In the mix

Prepared Foods, August, 2003

Long gone are the days when simple chocolate chip or sugar cookies were the only choices for those looking for a simple, warm-from-the-oven cookie treat. Pre-portioned, extra-big and multiple inclusions are now the words of the day in the refrigerated cookie area, and General Mills (Minneapolis) is taking the latter approach to cookie mixes.

The company believes consumers might want an extra nut in with their chocolate chip cookies and has added walnuts to the Betty Crocker lineup. At the very least, it adds to the growing variety of comfort foods making their way to grocery aisles.

According to the company, the Betty Crocker Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix is the first walnut chocolate chip flavor in the cookie mix category. Considering that walnut chocolate chip has "always been a classic cookie flavor for scratch bakers," according to a company spokesperson, the new variety seems like a natural extension. The mix requires an egg, plus butter or oil, and will produce about three dozen cookies.