When I was primary school, our school went on a trip to Sydney’s Centennial Park. There are two things that I remember vividly from the trip. The school teacher that had brought a net to try and catch one of the eels while the whole class stood there horrified as she wrestled with a metre long, thick, wriggly beast only for it to wriggle out of her reach and back into the water.
The other thing that I remember was that I locked myself in a toilet cubicle. I slid that latch across to lock the door and when I finished, I went to open it but it would budge. I started to panic. I didn’t want to sound like a “baby” so I didn’t call out to anyone and just kept trying to push it in the opposite direction.
As my school mate’s voices drifted out of the bathroom I realised that I would be left behind so I realised that there was only one thing that I could do. I couldn’t stay there because I had no idea how to get home as I had never caught a bus and I had no idea where Centennial Park was in relation to where I lived. Nor did I have a mobile phone or any paraphernalia that kids nowadays tend to carry. I looked at my only escape under the door, and the putrid floor which was wet and slid out underneath there. I ran outside to the sunshine and joined my school friends.
I don’t know why that day scared me so much but for the next few years I had nightmares about being trapped there at night by myself. Sometimes during the day, I occasionally pinched myself and asked friends “Am I really here?” as I thought that my real life was a dream and that I was still stuck in that toilet cubicle. Crazy, I realise and highly unlikely that it was a dream, but it wasn’t until I was older and knew how to get home that the nightmares stopped!
So what does this have to do with these cookies? Well these are an inception cookie in that they are a cookie within a cookie, much like I believed I was living a dream inside another dream. These are much less crazy a concept that what I was experiencing and they involve wrapping a cookie dough around a Pod and then baking it so that the pod inside provides an extra layer of texture and flavour. They are the original idea from Jenny from Picky Palate and you can use all sorts of cookies like Oreos (even the double stuffed one works or use your favourite chocolate bars or leftover Easter eggs!).
The outer recipe is just like a Mrs Fields/Bill Granger soft chocolate chip cookie which is delicious in itself and adding the additional filling just makes it that much better, especially if the chocolate is in an appealingly melty state as these were. No mind games necessary!
So tell me Dear Reader, what scared you as a child? And what scares you as an adult?
Oh in some rather fun news, I was featured in the fabulous Grazia magazine! I talk diet tips (ironic, I know! 
). The shoot was so much fun and I thoroughly enjoyed myself!
Click to enlarge
Pod Cookies
Makes about nine cookies (depending on size)
- 125g unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cups firmly packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla paste or vanilla extract
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1 1/2 cups plain flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- a pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
- half a bag of Pods or whatever other cookie you like
1. Preheat oven to 180C/350F and line two cookie sheets with baking parchment paper. Beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy. Add vanilla and egg and beat until just combined. Add the flour, baking powder, salt and chocolate chips and mix until a dough forms.
Ice cream scoop with cookie dough
Flattening out dough and putting the pod in the centre
2. Using an ice cream scoop, measure out one scoop of the cookie batter and press out into a circle. In the centre, add the Pod cookie and then bring up the sides of the circle to seal the cookie in. Place an inch apart on the baking sheet as they do expand. Repeat until all of the dough is used. Bake for 15-20 minutes.
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79 Comments | Add your own
They look wonderful! I bet those cookies would not last long at my place.
Cheers,
Rosa
these look delicious! love it
Not much has changed for me. I was stung by a couple of bees and a couple of wasps as a child and since then I have been petrified of them. Also being in the ocean and feeling something touch your foot. These things send chills down my spine and get my heart racing.
I think I would like these with a small piece of a cherry ripe bar inside!
Gorgeous shoot, I love this! I was scared of the sound of the toilet flushing as a child
Heidi xo
Love these, and the funny story that went along with it
What a great idea. I love Pods but don’t often buy them because we can’t stop eating them until the last pod has been eaten. And I’ve had that panic attack where you end up locked in a toilet cubicle. It’s not pleasant – at least the gap between the bottom of the door and the floor was big enough to crawl through – but I can imagine the state of the floor – home for a scrub under the shower I’m sure xx
omg, thanks for sharing your childhood story, Its amazing how big and scary things seem before you know your way home…ha ha..your such a good writer..love the pod cookies…
I’ve made stuffed cookies for years but I’ve always felt it was overkill.
As a child I didn’t like scary movies. I still don’t like them but I’ve been able to watch The Sorcerer’s Apprentice which I couldn’t do as a kid. Those brooms going down the stairs with the buckets? forget it. I had to close my eyes.
