Maine is known for its delicious, homemade baked goods. The state has a strong baking tradition and many talented bakers who have perfected tried and true cookie recipes over the years. From traditional sugar cookies to whoopie pies and other unique creations, Mainers love their cookies.
Most Popular Cookies in Maine
When it comes to the most beloved cookies across the state, a few varieties stand out from the rest.
Whoopie Pies
The official state treat of Maine, whoopie pies are a longstanding favorite. Consisting of two mound-shaped chocolate cake cookies sandwiched together with a fluffy white cream filling, whoopie pies are a delicious snack. They originated in Amish and Mennonite communities in Pennsylvania and made their way to Maine sometime in the early 1900s. The soft, cakey cookies and sweet filling make whoopie pies a cherished treat across the state. Many bakeries offer creative spins, but the classic chocolate cake with vanilla cream remains the most popular.
Needhams
Needhams are a Maine original – a coconut and potato candy confection that gets baked into a cookie. To make needhams, cooked potatoes and sugar are mixed together to form a dense, fudgy base. Shredded coconut is then added to create texture. The dough gets formed into small rounds and baked. The result is a chewy, sweet cookie with tropical coconut flavor and a unique potato history. Needhams were first created in the late 1800s in the Bangor area and remain an iconic downeast Maine treat.
Anzacs
Anzac cookies have been popular since World War I when they were sent to soldiers abroad. The oat and coconut cookies traveled well, becoming a favorite treat. Years later they remain a beloved cookie in Maine. Crispy, golden brown, and bursting with oats, coconut, and browned butter flavor, Anzacs are a popular old fashioned recipe still baked today.
Molasses Cookies
With molasses being a major historical industry in Maine, it’s no wonder molasses cookies are a staple. The molasses gives these puffy little cookies a distinctive tang and deep, dark color. They have a soft, chewy texture and spices like ginger and cinnamon lend warmth and flavor. Molasses cookie recipes vary, but they often include fat like shortening or butter to keep them moist. Mainers grow up eating these old fashioned treats.
Sugar Cookies
A core cookie across America, beloved sugar cookies also rank high in Maine. Their versatility makes them a longtime favorite – they can be dressed up with frosting and decorations or enjoyed in simple form for a classic sweet treat. Sugar cookies have a crisp exterior that gives way to a moist, delicate crumb. Their underlying sweetness pairs nicely with coffee, tea or cold milk.
Regional Cookie Favorites
Within Maine there are also some regional cookie preferences and specialties:
Northern Maine
Some beloved cookies from the northern half of Maine include:
- Ployes – These naturally leavened buckwheat pancake-like treats that originated with the Acadians are often served with sweet toppings like maple syrup or fruit making them almost like a cookie.
- Maple cookies – Cookies made with real Maine maple syrup or maple sugar are popular.
- Oatmeal raisin cookies – Often made with local oats and plump Maine raisins, these are a favorite including in Amish communities.
- Cream cookies – Simple cream cookie recipes using butter, sugar and cream are still cherished today.
Midcoast Maine
In the Midcoast region, iconic Maine cookies include:
- Blueberry cookies – Sweet cookies chock-full of wild Maine blueberries.
- Ginger cookies – Chewy ginger molasses cookies are a staple.
- Lobster tail shortbread – This regional shortbread is shaped like lobster tails and sometimes dipped in chocolate.
- Opera fudge –Layers of butter cookie and fudge are a Midcoast specialty.
Southern Maine
Historic cookie recipes shine in southern Maine communities:
- Joe Froggers – A molasses and rum-based cookie believed to have originated in the Portsmouth, NH area before becoming popular in Maine.
- Nazis – These round cinnamon and nutmeg cookies are a very old Maine recipe.
- Brownies – Maine has its fair share of beloved brownie recipes.
- Biscotti – Italian immigrants established strong baking traditions including biscotti.
Maine’s Cookie Bakeries
From small town bakeries to iconic Maine brands, there are many beloved places to buy freshly baked cookies across the state. Here are some of the most popular spots for picking up a variety of cookie treats:
Two Fat Cats Bakery
This award-winning Portland bakery has a huge selection of unique cookie flavors and varieties. Favorites include their sea salt chocolate chunk cookies.
The Holy Donut
Specializing in potato donuts, this Maine shop also sells creative potato dough cookies like their signature dark chocolate sea salt potato candy.
Laughing Owl Cookies
This small-batch cookie company sells its cookies across Maine and ships nationwide. They make creative flavors like lemon lavender crunch and espresso chocolate chip.
Standard Baking Company
This beloved bakery is a Maine institution. Their extensive selection includes cookies like mocha chip, ginger molasses and shortbread.
Rock City Coffee
With cafes across Maine, Rock City serves fresh baked chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and other cookie flavors daily.
Maine Munchies
For over 20 years, this company has hand-crafted cookies like their s’mores cookies and famous “Munchies” with potato chips, pretzels and nuts.
Downeast Cider House
This cidery’s tasting room sells locally-made cookies like blueberry and oatmeal chocolate chip.
Flo’s Hot Dog Stand
This iconic hot dog place sells natural cashew cookies with a loyal following.
The Cookie Jar
This lakeside bakery has specialized in cookies for 40 years. They ship gift boxes nationwide.
Signature Maine Cookie Recipes to Bake at Home
The cookies at Maine’s bakeries and shops have set a high standard. For the ambitious home baker, many iconic Maine cookie recipes can also be made in your own kitchen. Here are some to try:
Maine Blueberry Cookies
These show off peak of summer Maine blueberries in chewy oatmeal molasses cookies.
