Warm cookies for a crowd! Complication factor: no oven

October 17, 2017 5:40 AM

How do I serve warm chocolate chip cookies to 150 runners?

I'm directing a 10K race in a few months, and would love to offer warm chocolate chip cookies to the finishers.

The after-party will be indoors, but I won't have access to an oven. My plan is to bake the cookies ahead of time, but I can't figure out how to 1) warm the cookies on site, and 2) keep them warm while the finishers come in.

I could bring any or all of the following, but I'm not sure if any would be effective or helpful:

Microwave oven
Electric skillet
Crock pot
Chafing dish /sterno

posted by grateful to Food & Drink (17 answers total)

Will the after party be during the day? Will there be an available outdoor space with sunlight? You could use a solar cooker.
posted by ocherdraco at 5:48 AM on October 17, 2017

Sterno is probably too hot for what you're planning. Maybe tea lights?
posted by cotterpin at 5:48 AM on October 17, 2017

I think putting the cookies in single layers w/ wax or parchment paper between inside a crock pot should work well. You might test one in advance, but I would think about a half hour on low would warm them up. If they start to get too melty, you can just turn it off, and turn it back on again as they cool down, etc.

If you can see them coming in advance and don't mind doing them individually or in small batches, 10-20 seconds in the microwave well make them nice and warm without hurting them, but this would be a lot more hands-on.
posted by nosila at 5:49 AM on October 17, 2017 [2 favorites]

You'd probably need a larger box, but here are some basic instructions.

And may I also argue for setting aside a portion of the dough before you add chocolate chips? As someone who hates chocolate, it makes me sad how many things assume that it is universally liked.
posted by ocherdraco at 5:52 AM on October 17, 2017 [3 favorites]

I can't personally vouch for it, but this article describes what I would try first: bake them, then immediately put them in a cooler with some hot bricks.
posted by blnkfrnk at 5:52 AM on October 17, 2017 [5 favorites]

I assume from your other selections that you'll have power, so heat lamps are also an option.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 5:54 AM on October 17, 2017 [3 favorites]

I almost always microwave chocolate chips cookies before eating them. It next levels them.
posted by srboisvert at 6:09 AM on October 17, 2017 [2 favorites]

Why not a toaster oven? They work really well and won't weird out the texture of your cookies like a microwave or crock pot would.
posted by Miko at 6:23 AM on October 17, 2017 [2 favorites]

To be honest, after/during a run, I'm happy with a room temperature cookie and a warm mug of coffee / hot cocoa. I highly recommend hot cocoa and marshmallows and whipped cream and room temperature cookies on the side :)
posted by bbqturtle at 6:59 AM on October 17, 2017 [2 favorites]

If you can find someone to loan or rent you some of these, you could bake your cookies, slide em right in and they will stay hot for a while. But the texture would suffer eventually id think as they steam inside the hot box (same issue if you microwave previously baked cookies)
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 7:42 AM on October 17, 2017

Straight from the oven into pizza boxes and buy one of these insulated pizza warmer bags?
posted by rmless at 8:56 AM on October 17, 2017

Will you need ALL of the cookies hot at once? I think the electric skillet or possibly even a buffet warming tray (which can be found at thrift stores) might work, if you don't need them all at once. I would slightly underbake the cookies, the first time, too.
posted by sarajane at 9:51 AM on October 17, 2017 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: The race will be in the morning in February, so solar options are probably out. And good point about serializing the cookies - runners will more or less finish in a single file line, over the course of an hour.
posted by grateful at 9:58 AM on October 17, 2017

Probably don't want to hear this and it may be deleted but this runner (and Chocolate Chip cookie aficionado!) must also chime in to say that at the finish line of a run, I do not fancy a cookie - water and freshly-cut orange wedges, please. Of course, runners aren't the only people at a race and your CC cookies will find grateful recipients, to be sure. I'd heat 'em in a microwave. Just don't be surprised if many of the runners pass them by.
posted by Rash at 3:57 PM on October 17, 2017 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: To be sure, I'll also have water, bagels, bananas and other traditional recovery food. I'm planning on adding something distinctive.
posted by grateful at 4:36 AM on October 18, 2017

I've done some midwinter racing and I think it sounds awesome. Great idea.
posted by Miko at 1:24 PM on October 18, 2017 [1 favorite]

The Panera near us keeps cookies warm on what's basically an electric skillet covered with parchment. I see no reason doing that on low wouldn't work.
posted by ThatSomething at 3:49 PM on October 19, 2017