The cookies look wonderful, great idea to fill them with cookies…!!!
I have two thing that scared me so much since I am a child: earthquakes and cockroach. The first, well, I think I don’t have to explain so much, but that feeling that the floor start moving is terrible. The other, well, when I was a cery little child a cockroach climbed into my chest…!!!
These cookies look amazing – Jenny’s idea has revolutionized the world considering now I put brownies, toffees, ANYTHING inside a cookie
)!
Pods are a genius idea (and my biggest weakness ever
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
How funny! I was just wanting to make some “stuffed” cookies and here you are!!
As a child I was freaked out by a very large crab once, that was caught just where I had been swimming moments before. To this day, if I can’t see through the water to the sand I WILL NOT put my feet down!!! I have a completely irrational fear of crabs! On a plate is OK though
That would have been pretty scary!
When I was little, our babysitter used to tell me that we had to shut all the blinds at night so the giants couldn’t get in. For years I had nightmares about the giants and I used to hide in the pantry in those dreams. Hmm is that some strange thing telling me I find comfort in food?
I can imagine you sliding out under that door. Poor you.
The cookies look fun. Clever idea.
Spiders. Then. Spiders. Now, but less so, just large hairy ones.
Oh those look delicious!
SSG xxx
My primary school had a ‘dark corner’. It took me most of my primary school years to get up the bravery to run in and touch the corner. Alas, nothing happened – no monster got me!
Oh my lord they look tasty! I would give anything to have one now with my cup of tea! As for me, what scared me as a child scares me now…..Spiders. I hate them with a passion. Every time my husband is away they turn up….I think they’re after me!
Oh my god. That is insanely good. I want one with my coffee right now!!
OMG! Yum
These are on the menu for Saturday morning tea at a friend’s – best I double the mixture – wicked!
Oh WOW, Congratulations Lorraine and don’t you look rather sexy in that photo!
I like the look of these pod cookies and would probably go with the ready-made pods as the filling, it’s the neat-freak in me,lol. My youngest Gabriella is always experimenting and adding ‘surprises’ when she bakes. It’s her birthday on Saturday, I’m going to make her a Red Velvet layer cake with ruffled icing ( it’s all the rage in the cake decorating world) after I saw the pic in Saveur , wish me luck!
OMFG sorry Lorraine
had to swear i’m SUPER excited and hyped up about this recipe now !I’ve booked marked it and promised to make them this weekend! I can’t wait 
But i’ve just gotta go get some “Pods” which are my favourite hehe
As a child I was scared of the dark and would sleep with a light on. And until now lol I can sleep with the lights on hehe
Yum, they look awesome. I am always paranoid about getting locked in a public toilet, and will be more so now knowing that it actually happened to someone!
Oh, forgot the scary thing, when I was a child I always dreamt that a huge Eagle would swoop down and try to snatch me away. Went on for quite a few years until my parents decided that they didn’t want me in their bed every night,lol.
These look great and very calorific!
When small I hated spiders – still have nightmares sometimes about them and had one on the steering column of the car once which totally freaked me out driving in peak hour traffic. Now, with 8 year old daughter, I try hard only to show dislike of big hairy ones. I tell Claire that we are bigger than them, and we have chemicals and shoes which can sort them out. Never understood my greenie friends who capture the spider and release it outside, presumably only to come back in again. I quite like daddy long leg spiders though – harmless supermodels of the spider world that they are, all legs, small body etc.
Oh my, nearly being stuck in a bathroom (and a not very posh one at that!) would scar me for life, too. Though, I confess I have been in some four-star hotel bathrooms, where I could have easily stayed the entire day.
Fabulous looking cookies! Must give the inception idea a go.
Sticking to the toilet theme … we had green tree frogs in the toilets at my first primary school and I was so scared that one would try to jump out while I was going that I would ‘hold on’ for the whole school day!
You and diet tips: hhmm
! But that gorgeous sexy photo is on the borderline of a very adult rating 
!! Wow and congratulations, ma’am!!! Grazia: not bad at all!! Love your Centennial Park story: since eels are kind’of soulfood for me since childhood, did have a wonderful laugh! That was before your ‘unagi’ days . . .
Go girl! The magazine feature was fabulous.
Mum was over protective in every way. 
The cookies are a lovely idea too – I think I’ll put Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups inside.
You poor thing, being trapped and then having nightmares about it! When I was in primary school my mum gave me a $20 note, to catch a bus if I missed the school bus. That was a lot of money for a kid at the time (the bus trip would have cost around 80 cents). So the kids used to joke that if I missed the school bus, I’d go out and buy a car!
