North Carolina Doughnut Chain Considers Selling Its Stake In Insomnia Cookies

Two of my absolute favorite brands are Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and Insomnia Cookies.  And, you may not know this but North Carolina doughnut chain Krispy Kreme owns a majority in Insomnia Cookies.  However, the Krispy Kreme Insomnia Cookies partnership may be no more.  Our beloved Krispy Kreme says they're considering selling off that stake to focus strictly on doughnuts.

I remember when we discovered Insomnia Cookies a few years ago in downtown Charlotte on one of our Sunday Fun Day brewery hops.  We found Insomnia situated right next to a Krispy Kreme Doughnuts store.  And, it was the end of a long day of sampling brews.  So, the carb heavy sweet warm cookies hit the spot.  But, I had no idea there was a financial Krispy Kreme Insomnia Cookies partnership between the two iconic businesses.

My entrepreneur friend and I started looking into the history of Insomnia Cookies and what it might take to own a franchise.  And, that's when we discovered that in 2018 Krispy Kreme bought a majority interest in the cookie giant.  And, Insomnia, known for its late night delivery cookies grew with locations in three countries and hundreds of stores.  According to Reuters, Insomnia could bring in $230 million this year.

That just blows your mind when you think about how Insomnia Cookies started.  The founder, Seth Berkowitz, came up with the idea for late night cookies while a student at the University of Pennsylvania.  I'd say he must've paid attention in business school!  And, because of the late night model, many Insomnia locations are near college campuses.  In fact, my friend and I saw a hole for one at Myrtle Beach.  But, before we had a chance to explore further, they opened up very near my son's campus of Coastal Carolina University.  So, we missed it by that much!

Anyway, we'll keep an eye on the Krispy Kreme Insomnia Cookies partnership as it possibly changes.  And, see here for more on the story.

If I had to choose one simple dessert to enjoy for the rest of my life, I would choose cookies. Although I am not sure what my favorite cookie is, I really love double chocolate chip cookies. I also really love Oreos with milk.

The favorite cookie of North Carolina is a classic. Whatever your cookie preference is, chocolate chip cookies are sweet and salty, sugar cookies are buttery and snickerdoodles are spiced with warm spices. Whether it's ice cream sandwiches or whoopie pies, cookies are one of America's favorites. What is the cookie that is loved by Americans across each state?

To determine the most popular cookies in America, Eat This, Not That! looked to Nestlé Toll House, which conducted a nationwide consumer survey. While Kentucky is famous for its Bourbon Spice, Vermont is known for its Maple Pecan. I'm sure you'd like to know which cookie you should choose, based on your state! Check out the list of some state favorites below. You can see the full list of cookies by state here.

In the homeland of Krispy Kreme donuts, the Tar Heels and Blue Devils rank chocolate chip cookies number one.

Peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips are Alabama's favorite cookie. It's a state where college football reigns and peanut butter is a tasty snack to enjoy while watching a game.

In the form of Russian Tea Cakes, the Russians left crumbs of their culture behind when they negotiated with the United States for the Last Frontier. Russian tea cakes, also called polvorones, are balls of buttery dough filled with finely ground nuts and rolled twice in powdered sugar.

You can find the best Mexican food in Arizona, so it's no surprise that residents choose Mexican Wedding cookies as their favorite dessert. Mexican Wedding Cookies have a thick dusting of powdered sugar and a buttery texture, making them similar to Russian Tea Cakes. Crescent moon shapes are commonly cut from them.

In North Carolina, the favorite cookie is an all-time classic. It's no surprise that Tar Heels and Blue Devils put chocolate chip cookies at the top of their list.

If you want to explore Wyoming's mountain ranges, farmlands, and stunning national parks, you'll need Cowboy cookies.

Haystack cookies usually consist of peanut butter, butterscotch, chocolate, marshmallows, noodles, or oats. You can use your microwave to melt the ingredients together and let them set in the fridge. They don't require any baking.

Apple cider donuts are a big hit in the Evergreen State, so it's no wonder apple cider cookies are popular there, too.

Peanut pie is famous in Virginia, as the peanuts are roasted and combined with golden syrup to make a gooey, sweet treat. A peanut butter cookie with chocolate chips will have to suffice if you cannot find a slice of this heavenly pie.

Biscotti is most similar to Rhode Island's hermit cookies, which are made with reused dough, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, raisins or currants, and molasses.

Maple syrup and pecans are two ingredients that perfectly describe Vermont. In Vermont, you'll find maple trees and shops that sell Grade A and B syrups.

The best cookie in Tennessee is MoonPies, followed by chocolate chip cookies. The sandwiches are graham cracker sandwiches stuffed with marshmallows and topped with chocolate, vanilla, or banana frosting.

Peanuts are one of South Carolina's most abundant crops in the summer, so much so that they have become a pantry staple. Locals particularly enjoy boiled peanuts.

Bischochitos are butter-based cookies flavored with cinnamon and anise. Usually, the cookies are shaped like stars and crescent moons.

This fall, you can find plenty of pumpkin patches throughout Oregon if you're taking the Oregon Trail. In the Beaver State, high-quality, local food is prepared from many of its farms.

When you describe New Hampshire's foliage in terms of food, you think of pumpkin pie cookies. Have you caught a whiff of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice?

A great way to celebrate the season is with cranberry cookies. Massachusetts does fall flavors best. Cranberries can also help you cut down on sugar and add natural sweetness to cookies.

It's not just lobster rolls and clam chowder you'll find in New England. Many desserts in Maine contain molasses. Molasses plays well with gingerbread cookies due to their warm, thick, and not-too-sweet taste.

Cajun and Creole country food boasts jambalaya and gumbo, so what's not to love? However, Louisiana prefers maple pecan cookies over beignets for dessert.

The Bluegrass State is the biggest distributor of—you guessed it—bourbon. And you bet it's in the Commonwealth's culinary concoctions as it is in its cocktails.