Have you ever bitten into the dense, chewy treat known as a “Guerrilla Cookie?” Created in Madison and named after the protest movement of the 1960s, the cookie was an iconic symbol of the city’s counterculture. Once thought gone forever, the Guerrilla Cookie has returned to fuel another cause near and dear to Madison’s heart.
Just What Is a Guerrilla Cookie?
Ted Odell invented the Guerrilla Cookie in the 1960s and began selling it at the Memorial Union, Mifflin Street Co-op, and other Madison spots. He named them “Guerrilla Cookies” in honor of the anti-war protest movement, and the marchers embraced (and ate) the cookies as a symbol of their cause.
Chew Slowly!
The Guerrilla Cookie is described as a dense, moist wholemeal cookie, with a shiny sheen on the top and a darker tone on the bottom. In fact, the cookie was so dense that the label advised eaters to “chew slowly.”
The Cookie Crumbles
Odell retired in the early ‘90s and kept his cookie recipe a secret, refusing to share it with others. Others tried to recreate the recipe from memory, but nobody could get the mix of chewy ingredients just right.
Ted Odell mixes up the dough for his Guerrilla Cookies. (Southern Wisconsin Land Conservancy)
Cookies for a Cause
Besides cookies, Odell was also passionate about land conservation, founding the Southern Wisconsin Land Conservancy with other conservationists in 2018 to protect land, including what’s now known as the Three River Reserve, and support education programs.
The ‘OG’ Guerrilla Cookie
Odell died in 2021, and donated the recipe (along with some land) to the land conservancy to bring back Guerrilla Cookies as a fundraiser. The SWLC is now accepting pre-orders for the "OG Guerrilla Cookies," which start at $15 for three cookies.
So get a taste of Madison history and support a good cause. Just remember to chew slowly.
