Via iStockphoto / @sayheycindy TikTok
John's Hopkins University football player Claude Strnad started his small business, Claude Cookies, in September. And it's a hit.
Cookies are a classic, tried, true, and tested dessert. Most of the time, they are a small treat intended to be devoured in a quick bite. But the classic dessert got an upgrade. These new cookies are not your grandma’s cookies. They are fluffy, cake-like, soft, and gooey—some even have icing.
Cindy (@Sayheycindy) let over 40,000 viewers know that the No. 1 cookies are currently in Baltimore, Maryland. And they are made by a John’s Hopkins University football player, Claude Strnad. Strnad is the owner of Claude Cookies. He started the business in September.
Excited to try these new cookies, she shared a video right from her car.
“Look at how thick these cookies are,” she says, showing two of the cookies she ordered before taking a bite. “It’s really soft on the inside, but then the outside has a really good crust.”
She eats the cookies gleefully.
Claude Cookies: John Hopkins Football Player’s Small Business Is A Hit
For the past two years, baking has been a go-to hobby for the Blue Jays long snapper. He started casually baking for his family. But it wasn’t until a summer family dinner, to honor his late father, that he formally debuted his cookies. Across the board, they were a hit.
“They all said I should sell them [the cookies], including my dad’s best friend who is a personal chef,” Strnad told BroBible via Instagram.
Described as a New York-style cookie, Claude’s cookies are thick and oversized. For reference, Strnad said his cookies are between 170 and 200 grams; the average cookie is 45 to 55 grams.
“I’ve had many of the cookie chain products, and I will say I feel as though mine delivers a better overall taste and quality by ingredients used,” Strnad said.
In her video, Cindy showcases four of the flavors: cookies and cream, caramel coconut, classic chocolate chip, and pumpkin spice. All of the cookies are adorned with a cute identifying topper. The cookies and cream is topped with an Oreo. The caramel coconut is topped with a caramel candy. The chocolate chip is topped with a piece of chocolate. And the pumpkin spice features icing and pumpkin spice sprinkle.
Based on her comments section, she ate them all.
“They’re so yummy. I can tell a lot of passion and love go into them and they’re humongous,” she said.
How To Order Claude Cookies
So, how can you get your hands on a Claude cookie? First, you have to be in the DMV (D.C., Maryland, or Virginia) area. There are currently no shipping options. Claude uses a drop method to distribute his cookies. Customers can order on hotplate. Drop ordering opens every Tuesday. Pick-up is on Sunday, and the ordering deadline is the Friday before at 11:59pm.
So far, there have been five drops. All completely sold out, with the last drop selling out in under a minute.
With his background in media and marketing, Strnad has been able to get the word out about his drops. Though his time stretched, Strnad is still looking to expand.
“Ultimately I am grateful to spend my time doing things I love, whether it’s football, baking, or even the classes I take. Balancing everything isn’t always easy and sometimes that means staying u late or waking up extra early to work on the cookie business,” Strnad told BroBible.