Go on, make cookie monster proud.
Go on, make cookie monster proud.
Everyone knows the Gold Coast has swoon-worthy beaches, incredible breweries, and inspiring places to eat out any time of the day. These things are aspects our city nails without even trying. There is, however, other stuff we see creeping into the mainstay, and we would also argue that our freshly baked cookies can’t be beaten.
An undervalued dessert, cookies are the joy of life. From classic chocolate chip to some incredibly diverse and interesting fillings: why should kids get all the fun?
These days you mightn’t realise it, but there are a decent collection of bakers here on the Coast who knock these tasty, sweet morsels out by the dozens. We’ve researched the best cookie spots around the Gold Coast, and once you’ve tasted these treats, there’s a serious chance you’ll be longing for cookies after every meal #sorrynotsorry.
The Milkman’s Cookies
When two chirpy Gold Coast mates, devoted to all things sweet, decided to try their hand at making cookies, the results, well, were pretty special. So much so they then decided to take their spoils to the weekly Farmers’ Markets at HOTA Bundall. And after colossal success and consistently selling out of their fresh-baked pieces of joy, they thought it only fitting to then make themselves available for national distribution and delivering all over the country!
The one to munch: Nutella Choc — an oozy Nutella centre awaits
Where: HOTA Markets at Bundall every Sunday or online
Paddock
This quaint fairy tale looking old Queenslander hidden away on a leafy backstreet of Burleigh has earned itself nothing short of a cult following over the last few years. And when you drop by for any of their fresh-baked savoury or sweet fare, you’ll fully understand why. A state-of-the-art baker’s kitchen with a built-in glass wall allows you to take in the magicians at work any time of the day — making some of the tastiest baked goods in the country is an around the clock endeavour, let us tell you. Often regarded as THE mid-morning spot to catch up with the gang over great coffee, flaky croissants and of course, the crumbliest cookies.
The one to munch: Caramilk Cookie — because Caramilk is simply the best (and if you have to share, it also comes in a 1KG version!).
Where: 20 Hibiscus Haven, Burleigh Heads
Gold Coast Cookies
When American ex-pat and cookie addict Christina decided to make the perfect cookie, she had no idea that she’d be supplying to over 150 cafes nationwide and also to a horde of fans right here on the Gold Coast within the space of a year. In starting, she hand-delivered cookies for free around the city, bringing crumbly joy in the first few months of the pandemic. But it’s not just her generosity that has won people over; it’s her carefully researched and developed recipe, which involved literally 50 different trials! There’s a strong chance you’ll find Gold Coast Cookies in a café near you; hunt them down with a handy online stockist map found on their website.
The one to munch: Triple Choc Cookie — triple the threat and triply good!
Where: online or select cafes
Currumbin Bakehouse
What Canadian owner Troy doesn’t know about baking probably isn’t worth getting upset about. Using a sourdough base for all his cookies has a more distinct taste profile and is bendier and softer than your average cookie — yum! Another market goer who thought it was time to upscale and bring his creations to the masses. You’ll find their cute hole in the wall storefront in Currumbin, conveniently right next to a Nook Espresso coffee outlet.
The one to munch: Coconut, Milk Choc, Vanilla — three of the best flavours combine
Where: 2A, 31 Currumbin Creek Road, Currumbin
Custard Canteen
As if heading down to Tallebudgera Creek on a majestic Winter/Spring morning and submerging in crystal-like water isn’t enough, you now have delicious buttery and sweet treats to make this your favourite place to take a dip and have a treat. The proprietors are the original crew behind much-lauded Bam Bam Bakehouse, and Cubby Bakehouse across the border in Chinderah. With biscuit credentials like those, they know how the cookie crumbles.
The one to munch: Salted Caramel, White Choc and Cream Cheese Cookie or their Quad Choc Cookie — decadent and ohh so good.
Where: Tallebudgera Creek, 1525 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach
Krumm Cookie Co
On the northern end of the coast at Westfield Coomera Krumm Cookie Co. is the place to grab something sweet whilst you’re out testing your credit card limit. Nine different varieties are on offer, so taking a box home for friends and family will be sure to please everyone. It makes you think, retail therapy and cookies are quite literally a match made in heaven — well-played Krumm Cookie Co., well played.
The one to munch: Double Chocolate Sea Salt — just trust us.
Where: Westfield Coomera, 103 Foxwell Road, Coomera
Tarte
The already prodigious Burleigh café scene went up a gear when Tarte opened its doors a year ago. The reason why? Where do we begin?! If the tranquil leafy outlook coupled with a French inspired breakfast menu for the ages doesn’t grab you, then inventive baked goods such as the Bolognese Pie and their Kouign Amann will. When the time comes for something sweet, though, sweet goods are where these guys shine, an assortment of freshly made daily cookies awaits you. Or, if you should feel inclined, take one away to devour later… if it makes it to ‘later.’
