212 W 80th St, New York (3 locations in Manhattan)
Janie’s Life-Changing Baked Goods is pretty good. We went to the one on the Upper West Side in Manhattan, and it was small and hard to find. The quaint shop felt home-like with very little branding, other than the pinks and pastels. Of course, the pie-crust cookies are the main branding elements, and there were plenty of flavors.
We tried the signature pecan pie cookie, and it was delicious. The bottom was flaky pie crust and there was a crunchy crumb topping. (The crumb topping may overpower the texture of the flaky crust, though.) It’s perfect for the person who prefers the crumb topping of a pie rather than the crust.
We’re big fans of pecan pies, and this isn’t totally a replacement. The pecan flavor was lighter and more palatable for a general audience, though we prefer the darker, bitter notes of pecans. Still, it was satisfying.
The pecan pie cookie was a bit too sweet and we wished we had tried a fruit one. Perhaps the tartness of the fruit would have balanced better with the sweet topping. There was one that was passionfruit, and maybe that would’ve been the better choice.
The cookie was extremely fresh, and for the flaky bottom, it needs to be made fresh. (No soggy bottoms here either!)
The cookie felt a bit small, so you probably will want to grab a couple. We would also recommend taking them home and warming them up to eat with ice cream.
We also tried the butter toffee cookie, which was bigger than the pie cookies and best to split because it was quite sweet. It was gooey and soft. The bits of melted, caramelized butter toffee added a nice texture to the cookie.
Janie’s story is an incredible one. She was homeless and now her shop gives back by creating opportunities for others.
Unfortunately, this store on the UWS is tiny and doesn’t have seating inside. There were tables outside, but it was raining. So this shop is for grabbing and going. The other shops may be different.
Janie’s may also be found at pop-up locations, like last summer’s Queens Market.
Overall, we would recommend Janie’s. It’s a unique cookie experience, and the freshness is appreciated. People would certainly find them delightful at parties, too.