There is no treat like a Kaufmann’s thumbprint cookie.
And if you’re from the Pittsburgh area, you might be familiar with the iconic skyscraper-looking thumbprint cookies made famous by the longtime regional department store’s Arcade Bakery.
The cookies were the most famous treats from Arcade.
After Macy’s closed the longtime flagship Kaufmann’s location in Downtown Pittsburgh, Prantl’s Bakery continued the tradition.
I recently learned that the Arcade Bakery baker Kevin Ulrich (who Prantl’s hires after Macy’s closed) is back on the thumbprint detail as of August!In September 2015, the bakery released its own version of the cookie. At the time, they tasted fine — not the same, but close enough!
Prantl’s has hired the baker who led the thumbprint cookie creation. So I had high hopes for the future.
In November I had some thumbprints for the first time since early summer and immediately tasted a drastic difference.
The thumbprint cookie I longed for and remembered was back! But I just assumed it was because I bought them at the Shadyside location instead of Market Square where I usually go. (They’re all baked at the same place but delivered elsewhere. But you know, tastes can change in delivery!)
But GoodFoodPittsburgh.com explains that Ulrich was doing other work for Prantl’s before taking over the thumbprint role again.
“I’m happy it happened like this. The cookie is in the right hands,” Ulrich told the blog.
There are many, many flavors available. So go try all of them! And thank me with a thumbprint cookie!