The one to munch: Cookie Cups — because why not have your milk and cookie in one?!
Where: 2 West Street, Burleigh Heads
Dough House Cookies
Are you even familiar with Cookie Pies? Well, if not, an encounter with this sensational purveyor of cookies will change all that. These deep-filled and often gooey cookies takes an innocent treat to a whole new indulgent level with a thickness that simply cannot be matched. You’ll find them in a select handful of cafes across the Coast but fear not, as they can also be ordered and delivered super-fast across the Gold Coast or even shipped across the country. If not for you to devour, these pieces of joy would make a fabulous present for someone you think deserves them!
The one to munch: Biscoff Cookie Butter Spread – Biscoff is a gift from God, that’s why.
Where: online
Words by Alex Mitcheson.
Oh baked goods, why do you taunt us so. Taste sensations, tick. Better with butter, tick. Comforting when cold, tick, tick, tick. They’re almost too good to be true but, as demonstrated below, they are true and there are Gold Coast bakeries galore which is just fine by us.
Here’s a list of the top 11 bakeries within which you’ll find said exceptional baked treats and happy carb loading Coasties.
Custard Canteen
By the insanely talented team also behind Bam Bam Bakehouse, Custard Canteen is the newest of the bunch, serving up absolutely next-level Portuguese custard tarts, almond croissant tarts, the gooiest of cookies and various breakfast and lunch goods. Find them down Talle Creek way and good luck floating gracefully once you’ve sampled a few (thousand) of those.
Where: Tallebudgera Recreation Centre, Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach
The Pastry Emporium
While it may be a slightly fancier version of the good old fashioned bakery, it is still in fact, a place where goods are baked and some of the most incredible goods you’ve ever tasted at that. Now with two convenient locations, The Pastry Emporium creates magical, almost other worldly cakes and desserts while also whipping up a croissant you would probably die for. They also do the breads and the coffees and if you moved in there, we wouldn’t judge you. Please invite us over.
Where: Shop 2, 90 Markeri St, Mermaid Waters and 4/28 Campbell St, Bundall
Bam Bam Bakehouse
Needing no introduction is Mermaid’s Bam Bam Bakehouse – creators of the most original baked treats the Gold Coast has ever seen and the absolute love of our lives if we’re honest. Known for creations such as Gaytime Eclairs and Ink Gin Choux Bomb, it’s another level of baked treat magic and everything tastes more delicious than you could possibly imagine.
Where: 2519 – 2521 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach
Paddock Bakery
Hidden amidst a little garden oasis is Paddock Bakery, a café/garden wonderland in Miami also cranking out insane baked goods. How about a Milo Milkshake donut? Yah. Wagon Wheel donuts are also a thing and baby Nutella bots are the real deal. The donut selection changes all the time but there is always something available to blow your dessert loving mind. And your other minds.
Where: 20 Hibiscus Haven, Miami
Fosters Bakery
A Nobby’s institution, Fosters has been serving up the baked goods dreams are made of, for many a year. Their pies are some of the best around and we may have been known to indulge for breakfast, lunch and dinner many days running. Classic pastries from Fosters are also always a good idea, there’s vanilla slice, custard tarts and donuts and you should absolutely get one of everything.
Where: 1/2227 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach
Burleigh Baker
For the love of sourdough, this place is the goods. We are quite partial to the olive sourdough, because olives are life but there are many varieties, all of which are the perfect addition to a warming soup and/or lathered with butter. Oh and all their sourdough is of the organic and artisan varieties AND they do incredible cakes like a Raspberry and Pistachio with honey frosting and honey caramel drizzle. Two please.
Where: 13/50 James Street, Burleigh Heads
Fuel Bakehouse
So many delicious things come out of this delightful place you guys. Some of the best doughnuts around, tasty delicious pies that are quite large and very filling, croissants, danishes, all of the very best things. There are two Fuel Bakehouse locations so you need not worry about missing out. And you absolutely don’t want to miss out.
Where: 44 Currumbin Creek Rd, Currumbin Waters and 39-45 Tweest Coast Rd, Cabarita
Coolangatta Pie Shop
Pies are one of Gods greatest gifts to all of us, particularly at 3am after a night of tearing up the dance floor. Conveniently, the iconic Coolangatta Pie Shop is open 24 hours a day on the weekend for literally all of your late night/early morning baked good needs. It’s one of lifes greatest luxuries right on our doorstep. There’s also tasty sweet treats and we recommend the Macadamia Slice thingo because caramel.
