Several weeks ago, I received an email from Tanya of Mr. Youth, a dynamic advertising and marketing firm based in NYC, which has been promoting the U.S. release of Tim Tam cookies. Tanya wanted to know if I would be interested in sampling some Tim Tams and graciously offered to send me a package. Hmm, let’s see. Chocolate wafer cookies filled with velvety chocolate cream and drenched in milk chocolate…..
HELL YEAH, I WANTED TO TRY THEM!!!
So, of course, I just-as-graciously accepted.
When I returned from my cruise, there they were, neatly packaged and waiting in my office. My Tim Tams! Woo hoo!
Though my heart was pounding and my palms were sweating, I forced myself to play it cool. I didn’t want any of my nosy staff to get wise to the fact that on my desk sat a box of the most tantalizing, mouthwatering and delectable cookies on the face of the planet. If they found out, who knows what they might do! They might riot…..or protest…..or…..insist that I share. Ain’t no way THAT was happening!
Tim Tams are the number one chocolate biscuit in Australia. They are produced by the Australian company, Arnott’s, who have been delighting customers with the cookies for over forty years. In fact, these iconic little chocolate gems are so incredibly popular that over 400 million of them are consumed by Australians each year! Last year, a joint poll by The Times in the United Kingdom and news.com.au in Australia ranked Tim Tam as one of the best inventions since sliced bread. Tim Tams came in at number four behind some pretty stiff competition: The World Wide Web, penicillin and the TV remote! Need I say more?
Most Americans have only been able to wistfully dream about this decadent and delicious treat - until now. Pepperidge Farm is offering Tim Tam cookies in two varieties: Chocolate Creme and Caramel. They made their U.S. debut in November and will be available through March 2009 at Target stores across the country. Both Pepperidge Farm and Arnott’s are subsidiaries of the Campbell Soup Company.
Anyway, I successfully smuggled my Tim Tams out of my office and into my car. As I tried to race home with them, I was thwarted by lots of traffic and multiple school zones. Unacceptable! I’m not proud of it, but I must confess, I ripped open that package of cookies right there in the car. I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t wait! Stopped at a red light on US 41, I took my first bite and immediately soared up into cookie nirvana. By the time I got home, half of the package was gone.
The next day, I made it my business to get down to Target and buy 10 more boxes. Tim Tams are Aus-some, I tell you! Just plain Aus-some!
For those of you who are a little more disciplined than I am and can actually keep from eating all your Tim Tams in one sitting, here are some fun recipes that I found in my web travels:
Tim Tam Truffles from The Journal of a Girl Who Loves to Cook
Tim Tam Slam from Use Real Butter
Bailey’s Tim Tam Cheesecake from Quinn’s Baking with Love & Passion
Tim Tam Chewy Caramel Explosion from Arnott’s
As for me, I think they would be fabulous crumbled over over some good, old-fashioned vanilla ice cream!
So, to all of my American friends, get thee to Target and get yourself some Tim Tams while you still can!
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Filed Under: Cool Products, Fun Stuff, Product Reviews
Happy Mother’s Day
On January 09, 2009 at 8:57am, Meghan said...
Oh shoot! I developed a bit of a tim tam habit while working in Australia last summer. This might not be good news for my attempt at reducing my sweets intake!
On January 09, 2009 at 9:07am, StephanieSells said...
You are an evil temptress…..my diet/healthy eating lifestyle may not survive my addiction to food blogs! Funny thing MY Target is on US 41 too….of course it is the other end from you! ( In the Upper Peninsula of MI 2 hours away from where US 41 Starts.)
On January 09, 2009 at 9:17am, City Girl said...
I love Tim Tams — no luck at my Target, but will keep looking
Happy Friday!
On January 09, 2009 at 9:18am, The Short (dis)Order Cook said...
Target is a little inconvenient for me. Oh well. I’m trying to lose a little weight.
I keep reading that as Tam Tam and wondered what was so special abotu crackers! 😉
On January 09, 2009 at 9:52am, Obsessive Foodie or Food Addict....You Decide said...
Never never never share cookies, I repeat, never never never. You always put the pepperidge farm cookies way up on the highest shelf in the pantry behind a big box of shredded wheat you know that no one will ever move.
On January 09, 2009 at 9:59am, Manggy said...
Hmm, if you want to plan any holidays around Tim Tam availability, we have them in the Philippines 😉
On February 26, 2015 at 10:55am, clAiRoL said...
Hi Manggy, I just want to know where can I buy Tim Tam in the Philippines.. Thank you.
On January 09, 2009 at 11:27am, The Food Hunter said...
