"The cookies taste great (even to a skeptic like me) and they've got 17 grams of protein."Kevin, Google review
Fresh-baked in Chicago · The Drop is paused · Taste Buds hear the news first
The Substantial Cookie
Brown Butter & Dark Chocolate
Current flavor ·
Brown Butter & Dark Chocolate
Fresh-baked. 17G protein.
Fresh-baked
17G
Protein
3.5G
Fiber
0
Seed oils
Fresh
Baked
The Weekly Drop
We hit pause on the Drop.
Ordering is closed for now. We are taking time to figure out what comes next for VARE. When there is news, Taste Buds will hear it first.
1,394 Taste Buds are already on the list.
Why we started
The fresh-baked protein cookie we wanted didn't exist.
So we spent over 10 months in a Chicago home kitchen building it. Brown butter, dark chocolate, 17g of protein in every cookie, baked fresh every Friday. No shortcuts, no warehouse shelf.
Andrew & JD, founders
Don't take our word for it.
"It's gooey. Not dry like all the rest of protein products. Tastes better than all of those."Joe, Chicago, IL
"You would never know that it was a protein cookie."Instagram DM
"We came over here to spite the protein category. Ended up buying 4."Chicago Artisan Market taste test
"This is the best protein product I've ever had."Chicago Artisan Market taste test
"The best cookie in Chicago. Scrumptious, chewy, delicious, 10/10. Miami approved."Gaby, Miami, FL
How we stack up.
VARE, two other protein cookies, and the same weight in OREOs.
JD loves OREOs, so this comparison is made with love.
| Per portion |  The Substantial Cookie1 cookie · 85g |
 Chocolate Chip Protein Cookie1 cookie · 59g |
 Chocolate Chip Protein Cookie · 2oz1 cookie · 57g |
 Original Chocolate Sandwich Cookies≈7½ cookies · 85g |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 17g | 15g | 8g | ≈2.5g |
| Total sugar | 7g | 1g | 11g | ≈35g |
| Sweeteners | Allulose, brown sugar, honey | Erythritol, sucralose, stevia | Cane sugar, invert sugar, sugar, dextrose | Sugar, high fructose corn syrup |
| Fat sources | Butter, cashew butter | Butter, palm oil, cocoa butter | Palm fruit oil, cocoa butter | Palm, soybean and/or canola oil |
| Baked to order | Yes, in Chicago | No | No | No |
| Fiber | 3.5g | 9g | 5g | Less than 2.5g* |
| Calories | 290 | 240 | 220 | ≈400 |
| Sugar alcohols | None | 8g erythritol | None | None listed |
17g protein. Butter and cashew butter. Baked fresh in Chicago.
Get your cookiesVARE, Quest, and Lenny & Larry's values are per cookie at the weights shown. OREO values are approximate, scaled from its 34g serving to 85g, the weight of one VARE cookie. Portions are not all the same size. VARE nutrition is calculated and has not been lab verified.
*OREO lists less than 1g fiber per 34g serving; scaled to 85g, that is less than 2.5g. Approximate values reflect rounded published labels.
A little more about the ingredients.
What sweetens each cookie?
VARE uses allulose, brown sugar, and honey. Allulose is not a sugar alcohol. Quest uses erythritol, sucralose, and stevia. Lenny & Larry's lists cane sugar and invert sugar, with sugar and dextrose in its chocolate chips. Original OREO lists sugar and high fructose corn syrup.
We show total sugar separately from sweeteners so you can compare both.
What fats do we use?
Butter and cashew butter are part of VARE's recipe. Quest lists butter, palm oil, and cocoa butter. Lenny & Larry's lists palm fruit oil and cocoa butter in its chocolate chips. Original OREO lists palm oil and soybean and/or canola oil.
Where does the protein come from?
VARE's protein blend is milk protein concentrate and whey protein concentrate. Quest uses milk and whey protein isolates, plus caseinates. Lenny & Larry's uses wheat gluten, pea protein, and rice protein. Original OREO does not list a protein blend.
Why bake in weekly batches?
We prep your dough, chill it for 48 hours, then bake and ship on Thursday this week (normally Friday). JD and Andrew make every batch in Chicago. That schedule gives us time to make your cookies with care.
Full ingredient lists & sources
VARE: Protein blend (milk protein concentrate, whey protein concentrate), eggs, allulose, wheat flour, butter, dark chocolate, cashew butter, oat flour, brown sugar, resistant corn starch, vegetable glycerin, honey, corn starch, vanilla extract, salt, baking soda.
See the brands' published nutrition panels and full ingredient lists: Quest Chocolate Chip Protein Cookie, Lenny & Larry's Chocolate Chip Protein Cookie, 2oz, and Original OREO.
Competitor labels checked October 2, 2026. Recipes and labels can change; check the package for the product you buy.
Questions, answered.
What does it taste like?
Think thick, gooey brown butter and dark chocolate. Soft-baked and chewy, with 17g protein in each cookie.
When will my cookies bake and ship?
Order by Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. CT for that Friday’s bake. We prep the dough Wednesday, chill it for 48 hours, then bake and ship Friday. Orders after the cutoff go into next week’s Friday batch. Friday is the shipping day, not a guaranteed delivery day.
Where do you ship?
Illinois only right now. Enter your address at checkout to see your shipping options.
How much is shipping?
Shipping is calculated at checkout. You’ll see the cost before you pay.
How should I store them, and how long do they last?
Keep them sealed in their pouch. We recommend the fridge: up to 4 weeks refrigerated, up to 2 weeks at room temperature, or up to 2 months in the freezer for longer storage.
Enjoy them straight from the fridge, or microwave for 5–10 seconds for a softer, warmer cookie. Remove the cookie from its pouch before microwaving.
What allergens does it contain?
Contains: Eggs, Milk, Wheat, Soy, Tree Nuts (Cashew).
The cookie includes milk and whey protein, eggs, wheat flour, soy lecithin in the dark chocolate, and cashew butter.
What if there’s a problem with my order?
Reply to your order confirmation with your order number and tell us what happened. It comes directly to us, JD and Andrew, and we’ll help.