Monster-sized sweet treats are coming to Ballston Quarter’s food hall later this summer.
MidnighTreats, a regional bakery selling giant vegan cookies, is expected to open by mid to late August, owner Jemal Mahdi tells ARLnow. It will occupy the former kiosk of District Doughnut, at the entrance to Ballston Quarter Market.
The bakery’s “monster” size cookies weigh one-third of a pound each. They’re crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside and come in original flavors like brownie, cinna-roll and birthday bash. These accompany the classic staple, chocolate chip.
Two seasonal flavors rotate every two weeks, but these are yet to be decided for the Ballston opening, Mahdi says.
Given their size, MidnighTreats recommends eating a smaller portion of a monster size cookie in one sitting, or sharing it. The bakery also sells regular size cookies, called Munchies, for smaller appetites.
Munchies come in some different flavors, including red velvet, snickerdoodle and oatmeal chocolate chip, dubbed “The Grandpa.”
All cookies at MidnighTreats are vegan-friendly and come from a dairy, egg and peanut-free kitchen. Consequently, the bakery is popular among those with plant-based diets or allergies, Mahdi says.
“A lot of times, when they go to dessert places, these subsegments of the markets are kind of ignored, or there’s like, one chocolate chip vegan cookie and it tastes horrible,” Mahdi says. “Many of those people embrace the concept as well.”
The cookies are sold in packs of four, six, 12 and 30, as well as in larger catering packages. Sides of vanilla, chocolate or cookie butter-flavored icings go for 75 cents to $1.50 each. Oat milks and oat milk tea are also available for purchase.
The bakery’s mission is to promote sustainability “by changing the negative perception around plant-based foods,” according to its website. MidnighTreats has donated thousands of dollars to animal sanctuaries, schools, shelters and Eden Reforestation Projects.
“They have a great mission around trying to end animal cruelty,” Mahdi says. “Everything is made from scratch, they’re always creating new flavors … it seemed they were really trying to do business the right way.”
The Ballston location will be the fourth MidnighTreats. The others reside in Vienna, Reston and Alexandria.
Mahdi says the bakery’s initial hours will likely be from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., but are expected to extend into early morning hours soon after, in keeping with the brand name.
