resist anything sweet, this cookie sandwich was the ultimate treat. Just one bite into this colossal cookie sandwich and I knew I absolutely had to finish the dessert, regardless of what my stomach might have to say about it. These impeccable sugar cookies are thick yet exceptionally soft and the cake batter frozen yogurt makes a glass of milk almost unnecessary. My favorite part of the entire sandwich, however, might have been the chewy pieces of cookie dough that become a sweet surprise at the center of nearly every bite.
I should also mention that multiple napkins are an absolute requirement when eating this cookie sandwich. Then again, it is probably best to simply surrender to the fact that as the sandwich melts it will inevitably end up on your hands, face and, if you are a bit clumsy like I am, on the floor as well. But this sweet cookie sandwich is more than worth it.
And what would a trip to Plum Dandy Cookies & Milk be without a glass of milk? With over twenty different types of milk to choose from, even my milk adverse friend was able to find a flavor she enjoyed. I chose the basic Lactose Free milk, which my fellow lactose intolerant dessert lovers will be pleasantly surprised to learn is actually one of three lactose intolerant friendly milk offerings on the menu. Even the presentation of the milk was thoughtful--each glass was served in a vintage milk bottle with a fun, colorful straw.
Every element of Plum Dandy Cookies & Milk seems to have been carefully deliberated, making for a highly unique atmosphere. Ultimately though, it's the taste of those cookies that you will not forget. If you are a lover of all things sweet, I would highly recommend taking a trip to Plum Dandy Cookies & Milk.