Where: 50 Griffith St, Coolangatta
Gumnut Café/Bakery
Oh god there are donuts and they are A M A Z I N G. Cream filled and caramel topped, we have died and gone to donut heaven. Nothing else matters. Except there are also pies and they are so good and everything is made fresh on the premises and by people who care that you are happy with their baked goods. Which you will be. Did you know Mudgeeraba is also a heavenly, away-from-the-city paradise you should definitely visit ASAP? Yep.
Where: 25 Swan Lane, Mudgeeraba
Horner’s of Sorrento
Horner’s was born from a passion for the smell of freshly baked bread and that is something we can get behind. Their particular type of baked magic comes in the form of artisan breads, from pull aparts to French sticks, and some of the very best sweet treats around. We’re particularly partial to the Melting Moments and the Lemon Meringue Pie, oh yes. We could eat all of these things all of the days.
Where: Sorrento Shopping Centre, 20 Bundall Road, Bundall
Flour of Life
People of the plants rejoice, these amazing folks make all the baked goods without all the gluten, meat, dairy and egg bits. That’s right friends, it’s a vegan bakery with all the incredible treats you’ve come to know and love. Think donuts, cakes, slices, pies, all the most delicious things. We have it on good authority (ours) that the donuts are absolutely next level and pretty as an Insta picture too.
Where: 22-32 Siganto Drive, Helensvale
Words by Kirra Smith
Have a bit of spare time on your hands? Make these simple and delicious cookies. They are as healthy as cookies get. Enjoy!
INGREDIENTS
1½ cups almond meal or ground almonds
1 cup dried dates
1 cup shredded coconut
2 tablespoons cacao powder
½ teaspoon baking powder
3 tablespoons natural crunchy peanut butter
¼ cup water
Extra peanut butter for garnish (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees and line a baking tray with baking paper. In a food processor place the almond meal and the dried dates. Whizz until the dates are a very fine crumble. Add the cacao, shredded coconut and baking powder. Stir until combined. Add the peanut butter and water and mix together until the mixture is moist and all the ingredients are fully combined. Roll the dough into 16 balls and place in a row on the baking try. With a wet fork, press each ball down to form the shape of a cookie. Place the bikkies in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let them cool. Garnish with a small dollop of peanut butter.
For more great recipes by Gold Coast local Caralee Caldwell, check out her page here.
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When it comes to scrumptious food that you’re likely to find at any one of our great cafes, freshly baked sourdough bread certainly has to be up there. Whether you like it toasted, grilled, warmed or just as is, this bready gift from the heavens is always delicious — regardless of how you have it!
Troy Tregellas is a guy who has been dabbling with baking for over two decades and you might say he knows his way around a loaf of bread or two. Hailing from Canada, Troy has been baking on and off for most of his adult life and it’s just in the last nine months that he’s decided to bring his floury skills to the masses here on the Gold Coast.
This said, you may have seen Troy bringing his baked goodness on a fortnightly basis to the Burleigh Village Markets or the Palm Beach Farmers’ Market every Saturday morning. For those who haven’t, you may be intrigued to know what all the fuss is about? Well, Currumbin Bakehouse promises to deliver some exceptionally slow-fermented sourdough bread and cookies from its ever so cute new shopfront on Currumbin Creek Road.
‘Slow-fermented’, we hear you say? Yes, but we don’t want to get technical here. Long story short, this process allows the present gluten to break down more than it usually would, meaning that it’s proven to be easier on most people’s digestion. Which basically means we can eat more, with less guilt, right?!
At the moment, Currumbin Bakehouse is knocking up two different types of sourdough loaves. However, additional recipes are in the pipeline as they settle into their brand-new premises in Currumbin — so watch this space.
Ohh and those cookies we mentioned earlier… think Canadian style cookies; ranging in flavour from white chocolate with macadamia to pecan, brown butter, and milk chocolate. And with all the flavours you might expect in between, these cookies are made with the very same sourdough base as the bread, creating cookies of difference; with a tartness of flavour and crunchy yet smooth texture you might not see anywhere else. Crumbly goodness.
Throw in the appealing offer of free delivery within a 20km radius of the shop — and the fact all of their goodies are baked fresh every morning — you may have just found your next favourite bakery on the southern end of the Gold Coast.
Where: 27/31 2A Currumbin Creek Road, Currumbin Waters
When: 7am – 1pm Tuesday – Saturday
Words by Alex Mitcheson.
