In 2017, a couple visited a bakery in New York, NY, to try what they believed was “one of the best cookies” ever.
Fast-forward to nearly six years later, they are responsible for a Black-owned, Texas-based cookie company where friends, families, and customers can enjoy their sweet treats.
“I asked her if she could make it for me at home, so she went home and tried to figure out how to make the recipe,” said Jeff Allen of his wife, Marissa Allen, during an interview with Fox Business.
Marissa has always had a passion for baking and was also running her own food blog at the time.
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After a failed attempt to recreate the recipe, Marissa decided to make her own.
The Birth Of Something Great
She created something delicious and developed what was uniquely her own. It would also soon become a fan-favorite, not only for her household, but for her husband’s teammates as he was playing as an offensive lineman for the NFL’s Houston Texans at the time.
Cookie Society was birthed after Marissa put her twist on the cookies the pair had fallen in love with while visiting New York.
Prior to selling the treats to the public, Jeff’s teammates became the company’s first clientele before they were even up and running.
“I could bring [the cookies] into the locker room and [they] would write their feedback, and so they were a big part of it as well,” Marissa explained, noting how her husband’s teammates played a pivotal role in the launch of their business.
Open For Business
What’s more, Jeff did his research and quickly realized that Marissa had something unique to offer the cookie industry.
“At the time, I looked online, and no one had ever made a banana pudding cookie,” he recalled. “It was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever eaten.”
Officially launching in 2018, Cookie Society provided six options for consumers to choose from. Marissa was intentional on starting off with a small menu to ensure that the quality of each order was at the highest it could be.
“You want it to be a great experience every single time,” she shared.
While the cookie business has expanded its menu to include a variety of 70 different cookies, the Allens did experience a setback. Their initial plan to launch their first brick-and-mortar in Frisco, TX, was delayed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s really just by the grace of God that we made it through that,” Marissa recalled.
Nationwide Attention
However, customers continued to show up for Cookie Society, including renowned and beloved television host Oprah Winfrey.
“Oprah called… and it really was just like a fever dream,” Marissa revealed.
Today, the Allens continue to run a successful business through Cookie Society and even made “Oprah’s Favorite Things” list in 2020, just six months after their storefront dreams came to fruition.