Needhams
Bake the classic potato-coconut candy cookie born in Maine.
Old Fashioned Joe Froggers
Molasses, rum and ginger give these historic cookies bold flavor.
Acadia National Park Cookies
With coconut, pecans and cranberries, these taste like the Maine outdoors.
Lobster Tail Cookies
Shape buttery shortbread dough into lobster claws and tails before baking.
Seasonal Maine Cookies
Maine’s bakeries highlight cookie recipes that showcase seasonal ingredients:
Spring
- Lemon cookies
- Ginger maple cookies
- Easter egg shaped butter cookies
- Bird’s nest haystack cookies
Summer
- Blueberry cookies
- Maine sea salt caramel cookies
- Lemon blueberry cookies
- Nautical/lobster/fish shaped sugar cookies
Fall
- Pumpkin cookies
- Apple cider cookies
- Maple leaves shaped cookies
- Candy corn cookies
Winter
- Gingerbread cookies
- Peppermint chocolate cookies
- Snowflake and tree shaped sugar cookies
- Chocolate crinkle cookies
Fun Maine Cookie Traditions
Beyond just eating them, cookies play a special role in some iconic Maine traditions and events:
Cookie Swaps
Cookie swaps are community events where bakers trade different homemade cookie varieties with each other so everyone can sample many types.
Girl Scout Cookies
Mainers look forward to stocking up on cookies like Thin Mints and Samoas from local Girl Scouts every year.
Cookie Booths at Craft Fairs
Locally-made Maine cookie vendors are a staple at craft fairs and festivals across the state.
Santa’s Cookies
Maine families bake holiday cookies to leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve night.
Fortune Cookies
Chinese restaurants across Maine end meals with fortune cookies for dessert and fun fortunes.
Cookie Day Celebrations
December 18th is Maine Cookie Day encouraging state-wide cookie baking and eating events.
Types of Cookies Popular in Maine
Maine’s cookie scene includes a wide range of different cookie types from classic recipes to unique regional specialties:
| Cookie Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Bar Cookies | Brownies, blondies, and lemon bars |
| Biscotti | Almond, pistachio, and chocolate dipped varieties |
| Chocolate Chip | Classic, dark chocolate, and Maine sea salt caramel chocolate chip |
| Drop Cookies | Raisin, oatmeal, pumpkin, and jelly |
| Filled Cookies | Whoopie pies, cream-filled, and sandwich cookies |
| Fruit Cookies | Lemon, apple, peach, blueberry, and cranberry |
| Holiday Cookies | Gingerbread people, candy canes, and Christmas trees |
| Iced and Decorated Cookies | Sugar cookies and gingerbread men |
| Rolled Cookies | Snickerdoodles, pinwheels, and gingersnaps |
| Shaped Cookies | Animal crackers and lobster tails |
| Slice-and-Bake Cookies | Shortbread and lemon coconut cookies |
Cookie Ingredients Grown or Produced in Maine
Maine’s natural resources and agriculture help bake delicious locally-sourced cookies:
- Flour – Wheat flour from Maine grains along with buckwheat and other specialty flours
- Molasses – Brings depth, moisture and chew
- Potatoes – Used in unique recipes like needhams
- Maple Syrup – For sweetness and flavor
- Honey – From local Maine bees
- Fruits and berries – Apples, blueberries, strawberries and raspberries
- Dairy – Milk, butter and cream from Maine farms
- Sea Salt – Specialty flavored salts
- Lobster – Tail-shaped shortbreads
Where to Find the Best Cookies in Maine
From bakeries to festivals and farm stands, here are some of the top places to find amazing local cookies across Maine:
- Local bakeries – The most obvious stop, as this is where professional bakers create magic daily
- Cafes – Many coffee shops showcase baked goods from Maine artisan bakers
- Farmers markets – Look for pop-up cookie vendors and farm stands selling their own baked goods
- County and state fairs – Big cookie competitions showcase Maine’s talented home bakers
- Cookie festivals – Local Maine communities host special cookie festivals
- Gift shops and country stores – Find cookie assortments, gift boxes and tins
- Lobster shacks and seafood joints – Get cookies shaped like Maine’s iconic lobster
- Local cafeterias – Schools and hospitals source cookies from regional bakeries
Fun Facts About Maine Cookies
- The largest whoopie pie ever baked weighed in at 1,067 pounds.
- The most popular Girl Scout cookie in Maine is Thin Mints.
- Maine is the top producer of wild blueberries in the U.S. and many end up in cookies.
- Needhams get their name from the Maine city where they originated.
- Molasses from Maine’s seafaring days gives cookies distinctive flavor.
- Lobster cookies are a unique regional specialty shaped like the crustacean.
- Anzac cookies became popular when sent to World War I soldiers abroad from Maine.
- Cookie jars became popular kitchen items to store Maine homemade cookies.
Conclusion
Cookies are delicious symbols of Maine’s cultural heritage. Unique regional recipes like whoopie pies, needhams and joe froggers have origins in Maine’s fishing and farming communities. Locally grown ingredients from blueberries to maple syrup bring nuanced flavor. And talented Maine bakers continue creating magic from classic recipes to new innovations. Whether enjoying traditional sugar cookies with a cup of tea or eating a lobster tail cookie by the shore, cookies are iconic Maine treats.