Congrats on your Grazia write up
you look stunning!!! I am so in love with these cookies I cant even handle it! Pods are my must eat cinema snack
I need to make these to take to work, I bet they’ll disappear in no time! Btw, beautiful review on you!!
Congrats on the article, TRUE!
You look AMAZING too!
Watching PSYCHO for the first time S-C-A-R-E-D me on the day!
Whenever I see a shower curtain, I turn the other way! lol
This is similar in concept to the peanut-butter-cup-enclosing cupcakes I’ve seen with equal drool involved.
Also, obligatory Inception quote: We need to go deeper.
Ooh, I love the idea of a cookie within a cookie! Congratulations on your Grazia feature, you look great!
It’s times like this that I want to be your best friend and/or live-in lover. WOWWWW definitely making these. I’ve made ‘cookie within a cookie’ cookies before, but I CANNOT BELIEVE i didn’t think of ever using pods.. I’m an ADDICT.
Also? You look BANGIN’ HOT in that article. Friggin’ ridiculous. Purple = totally your colour. And not just cos you remind me of a giant bar of Cadbury chocolate.
I can’t wait to try these Lorraine. Any recipe containing cookie dough goes to the top of my ‘Must-try’ cooking list.
My childhood fear was waking up with a burgular/murder lurking around the house. Twenty years later and its still a fear, but only really comes out when hubby’s away. Haha I’m pathetic, I stay awake for hours thinking that every sound is someone trying to break into the house.
Crazy I know!
I was completely convinced there was a volcano in our front yard. I used to dream about it every night and it terrified me for years! that said, there’s nothing like a chocolate chip cookie to make things feel better, especially in the middle of the night.
You look rather like (but of course not QUITE like) the Domestic Goddess Herself in your Grazia photo!
V. Voluptuous!
Also… totally bringing the concept of the Inception cookie to my master baker friend with her at-home cinema and copy of Inception on Blu ray!
Ive seen a couple of these and they are a great surprise idea. I love yours with the pods inside!
Now I want to find some Pod cookies. You look so pretty in the picture in the article. xoxo Mum
i made a batch of these last year for my bf’s birthday. i had oreos, tim tams and peanut butter cups. awesome~
I admire your willpower, being able to eat only a portion of a meal (in the article). There’s no way I could eat just 2 (or 3 or 4?) of these cookies, they look scrumptious.
Congratulation Lorraine for your feature… You really amazingly stunning in the pic!!!
I too have to control myself to taste but not binge… God my jeans are now not in good terms with me…LOL
Absolutely yummy cookies
What ‘terrible’ cookies Lorraine, terrible because they must be terribly good and terribly addictive!
When I was little, I was always afraid of being left behind. My parents did have a habit of forgetting me and I would be left alone on the steps of church or something until they realised I wasn’t at home. No mobiles back then either. Surely my siblings noticed I wasn’t quished into the back seat with them? Anyway I had lots of nightmares for lots of years, so I know how you felt, poor thing
You like 21 in that picture, just gorgeous. I like the cookie idea too,but, I could eat maybe one and be done.
“POD” Is it a candy, or bar or caramel? Delicious!
I think you are ‘one smart cookie,’ cookie!
I had to skip the text today, because I still haven’t seen the movie. Mmmm, Leo. And mmm, cookies. Smoosh ‘em together with peanut butter, yes yes yes…
Congratulations on the magazine publication! You do look great!
Scared then and now? When I was little I was scared of tanks, military tanks. Now I am afraid of tornadoes, snakes,and spiders…
mmmm i love pods!!! these cookies sound delish!
YUM, these look delicious! Also, congrats on your feature in Grazia!
Lorraine, in my years of restaurant reviewing I used to eat half of each dish, sometimes the staff would be rude and ask why I ordered all 3 courses if I did not finish them.
I’m terrified of escalators, those moving stairs, the tops are just like teeth!.. and I used to be scared that there was a golliwog living in the drain in the bath and if I didn’t get out before the water was gone it would eat me!
Those cookies are just delectable. They would be lovely still warm with a hot chocolate or warm milk
My stash of Charlie’s Cookies arrived by courier, OMG deliciousness!! Thank you so much Lorraine, needless to say I quickly made an espresso for mum and I to taste test, purely in the interest of research of course, Lol. YUM
Your trapped story is the stuff of nightmares! Love the cookie inside a cookie idea too.
By the way, congrats on the Grazia shoot and the lovely photo!
A cookie within a cookie? Inception and conception?!
The Grazia shoot = GLAMOROUS !
