Oatmeal CookieBlog: Reader Query: Copycat Momofuku "Compost Cookie"?

Lauren emailed me to ask about coming up with a version of the famous "compost cookie" from Momofuku Bakery & Milk Bar here in New York City:

hi! your recipes look great! i actually stumbled upon your blog in my frenzy to duplicate momofuku's "compost cookies". i know the basic flavors, but i wasn't sure where to start. since you seem to be in the business of making unusual cookies, i thought i'd see if you had some insight.

i'm not sure if you've tried the momofuku compost cookie--its a pretty flat cookie, very chewy, dense and sweet. not crispy at all. it tastes like it is probably very unhealthy. the pastry chef describes the cookie thusly: potato chips, pretzels, coffee grounds, chocolate chips, graham crumbs, butterscotch chips, and a little bit of flour.

i saw you used graham cracker crumbs in your s'more cookie, maybe something like that? any suggestions for a base?

Thanks for writing in, Lauren. Believe it or not, this isn't the first time someone asked me about doing a version of this cookie. (Yup...I'm talking about you, Nina!) I've had a chocolate-covered pretzel cookie in mind for quite a while now, but I haven't had the time to play around with the recipe. "One of these days," I kept telling myself. But your email has convinced me to give it a try.

Instead of a "compost cookie," I'll do a "leftovers cookie" that includes all the leftover and unmeasurable bits of coconut, chocolate chips, graham crackers, and Nilla Wafers I have in little sandwich-sized baggies in my cabinets. And I'll throw in some salty bits with broken pretzel sticks and corn chips for good measure. Stay tuned!

Update: Check out my Copycat Momofuku Compost Cookies.