Tim Tams look and sound delicious. I’m heading to Target straight from work tonight to get me some. Thanks for letting us all know.
On January 09, 2009 at 11:50am, Patsyk said...
I’m impressed you were able to wait as long as you did! I would have ripped open the box at my office!
On January 09, 2009 at 12:30pm, Snooky doodle said...
Ha these must be really awesome to make you devour half of them in the car
On January 09, 2009 at 12:50pm, Karen said...
The nearest Target is 2 hours way. Maybe that’s a good thing 😉
Love your new header!
On January 09, 2009 at 1:23pm, squawmama said...
Hi Susan…. I have missing in action for the last 2 weeks but I am back and what a day to pick… WOW I can hardly sit here typing I want to running to Target to get those yummy cookies… I will be trying them as soon as I can… A funny thing is we were driving down US 41 yesterday in Florida… Sometimes I forget the roads run through the entire country… Thanks for the great post… Have a fun day.
(((HUGS)))
Donna
On January 09, 2009 at 1:23pm, Bellini Valli said...
No Target this side of the border that I am aware of. Hopefully they will make it to Canada..send the representative my way…wink..wink…
On January 09, 2009 at 1:41pm, Cooking Confections said...
Only a short note as I am on my way to Target to get MY Tim Tams. Thanks for this post.
On January 09, 2009 at 3:45pm, Lori Lynn said...
You definitely convinced me. A new Target store just recently opened in my town. YAY!
On January 09, 2009 at 4:28pm, Farmer Jen said...
Yum. A trip to Target could be in my near future.
On January 09, 2009 at 5:23pm, Belinda said...
Hi Susan! You know, I have heard the word “Tim-Tams” on occasion while blog reading, and everyone always raves about them, and some lucky souls brag about their Aussie friends sending boxes their way. But…good grief, am I out of the loop, or what?! I had NO idea that Pepperidge Farms was now offering these elusive little gems here in the U.S.! Target, here I come! lol And that lead in photo of them is just way too tempting I tell ya!
On January 09, 2009 at 7:04pm, CookiePie said...
Just what I need, another yummy chocolate treat to try!
On January 09, 2009 at 9:12pm, noble pig said...
Thank gawd I am going to Target tomorrow! Sheesh, I almost feel like I should go now!
On January 09, 2009 at 9:46pm, danya said...
Very important- as good as tim tams are, you are missing out until you at a tim tam like this: bite of a tiny corner of the tim tam. then bit off a tiny bit of the corner diagonally across from the other bite. put one bitten point in your mouth and the other in a mug of any hot drink of your choice (my favorite is english breakfast tea, but hot chocolate, coffee, and warm milk all work fantastically) and suck on the tim tam so it becomes a straw. you will only get in a few seconds of chocolaty liquid before the tim tam starts to melt from the inside out. then, before it falls apart into your drink, you take a big bite and savor the melty chocolate and softened cookie. so much better than an oreo in milk
On January 10, 2009 at 12:17am, Mary said...
Great. So you’re saying you get them sent to you free and I have to drive to the next county to get to the only Target between Toledo and Cleveland and hope that they have it. Sheesh. Oh, and I have to wait until the snowstorm subsides. I’m seething with jealousy!
On January 10, 2009 at 8:29am, Simply...Gluten-free said...
Sadly I have never tasted a Tim Tam. I have make Australian ex-pat friends who will be very happy with this news!
On January 10, 2009 at 5:19pm, Cakelaw said...
LOL - Tim Tams are amazing and there is no substitute. UK Penguins look like them, but sure don’t taste like them. The originals are still the best IMHO, despite there being numeorus different flavours of them now. I shut my eyes in the chocolate biscuit aisle at the supermarket so that I am wilfully blind to their existence, otherwise I might go to the checkout with a trolley-load of them.
On January 10, 2009 at 7:35pm, Half Baked said...
Wow they look and sound marvolous! I’ll be looking for them at my target!
On January 11, 2009 at 7:12am, Gretchen Noelle said...
I have so longed to try these! You make them sound so good.
On January 11, 2009 at 9:32am, pigpigscorner said...
I love tim tams but trying to stay away. Can’t stop eating them if I see some on sight!
On January 11, 2009 at 2:10pm, Darius T. Williams said...
Well, if the box says it’s made by pepperidge farm - then you know it’s gotta be good, right? LOL
On January 11, 2009 at 6:56pm, MaryBeth said...
I have seen these at our local store, they looked really good but I have not indulged as of yet. But it sure looks like I really need to.
On January 11, 2009 at 9:46pm, Proud Italian Cook said...
