Most customers don’t know they’re eating a healthier dessert when they bite into one of MidnighTreats’ delectable cookies, but the newly opened College Park, MD, destination offers plant-based treats crafted with a nutritional mindset.
MidnighTreats sells both “Monster” cookies that are each one-third of a pound, as well as single-serving “Munchies” that are more regular-sized cookies. Each one uses only vegan-friendly ingredients, with less sugar than competitors. Not that you could ever tell from the tasty innovative flavors, like Kitchen Sink (vegan chocolate candies, pretzels, caramel and potato chips); Super Snickerdoodle (cookie butter and Biscoff cookie); and Cookies n’ Cream (Oreo bits and white chocolate chips).
The College Park location is the second MidnighTreats franchise for owner Jordan Rutland, who co-owns the Alexandria, VA, location with Tracey Mack.
“I’ve always had a love for baking,” says Rutland, who opened College Park’s MidnighTreats in February 2025 and took over ownership of the Alexandria store last year. “After working at MidnighTreats for a summer, getting to know the owners, and experiencing how good vegan desserts can taste, I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to be a franchisee.”
Rutland was the brand’s first franchisee, taking helm of the locations whose origins stem from founder Johnny Nguyen, who started what became MidnighTreats as a cookie company out of his mom’s Vienna, Virginia, kitchen. In addition to four physical locations in the DMV (also in Arlington and Reston, VA), MidnighTreats ships cookies nationwide every week.
The typical menu features six Monster size flavors, with at least two rotating flavors that stay on the menu for 2 weeks at a time. Every week, there’s something different to try.
Late-Night Cookies & Oat Milk Delights
At College Park, in addition to the cookies, coffee, oat milks and oat milk teas that visitors to both the Alexandria and College Park locations can enjoy, diners can try oat milk gelato in items like cookie Monster sundaes and Munchie cookie sandwiches.
As the first franchise owner who took the leap from cookie dealer to franchisee, Rutland says the journey to business owner has been incredibly rewarding. College Park’s location close to the University of Maryland campus sees hungry students getting their sweet treat fix through midnight every night, and open until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
“The customer response to a Maryland location has definitely been the most rewarding part about opening College Park,” Rutland says. “MidnighTreats started out as a business that was open very late at night. What’s a better location for a cookie shop to have late night hours than near a college campus?”
To learn more about MidnighTreats or order cookies, visit MidnighTreats.com.
