Craft a Sweeter Connection With Your Partner by Gifting a Box of Curated Cookies and Treats

The Short Version: Whether you are starting a budding romance, are in a long-term relationship, or have been married for years, gift giving is a great way to show your partner that you care. Instead of saying, “I love you” or “I was thinking of you,” a sweet yet simple gesture can convey a heartfelt message. And what’s sweeter than gift boxes from Cookie Society? Co-Founder Marissa Allen told us the gift of giving from her bakery sparks joy in her life — and with their seasonal, rotating, and customizable gift boxes, you, too, can provide a thoughtful gift for that special person in your life.

There’s something really special about getting an unexpected gift. If my partner goes grocery shopping and returns with flowers or my favorite snack, it somehow feels better than getting an expensive Christmas or birthday present. In fact, the times I’ve woken up to something as simple as my favorite iced coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts have made my days so much better.

Of course, most people can relate to this. Maybe it’s because we all know there’s a psychology behind gift-giving. As a form of thoughtful expression, it’s why relationship experts suggest keeping at the small gestures even years into dating or marriage. 

The action is also as old as time. Our Neanderthal ancestors gave gifts as far back as 35,000 years, sharing symbolic items between tribes to forge bonds, almost as if to say, “We friend now, so please no harm.” Even chimpanzees, our closest living relatives, give gifts of food to their fellow primates as a way to establish trust.

So there’s no question that even the smallest gestures can have a positive effect. One study actually shows that behavioral actions, such as flowers or sweet treats, can make people feel more loved than hearing “I love you.” 

Marissa Allen, co-founder of The Cookie Society in Frisco, Texas, knows this to be true. She and her husband, Jeff, opened a homestyle cookie shop in 2020 during the pandemic — and despite the nationwide shutdown and isolation restrictions, the bakery thrives to this day. 

But Marissa told us her favorite part isn’t the success; it’s how her cookies make people feel. 

“I love to see the light when customers get a gift box of our cookies,” she said. “Or when they come into the shop and tell us a friend told them they had to come here. They’re always so joyful, and it just makes my day.” 

Much like a glass of iced tea at the end of a hot summer day, receiving a cookie (or twelve) from a gift box concocted by Marissa at Cookie Society offers sweet relief. 

The idea for Cookie Society started in 2018 when Marissa and Jeff visited New York City. During their trip, the couple knew they had to try one of the Big Apple’s most famous bakeries, Levain Bakery. 

When they arrived, the line was out the door. But this didn’t bother Marissa. Instead, it inspired her.

“I was blown away that people were willing to wait in line. I fell in love with the whole concept,” she recalled. “We weren’t necessarily a cookie family growing up, so it was wild to me that people were waiting for a cookie. And you know what? It was really, really good.” 

Upon returning home to Texas, Marissa began experimenting with recipes in the kitchen. She initially wanted to recreate that famous New York cookie, but then Jeff presented her with a different challenge: How to make a banana pudding cookie. This sparked Marissa’s exploration of an array of flavors. She began sending Jeff to football practice with cookie boxes for his teammates. With their feedback in mind, Marissa meticulously curated a selection of flavors that she took to farmers markets and local pop-ups.

In 2020, Marissa and Jeff decided to pull the trigger on a retail space in Frisco, but then COVID-19 changed everything.

“We didn’t know the pandemic was coming, and we’d been working for over a year on this empty box to turn it into a restaurant,” said Marissa. “We were finally ready to turn the corner, and then Texas shut down.” 

Many people faced financial hardship when COVID hit. More than 700,000 businesses permanently shut their doors by the second quarter of the pandemic. But similar to many restaurants, Cookie Society did its best to stay afloat and opened up as a drive-up-only establishment so people could place orders and pick up at a no-contact window. 

“It really was just a place for me to continue to show love,” Marissa said, which is exactly where the bakery’s mission to “put love in every crumb” came from.

Cookie Society has a huge database of customers for a small-town bakery. Since they ship nationwide, the team is able to reach people from all over the country — and the best part is that their cookies always arrive fresh. The cookies are crisp on the outside and gooey on the inside. 

If you want to surprise your partner with something sweet, you can choose from any of Cookie Society’s gift boxes:

• The Classic Sampler, a six-pack of chocolate chip, frosted oatmeal, sugar, snickerdoodle, salted caramel, and banana pudding cookies.
• Baker’s Choice Sampler, a six-pack of random cookie flavors at Marissa’s discretion. “It’s a fun way to get a sweet surprise in the mail,” as the description says!
• Monthly 6-Pack or 12-Pack, a series of rotating cookie flavors every month delightfully wrapped in their signature gift box.
• One of a Kind, a perfect six-pack gift box of a single flavor, making it ideal for anyone with a sweet tooth.

Marissa’s got a few recommendations if you don’t know where to start.

“Our most popular is chocolate chip,” she said. “Behind that is our salted caramel and banana pudding cookies.”

Cookie Society doesn’t just do cookies. Its products range from cheeky merch (I’m looking at you, “Not Your Basic Batch” tee!) to cookie-scented candles and gift cards that a customer can load with amounts ranging between $25 and $200. Because, let’s be honest, who doesn’t want $200 worth of cookies?

Perhaps the most unique aspect of Cookie Society’s gift boxes is that you can add a personalized message to every order for just a few dollars. After the online checkout, you can record a video or audio message for that special person in your life. Cookie Society takes that video and creates a custom QR code, which is added to the gift box order. When your partner receives their gift box, they can scan the code to listen to the message.

Cookie Society’s thoughtful gift boxes are the perfect “I was just thinking about you” surprise for romantic partners. It’s worth a look if you want to send something sweet to a partner who is far away, celebrating a special occasion, or just in the middle of a boring workday. 

There’s plenty cooking in the kitchen at Cookie Society: Marissa told us that new fall flavors are set to release in September 2023. She said the Cookie Society team looks forward to this launch every year. 

“You’ll start to see a lot of cinnamon, pumpkin, and pie cookies that will come back to the menu,” Marissa said. “I’m really into turning pies into cookies, so the pecan pie and peach cobbler cookies are my favorites because they transport me right back to my childhood.”

As a testament to their triumph, a brand-new second Cookie Society location is set to open in South Lake in October 2023. Marissa and Jeff also plan to revamp their holiday gift box selection.

“We’re bringing back ‘gift crates’ this year this holiday season, but hope to offer more than cookies,” Marissa shared. And with an extra note of excitement, she added, “The last time we did this, we were featured on Oprah’s Favorite Things!”

The next time your loved one’s birthday is rounding the corner, or you want a special and unique gift, a curated box of cookies might be the way to go. If you’re local to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, you can find Cookie Society in Frisco at 9320 Dallas Parkway and get a fresh box today.

Or if you’re like me and don’t live near Texas, ordering a Cookie Society gift box is a must. After all, there’s nothing quite like a box of fresh cookies delivered straight to your loved one’s door — without a doubt it’ll be a memory you talk about for years to come.