Riley’s Texas kitchen operates on one principle: If it tastes incredible, it counts as a cookie.
Bacon in shortbread? Absolutely. Cayenne in chocolate? Obviously. Za’atar on buttery rounds? You bet. Maple bourbon oatmeal cookies? Already in the oven.
This isn’t chaos—it’s courage. The kind that makes you stop asking “should I?” and start experimenting with “what if?”
That’s CookiesCharm: bold flavors for fearless bakers.
From “Why Not?” to “Hell Yes”
Riley Swanston grew up in a Texas kitchen where “too much” was never a problem and “play it safe” wasn’t in the vocabulary.
While other bakers perfected traditional chocolate chip cookies, Riley was asking different questions: What if we smoked the butter first? What if we added jalapeño to peanut butter cookies? What if we made cookies savory instead of sweet?
His family thought he was crazy. His friends were skeptical. But when they tasted bacon-bourbon cookies, miso brown butter creations, and black pepper shortbread, everything changed.
Those “weird” cookies weren’t just edible—they were unforgettable. The kind of flavors that make you close your eyes, say “what IS that?”, and immediately reach for another.
Riley realized that cookie baking had become too conventional. Too safe. Too predictable. Everyone was recreating the same flavors, following the same rules, staying inside the same lines.
Screw the lines.
CookiesCharm was born from that rebellious spirit: cookies that surprise you, challenge you, and make you rethink what belongs in a cookie jar.
OUR MISSION
Break Rules. Bake Bold.
We believe:
🍪 Cookies should surprise you – Predictable is boring
🍪 Savory belongs in sweet – Flavor boundaries are imaginary
🍪 Weird is wonderful – If it tastes amazing, who cares if it’s traditional?
🍪 Experimentation is sacred – The best recipes come from trying
🍪 Bold > Bland – Life’s too short for boring cookies
Every recipe on CookiesCharm is:
Approachable – You don’t need professional equipment to be bold
Tested for deliciousness – Weird for weirdness’s sake doesn’t fly
Balanced – Bold doesn’t mean overwhelming
Explained – We tell you WHY unexpected combos work
MEET THE TEAM
The Cookie Rebels
PART OF THE GLOBAL HEARTH COLLECTIVE
The Cookie Guild
CookiesCharm joins three sister cookie sites within The Global Hearth Collective:
- CookiesCharm – Bold experimental cookies (Riley Swanston) ← You’re here!
- CookiesFresh – Heritage classic cookies (Teresa Flagler)
- CookiesSweet – Fusion spice cookies (Jasmine Padda)
- CookiesYum – Scientific cookie perfection (Lauren Sebell)
Each site has its philosophy. Ours? Push boundaries. Trust your taste buds. Be fearless.
Explore our Cake Guild, Candy Guild, Pie Guild, and Chocolate Guild at TheGlobalHearth.com
The Bold Cookie Philosophy
Why Break the Rules?
Innovation Requires Risk: Every now-classic cookie was once an experiment. Someone had to be first.
Flavor Is Personal: What’s “too weird” for one person is “perfectly balanced” for another. Trust your palate.
Baking Shouldn’t Be Boring: If you’re not excited about what you’re making, why bother?
Savory-Sweet Is Natural: Salted caramel. Bacon maple. Cultures worldwide combine savory and sweet—cookies should too.
Chemistry Allows Creativity: Understanding WHY ingredients work together lets you break rules productively.
The Best Stories Come From Bold Choices: Nobody remembers the safe cookie. They remember the bacon-bourbon one.
OUR VALUES
✨ Courage – Trying the unexpected
✨ Balance – Bold but delicious
✨ Innovation – Creating new classics
✨ Honesty – We’ll tell you when experiments fail
✨ Fun – Baking should be exciting
Join the Rebellion
📧 Subscribe to Riley’s Newsletter: Let’s Go!
📌 Follow on Pinterest: @cookiescharm
📸 Follow on Instagram: @cookiescharm
💌 Contact Us: Dare to Share
Questions about bold flavors? Want to share your experiments?
Email us: [email protected]
