History of the “Good Karma Cookies”

Good Karma Cookies are big and tasty, individually wrapped in cellophane, not plastic, to retain freshness. Each cookie is around three inches across, weighing more than an ounce. Our cookies are artisanal, a fancy word for made by hand in small batches not by machines. We use the same family recipes for every batch. We try to keep the cookies as consistent as possible, but as with all hand crafted products, there maybe slight variations. The quality will always be excellent, even if the shape is not quite round.

For many years, even before Jon was born, it has been a family tradition to bake cookies to share with teachers, friends and family each holiday season. As practicing Vaisnava’s or “Hare Krishnas” part of our spiritual tradition is sharing sanctified food that has been prepared in an atmosphere of loving devotion and offered to Krishna. These offerings are then considered blessed and shared with family and friends as Krishna’s mercy or prashad.

We especially enjoyed this time of  year, everyone engaged in making the dozens of cookies and then distributing them to the neighborhood. In the beginning it was a way to let the children feel like they were really involved in giving and sharing in the holiday spirit. Over the years it became a much anticipated family activity. Of course we enjoyed the home baked treats as well, but it was easy to see that Jonathan liked giving them away as much or more than he relished eating them himself. From a young age he delighted in taking bags of cookies to school for his friends and teachers and around the neighborhood. “These cookies make people feel special, everyone is happy when they get cookies, they have to smile”, he used to say with a sparkle in his eye.

To remember the spirit of those lively and happy times I started to bake cookies as way to feel closer to Jon and as an offering of loving gratitude to those who had donated to the scholarship fund. The tradition has continued since then. Jon’s Cookie Jar has become a familiar sight in the break-room of the Key West Post Office and in various establishments around town who have generously supported our efforts to build the scholarship fund by hosting the Cookie Jar.