Maurice Lenell Pinwheel Cookies (Johnny's Version) A Chicago Classic Cookie Recreated

Who else grew up on Maurice Lenell cookies around the holidays, grabbing a bucket of broken pieces, or picking up gift boxes at Jewel? I absolutely miss the Maurice Lenell Pinwheel Cookies form the year they went under. I tried a few recipes from the internet, and they are all way off the mark. To me, Maurice Lenell Pinwheel Cookies were a crumbly cookie with a slightly salty finish and the slightest hint of cocoa, but mostly they were about a coating of the mouth and rich butter flavor. I spent decades thinking about recreating these cookies, and after a lot of calculations and experiments I finally recreated Maurice Lenell Pinwheel Cookies!

Nearly every product from Johnny And Elles is an often long, experimental process in which Johnny get’s out a spreadsheet, takes notes, explores flour types of fat content, noting tastes and textural differences, and creating a unique product that is distinctly Johnny And Elles. However, the creation of Maurice Lenell Pinwheel Cookies had a different approach.

Johnny And Elle went back to memory, since Maurice Lenell is no longer around, and copycat recipes online, though they may be fine cookies, are not Maurice Lenell Pinwheel Cookies. For over a decade Johnny had been thinking about these cookies, wanting to take a stab at recreating them (even though Johnny notoriously likes to work on his own, creating something unique), for the goal of this project was to replicate something that already exists. But, not to make something that already exists better, but to recreate something that no longer exists. Once the recipe was spot on, it wasn’t the intention to sell them, it was only Johnny’s intention to enjoy them.

Turns out there are plenty of Chicagoans and Chicago transplants that truly miss the stiff, rich, slightly salty, hint of cocoa, iconic and classic Maurice Lenell Pinwheel Cookies. With Johnny’s background in Chicago food, it only makes sense to offer Johnny And Elles recreated Maurice Lenell Pinwheel Cookies. It is especially fitting to be offering them for the holidays, for that’s when Johnny had them growing up. These are truly the best holiday gifts from classic Chicagoans.

Flavors Of Note: Sweet, Buttery, Salted Finish, Hint Of Cocoa

Sold in 7 oz gift bags, approx a dozen cookies per bag.