Cookies are a staple treat for many families across generations. The smell of fresh baked cookies coming out of the oven is a heartwarming experience that takes many adults back to their childhood. Brands like Oreo, Chips Ahoy, and Nabisco are cookies that most people would recognize. However, some may be wondering if a brand called Mother’s still makes their iconic homemade style cookies.
A Brief History of Mother’s Cookies
Mother’s Cookies have been around for nearly a century. The brand originated in 1925 by two Armenian immigrant brothers named William and Maurice Lender. The Lender brothers opened their first bakery in New Haven, Connecticut and delivered fresh baked goods door-to-door using a Model T Ford truck.
The cookies were an instant hit in the area due to their homemade taste and appearance. At this time, pre-packaged and mass produced cookie brands did not have much market share. Consumers were drawn to the unique, homemade texture of Mother’s Cookies. The Lender brothers embraced this old fashioned aesthetic by naming their company Mother’s Cookie Company and designing nostalgic packaging featuring a wholesome motherly figure as their logo.
Mother’s Cookies grew steadily in popularity over the next few decades. By the 1950s, Mother’s Cookies were distributed nationwide. The company continued to expand its portfolio of cookie varieties over the years. Some classic Mother’s Cookie flavors include Oatmeal Scotchies, Pecan Crunch, and Iced Molasses.
The Kellogg Company Buys Mother’s Cookies
In the 1960s, Mother’s Cookie Company was acquired by the Kellogg Company. Kellogg sought to expand its portfolio beyond cereals and saw the traditional, homemade appeal of Mother’s Cookies as complementary to its wholesome cereal brands.
Kellogg kept the Mother’s Cookies brand and packaging mostly intact after acquisition. The cookies continued to be mass produced and distributed nationwide under this larger corporate parent. However, over time Kellogg made some changes in efforts to make production more efficient. This included switching from baking the cookies in large brick ovens to using wire conveyor belt ovens.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Mother’s Cookies remained one of the top cookie brands in the United States. Though the product line expanded over the years, their signature Oatmeal Scotchies and Iced Molasses cookies remained consumer favorites.
The Decline and Brief Return of Mother’s Cookies
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Mother’s Cookies began a steady decline in sales and market share. As consumer preferences shifted, the old fashioned, wholesome image of Mother’s no longer aligned with current trends. Brands like Oreo and Chips Ahoy focused their marketing and product development on fun, kid-oriented flavors and packaging.
Additionally, emerging premium chocolate chip brands like Mrs. Field’s and Famous Amos offered new competition in the cookie aisle. These new entrants touted attributes like chocolate chunk cookie dough and decadent flavors that made Mother’s Cookies seem basic and outdated by comparison.
By 2004, Kellogg made the decision to discontinue the Mother’s Cookies line except for their 3 best selling varieties – Oatmeal Scotchies, Iced Molasses, and Circus Animal Cookies. After a few years continuing in limited distribution, Kellogg pulled all remaining Mother’s Cookie products off shelves in 2007.
After over a decade absence, Kellogg decided to revive the Mother’s brand in 2019. They re-released 4 classic cookie varieties – Oatmeal Scotchies, Circus Animals, Kitchen Sink, and Chocolate Chip Cookies. Kellogg continues producing this limited assortment of Mother’s Cookies today.
Where to Buy Mother’s Cookies Today
Mother’s Cookies can be purchased from the following national retailers:
| Retailer | Store Availability |
|---|---|
| Walmart | In-store and online |
| Target | In-store and online |
| Amazon | Online |
Some regional grocery store chains may also carry Mother’s Cookies in localized distribution. The best place to check availability in your area is your local grocery store aisles and online delivery sites.
Current Mother’s Cookies Product Line
Here are the 4 cookie varieties currently produced under the Mother’s brand:
| Cookie Variety | Details |
|---|---|
| Oatmeal Scotchies | Chewy oatmeal cookies with butterscotch chips |
| Circus Animal Cookies | Sugar cookie shaped like different circus animals |
| Kitchen Sink | Oatmeal cookie with chocolate chips, raisins, peanuts, butterscotch chips |
| Chocolate Chip Cookies | Chewy chocolate chip cookies |
As you can see, the current assortment includes some of Mother’s classic and most popular flavors. The Oatmeal Scotchies and Circus Animal cookies have been produced by Mother’s since the 1950s. So consumers still have access to these nostalgic cookie varieties that built the brand.
Where are Mother’s Cookies Baked Today?
As of 2020, Mother’s Cookies are baked at the Kellogg’s/Keebler cookie and cracker facility located in Allyn, Washington. This manufacturing plant handles production of many of Kellogg’s cookie and cracker brands sold under the Keebler, Sunshine, and Mother’s names.
All Mother’s Cookies are distributed nationwide from this West Coast plant. So while today’s Mother’s Cookies don’t come straight from a local bakery like the original product, they are baked in a dedicated cookie and cracker plant using a classic drop style recipe.
Why Were Mother’s Cookies so Popular Historically?
There are several key factors that contributed to Mother’s Cookies becoming one of America’s favorite cookie brands throughout the 20th century:
1. Nostalgic homemade appeal
Mother’s early marketing portrayed the image of a loving, wholesome mother baking fresh cookies from scratch in her home kitchen. During the early to mid 1900s when store bought, mass manufactured food was still relatively new, this was an attractive selling point.
Consumers felt that Mother’s lived up to this home baked promise thanks to their irregular shapes, visible oats and chocolate chips, chewy/crisp textures, and overall handmade appearance.
