Cookies by Design

So here's the thing about Cookies by Design-they're basically the original cookie bouquet people, and that's not just marketing speak. Founded back in 1983 in Plano, Texas by Gwen Willhite, this company literally invented the concept of putting decorated cookies on sticks and arranging them like flowers. Kind of genius when you think about it.

They've got about 70 locations scattered across the country, which is pretty impressive for a specialty cookie business. But here's what makes them different from your typical bakery-everything's made to order. They literally make, bake and decorate cookies from scratch with that bouquet arrangement concept in mind.

The whole operation has evolved quite a bit since the early days. They started selling cupcakes in 2015 under the brand name Cupcakes By Design, so now you can get the full dessert experience. And they're not just doing birthday parties anymore-they handle individual and corporate gift giving with custom cookie bouquets and gift baskets for any occasion.

What's interesting is how they've managed to stay relevant in the age of Instagram and Pinterest. Their handcrafted gourmet gifts and cookie bouquets are perfect for any holiday, birthday or special occasion, which basically covers every photo-worthy moment people want to celebrate these days.

But you've got to respect the longevity here. Over 30 years later, customers continue to turn to Cookies by Design to help them deliver personal and creative expressions to others in a unique and fun way. That's not easy to pull off in the food business, especially when you're dealing with custom orders and nationwide shipping.