Your description is so tempting!!
There’s a Target a mile from my house. “Self contol Marie, self control”!!!
On January 11, 2009 at 11:27pm, Carly said...
I am absolutely in love with tim tams! Especially tim tam slams! I went to Target to get some and much to my dismay they didn’t have them! I hope they will carry them soon!
On January 12, 2009 at 2:19am, Passionate About Baking said...
Ooooh Tim Tams. Always on my list when the hub goes to HKG. Absolutely delicious cookies, & I love the coffee flavoured ones the most. When I worked with British Airways, there was a First Officer who always made it a point to carry a box of Tim Tams & Hob Nobs for me whenever he returned from our flight from Hkg to Delhi…the good man! I've left working,but the taste remains! Lucky you Susan!!
On January 12, 2009 at 3:02am, joanne at frutto della passione said...
I’ll have to check out my favourite expat online grocery store to see if they have them! I’ve heard of these (they’re like an urban legend in the expat community) and have been slightly curious about them, now I’m really curious.
On January 12, 2009 at 2:34pm, Margaux said...
Hi! Long time reader, first time commenting!
Mmm, Tim Tams. My dad used to have to make trips to Australia a couple of times a year and if we were lucky, he’d bring back some Tim Tams. Personally, I think you did it right, eating them all by themselves to delight in their perfection!
On January 12, 2009 at 3:16pm, Alejandra said...
These sound awesome! I’ve been hearing about this biscuits all over the place lately. I’m going to have to try and find a place nearby that sells them. Or maybe Tanya will send me some!! Please? 😉
On January 13, 2009 at 12:11pm, pxilated said...
I went to Target immediately after seeing your post about how Tim Tams are being sold there. They were kind of pricey, but I bought a package anyway and I am in love. I might have to bite the bullet and buy a few more packages before they stop carrying them. Thanks for the heads up.
On January 13, 2009 at 4:15pm, JPD said...
Go to the website…there’s a $1 off coupon you can use at Target if the price is a barrier…SO WORTH IT…the site is http://www.ilovetimtamcookies.com
On January 14, 2009 at 12:00am, Jamie said...
I grew up on Pepperidge Farm cookies. The Pepperidge Farm man (in those years these were only delivered to your door, not sold in stores) was a close friend of my parents. But never heard of Tim Tams! They look so good! Are they only available in certain countries or am I just out of the loop since I left the US?
On January 16, 2009 at 3:02am, Bria said...
I heard that the US finally got Tim Tams! I guess we take them for granted? They look strange though as you guys have different packaging.
On January 16, 2009 at 7:55am, Jude said...
Looks amazing.. Never heard of this before but now I definitely want to try it…
On January 17, 2009 at 4:00am, lucy70 said...
Tim tams are about 100calories each, so in a packet of approx 12…
On January 18, 2009 at 4:54pm, J.Danger said...
I want to try some Tim Tams!
On January 23, 2009 at 4:09am, Lisa said...
Tim Tams are delicious, we call them “Penguin bars” and they are exactly the same thing.
Something we do over here with the Penguin/Tim Tam is to make a scalding hot cup of milky tea, bite a corner off opposing ends of the tim tam, put one end into the tea and use it like a straw to suck tea through… when the tea hits your mouth, quickly turn the bar over and pop the whole lot into your mouth - the result is a culinary sensation so perfect it remains unmatched in my books!!! try it - you’ll see!
On January 27, 2009 at 3:46pm, SaintTigerlily said...
Danya has it right! That is the only way to eat them. HEAVEN.
On October 28, 2009 at 9:07am, Quinn said...
Thanks for linking my Tim Tam Cheesecake in this post.
There are endless way to serve Tim Tam and I’m so glad right here Down Under, we have more than 8 varieties of Tim Tam to choose from off the shelves!
On January 15, 2010 at 6:29pm, Sara said...
Bellini Valli: They are available in Canada but under the original Arnotts name, imported from Australia. I’m in Ontario and I have found them in Zehrs and Sobeys in Southern Ontario and IGA, Loblows in Ottawa/Gatineau. I was also out west and they are readily available in a variety of grocery stores. At least in my view, I saw them very often in BC - may be because of the large expat communities of Australians in BC.
On April 27, 2014 at 6:11pm, Spencer @ Moo-Lolly-Bar said...
You can’t beat a good Tim Tam. No morning tea is complete without it!
On October 16, 2015 at 3:09am, eric buenaventura said...
I really love this one I’ve tried it once and now every morning before going to office.. I always order this at https://www.goods.ph/ I never stop eating eat when I have a box of it