Midnight cookies

Last night Midnight Cookies, a new local cookie shop, had its grand opening and we were able to attend.

Surprisingly, Jennifer MacAllister, who owns the cookie shop along with her husband, Jonathan, hasn’t always had a passion for baking. (We would have never guessed judging by the gooey, sweet, savory flavor of her treats.) After moving to Gainesville to live with her husband a few months ago, she says she soon became bored with not having a friend or job in the city, especially with him working long hours. So, she did what any wife stuck at home would do—she began baking all kinds of sweets, all the time. Sometimes, she’d even bring them to Johnny and his coworkers at work. She had the idea to open a cookie shop four years ago, she says, but now she actually had the time. And that’s how it all began.

Meghan Patkose, 19, a first-time taster and soon-to-be faithful customer, already plans to return soon.

“They’re the best cookies I’ve ever had,” she says. We think they are pretty darn good, too.

Once the shop builds up its clientele, the owners say they intend to relocate to their own building. In the meantime, they are located in the California Chicken Grill.

“We want to expand it into a sort of café-coffee shop/late-night hang out,” Jen says.

Be on the look out for special seasonal cookies, she says, such as pumpkin pie in October and red velvet on Valentine’s day. (We can hardly wait.)

Midnight Cookies is open for pickup and delivery, Monday through Saturday, and each cookie is 99 cents. Customers can choose from mint chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, sugar with sprinkles or M&Ms, white chocolate macadamia, cookies ‘n’ cream, blueberry walnut, butterscotch pecan, chocolate chip and more.

For more information, visit the shop’s website, Facebook page or call 352-371-3535.

(Written for INsite Magazine's blog)