Great idea for the cookies – they look very good.
My son managed to lock himself in a toilet in a restaurant in town when he was about 10. It took ages, 3 waiters and the removal of the lock to get him out!
Great post, those cookies look too good – my sister and I are totally addicted to pods, putting them inside a biscuit seems to ridiculously divine. Love the photo shoot too.
As for childhood fears, I was one of those annoying kids who was scared of just about everything, dogs, the dark, having my door closed at night, the fire drill alarm, the list was endless. I still remember vividly that gripping panicked feeling I used to get, but my strongest memory of a situation like this was the day we did ‘Stranger Danger” as school. I came out of the classroom (I would only have been about 6) and started walking home, we literally lived two doors down from the school, saw man in a car wearing a neck brace which looked unbelievably scary to me and started to scream hysterically at the top of my lungs. The poor bloke was just waiting for his son, I think he got an even bigger fright than I did.
cookie within a cookie. and cream within a cookie. interesting.
you chose my favourite pods.. snickers! YUM!
What a great concept for a cookie! Congrats on your magazine feature~very pretty!I really don’t remember what I was afraid of as a child, except for a recurring nightmare that I used to have.
What’s not to love about a cookie within a cookie? Definitely making these little ‘pods’ of deliciousness
Wow those school trip memories!!!
I feel scared for you! The cookies look great although I have no idea what a pod is, but I ma sure that they sell them here in NZ, the packet looks vaguely familiar!
Ciao
Alessanda
Hi Rosa-Thanks Rosa! They didn’t here either
Hi JennandSeth-Thanks guys! :S
Hi Kristy-Oh I can imagine that would be quite scary indeed! I was very scared of bees! Oh yes the ocean is another scary pace!
HI Christie-Hehe of course!
Hi Heidi-Oh you are too cute! xxx
Hi Janet-Thanks Janet, you are too kind!
Hi Charlie-Thank you! I know, they’re dangerous aren’t they?
Yes I remember the wet concrete floor-ewww! 
xxx
Hi Anna-You’re welcome Anna! I know how the world has changed in some aspects but not in others
Thank you!
Hi Maureen-I’m a bit of a fan of OTT at times
Oh yes that was terrifying wasn’t it! :O
Hi Nydia-Thank you! I thought it was a great idea when I saw it
Oh yuck! On your chest is awful! 
Hi Choc Chip Uru-hehe the possibilities are endless!
Hi Rebecca-hehe what a coincidence!
Oh yes you and Kristy! That is really interesting! 
Hi Claire-It was and I can’t believe it affected me for years afterwards. Ooh now that is an interesting analysis!
Hi Victoria-Thanks lovely! Oh yes hairy ones are frightening! :S
Hi SSG-Thanks SSG! xxx
Hi lydia-Oh you are too cute!!
Hi EJM-If I could send you one I would!
I’m sure you’re not the only one to think that! 
Hi Anna-hehe I wish I could send one
Hi Erin-Thank you!
Hi Bev-haha good idea!
Hi Matilda-Aww you are too kind! Good luck! the ruffle icing isn’t too hard I promise
Happy birthday to her!
Hi Daisy-Oh cool! I hope you like them-let us know what you think of them!
I liked the lights on too!
Hi Em-Hehe oh yes although it hasn’t happened to me since (thankfully!).
Hi Matilda-Wow an eagle! That’s an interesting one!
Hi Ellen-Oh yes I would totally freak out if a spider appeared while I was driving! Especially a huntsman or something!
LOL supermodel spiders-love it! 
Hi Carolyn-LOL that’s true!
HiCheezyK-Cool! I hope that you like them
Hehe I saw some in a bathroom and thought the same thing! 
Hi Eha-hehe not a great idea huh? Oh really? :O I didn’t think so! Yes definitely before my unagi days!
Hi Margaret-Thank you so much Margaret!
I like the Reese’s idea! Oh $20 would have definitely meant you were a kid millionaire 
Hi Nic-Thanks Nic! you are too sweet
I now, it’s hard to stop eating them 
Hi Yudith-Hehe you might be right there!
Oh thank you! 
Hi Joanne-Thanks Joanne!
Hehe we had a sleepover with Psycho when we were teenagers! 
Hi Lucas-Ooh great idea!
Haha thanks for the quote!
Hi Laura-thanks Laura for your kind words!
Hi Lizzi-LOL you are hilarious!
I know, Pod addiction is dangerous 
LOL now that is something I didn’t realise but resembling someone’s favourite chocolate bar is a great idea! 