2. High quality ingredients
The Oatmeal Scotchies and other signature cookies emphasized key ingredients consumers valued like oats, butterscotch chips, and molasses. Mother’s relayed their use of premium ingredients like real molasses vs corn syrup and whole grain oats vs flour.
Today they promote that their recipes still uphold these high ingredient standards. For instance, their Oatmeal Scotchies contain oats, rice flour, wheat flour, molasses, and brown sugar.
3. Range of unique, crave-worthy flavors
While Mother’s is best known for their Oatmeal Scotchies and Iced Molasses cookies, they offered consumers more variety than typical store brands early on. Signature flavors like kitchen sink, pecan crunch, and coconut distinguished the brand.
These flavor profiles made their cookies stand out from most generic cracked wheat and chocolate chip cookies available at the grocery store.
4. Affordable indulgence
Another driver of Mother’s Cookies popularity was delivering a homemade cookie experience at mass market scale and cost. Their cookies provided an elevated, indulgent treat that was still affordable for daily enjoyment.
This ability to deliver quality ingredients, unique flavors, and nostalgic charm at low cost and wide distribution enabled generations of consumers to enjoy Mother’s as their go-to fresh baked style cookie.
Nutrition Facts for Mother’s Oatmeal Scotchies
Here is the nutrition information for a serving of Mother’s Oatmeal Scotchies cookies according to the brand’s website:
| Per 1 cookie (30g) |
|---|
| Calories: 140 |
| Total Fat: 7g |
| Saturated Fat: 3.5g |
| Trans Fat: 0g |
| Cholesterol: 15mg |
| Sodium: 105mg |
| Total Carbohydrate: 19g |
| Dietary Fiber: 1g |
| Total Sugars: 10g |
| Includes 9g Added Sugars |
| Protein: 1g |
Based on this nutrition breakdown for the classic Oatmeal Scotchies cookies, we can see that a single serving provides 140 calories, 7g of fat, 105mg sodium, 19g carbs, and 10g of sugar.
The cookies deliver a solid amount of calories and carbs, but are relatively low in protein and fiber. The 10g of sugar per cookie represent 36% of the daily value, so they are certainly on the sweet side.
Overall, while not the most nutritious snack, Mother’s Oatmeal Scotchies provide a reasonable calorie cookie with decent taste and texture that can be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
Customer Reviews of Mother’s Oatmeal Scotchies
Here are some examples of customer reactions to the revived Mother’s Oatmeal Scotchies cookies based on reviews from Walmart.com and Amazon:
Positive Reviews
- “These bring back so many childhood memories of my mom packing them in my school lunches. The oatmeal and butterscotch chips paired with the chewy texture is perfect.”
- “I’m so glad these are back! The Oatmeal Scotchies have always been my favorite Mother’s cookie. The oats and brown sugar give them a unique sweetness that’s warming and comforting.”
- “Mother’s still makes these just like I remember from 30 years ago. Big, soft, and chewy with lots of oats and butterscotch chips in every bite. Perfect with a glass of milk or cup of coffee for breakfast or afternoon snack.”
Critical Reviews
- “The cookie itself tastes fine, but the pieces are tiny now compared to what I remember when buying Mother’s decades ago. Each cookie is half the size for the same price.”
- “These just don’t have the same homemade quality anymore. The shapes are uniform and the texture is dry/crumbly rather than chewy and soft baked.”
- “The Oatmeal Scotchies recipe seems to have changed over the years. They are sweeter than I recall with an almost waxy aftertaste. I wish they still made them like decades ago.”
Based on these customer reactions, the revived Mother’s Oatmeal Scotchies generally succeed in providing a dose of nostalgia through familiar flavors and textures. However, some longtime fans feel the execution today falls a bit short of the original experience whether due to smaller sizes or slightly altered recipe.
Where to Find Vintage Mother’s Cookies Packaging
Part of the nostalgic appeal of Mother’s Cookies is the vintage packaging designs featuring the wholesome Mother character that graced their tins and boxes for decades. Some places collectors can find original Mother’s Cookies packaging include:
Ebay
Ebay has listings for empty vintage Mother’s Cookies tins as well as full, unopened packages from the 1950s and onward. Collectors should be aware of condition and watch for damage prior to purchase.
Etsy
Similar to Ebay, Etsy sellers offer both empty tins and sealed retro cookie packages. Some listings are for display only while others allow you to purchase and actually enjoy decades old Mother’s Cookies.
Nostalgic Retailers
Some nostalgia-focused retail stores and websites offer reproductions of classic Mother’s Cookies packaging for gifts, display, or home decor.
Online Auctions
Specialty auction houses focused on antiques, collectibles, and vintage advertising frequently list original Mother’s Cookies packages and signage in their catalogues.
Estate Sales
Searching local estate sales can sometimes turn up vintage food packaging and advertising for brands like Mother’s. Look in garages, basements, attics, or kitchen cabinets.
Owning a piece of original Mother’s Cookies history provides a tangible connection to nostalgic memories many associate with the brand. For collectors, the classic packaging and artwork represent an iconic era of food branding and commercial illustration.
Conclusion
Mother’s Cookies hold a special place in the hearts and memories of many generations thanks to their wholesome image, range of flavors, and homemade taste. While today’s reformulated version may not be quite as beloved as the original, consumers can still enjoy some classic varieties like Oatmeal Scotchies.
Though Mother’s Cookies may never regain the prominence they once held, the brand survives as a nostalgic icon representing the warm, comforting essence of homemade baking.