Hi Steph-hehe cool! Let me know what you think of them!
That is a really big fear of mine! I can’t sleep if hubby is out too because I don’t like the sound of the door opening!
Hi Sarah-Oh wow, did you ever dig into the yard?
Hehe they are better late at night! 
Hi Lauren-hehe well voluptuous is probably not quite the look for the article!
Great idea!
Hi Tania-Thanks Tania! I think any favourite cookie works
Hi mum-Thanks so much mum! I can send you some!!
xxx
Hi milkteaxx-Ooh what a tasty range!
Hi OohLookBel-Thanks! I’m so short that I really need to
Thanks!
Hi Reem-Thank you Reem! You are so sweet!
Oh the jeans, they’re unforgiving aren’t they!
Hi Rebecca-LOL I know what you mean! Oh that’s terrible, you poor thing!
How could they forget you?
Hi angela-Aww shucks thank you!
one is very restrained! 
Hi Ingrid-Aww shucks Ingrid! I’m blushing, thank you!
Hi Hannah-Oh there is no spoiler. Mainly because I tried watching Inception on the plane twice and fell asleep and got myself so confused
Hi Marina-Thanks so much Marina!
What an interesting difference in lists! 
Hi kimberley-Thank you Kimberley!
Hi JasmyneTea-Thanks on both counts!
Hi Roz-Oh that’s rather rude of them to say that!
Hi Fiona-Oh yes totally agree they look like big metal teeth! Aww golliwog in the drain, now that sounds so cute-forgive me!
Hi Matilda-Oh yay! I’m so glad that they arrived and that you’ve already gone in for the taste test! “D
Hi Anna-hehe it was!
Thank you so much! 
Hi Doris-Aww you are sweet Doris!
Hi Amanda-Wow, that is quite a production! I hope he was ok!?
Hi Barbara-hehe I love them too but I have to have precautions around me, namely Mr NQN!
Oh you poor little poppet! You must have been scared to death! 
Hi Michelle-Thanks so much!
Hi tastyfoodsnaps-hehe cool! Snap!
Hi Sue-Thank you so much Sue! Oh you had the one repetitive nightmare!
HI thelittleloaf-Hehe cool! I’d love to know what you think of them!
Hi Alessandra-Thanks! Oh they’re a cookie snack-very addictive!
My worst fear is being locked in a toilet! Yummy biscuits
Congrats on being featured in Grazia! The cookies look delicious. We don’t have PODS here in the States. What’s a similar cookie you would recommend?
Thanks.
I do a similar style cookie but I make a peanut butter cookie (using crunchy peanut butter) and then fill with with a smooth peanut butter filling (smooth peanut butter and icing sugar combined) and then flatten the cookie and bake. I also turned out layered. Just for fun I ask people to guess how I make it, I eventually tell them.
great cookies – I remember reading a book about a girl going into another world in her dreams and I always loved that idea!
Congrats on the article, that’s so exciting!! Looking forward to your cookbook!
Very pretty photo!
Congratulations on the article, you are very photogenic! Great dress. Good tips for staying slim.
That cookie sound deliciously decadent!
We’ve been in New York so I’m just catching up.
These cookies are very cute and I’ve never tried to make one cookie inside of another. Novel.
Love the story about getting trapped in a stall – fortunately, I’ve never had that experience. However, I hated public restrooms as a child because I was forever scared that some evil person would accost me and carry me off (I have no idea why). To this day, I still don’t like public restrooms – they give me the creeps… Although I’m less terrified of being dragged away…
i do love a stuffed cookie!
what scared me? aliens.
what scares me? mice.
Delicious cookies!!! And you look gorgeous Lorraine! I wish I look like you and I wonder why I don’t look thin even though I’m not baking these delicious cookies.. =P
Yummm! And congrats on the photo shoot – you look fabulous!
Ooh yum! I always do this with nestle choc buttons and easter eggs – I’d never thought of other cookies/biscuits! nice one
I enjoyed reading all your posts… and on your travels. I’ve go so much catching up to do. Really makes me want to be back to OZ in a heartbeat. I love those snicker pods, and can’t believe you baked them in a cookie. I really would love some of these dunk in milk. Yummm!! hugs, Jo
Oh gosh.. not sure if I clicked on post comment, apologise for the double comments. I have so much catching up to do, and reading on your posts have made me eager to be back in OZ in a heart beat. This cookie is simply genius Lorraine!! Love snicker pods and them in a cookie is just double-licious. I gotta make these this weekend, so I can dunk them in a glass of cold milk. Yummm!!
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