The increasing demand for greater utilization of byproducts in the food industry has been driven by growing interest in environmental sustainability. This paper examines the market potential and consumer attitudes toward whole-grain and sustainable cookies made with food byproducts and edible films. Additionally, particular attention was given to evaluating levels of sustainability knowledge and nutritional awareness, willingness to purchase environmentally friendly cookies with food byproducts, and to appraise differences in answers between countries and generations. An online questionnaire was used to collect data from Croatian (n = 472), French (n = 166), and North Macedonian consumers (n = 119) aged between 18 and 62, predominantly women (82%) with higher education degrees. Results showed that even if chocolate-coated cookies remain very popular, North Macedonians prefer whole-grain and plain cookies, while the French prefer chocolate-coated cookies and Croats prefer both types of cookie. The majority of consumers (96%) were interested in purchasing environmentally friendly cookies. However, consumers’ interest in purchasing cookies with food byproducts was generally low, which may be related to their limited knowledge of byproducts. In conclusion, there is market potential for whole-grain cookies with food byproducts, but brand, price, and consumer education may be critical to their success.

Cookie consumption can change the serum level of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and oxLDL receptors, both playing important roles in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. This study investigated the nutritional value and the antioxidant activity of whole grain cookies in which 24% of the cocoa powder was substituted with grape and aronia pomace and were further coated with edible films enriched with grape seed extract (GAP with KGAE) as well as the effects of their consumption on the serum level of oxLDL receptors in women. The proximate composition, mineral content, antioxidant activity, and starch digestibility in vitro of experimental and control cookies were determined. A group of 12–13 healthy women (median age 36) consumed 45 g of GAP with KGAE or commercial cookies for 10 days. The results showed that GAP and KGAE cookies had increased flavonoid content (22%) and antioxidant potential (27–73%) compared to the control. The content of slowly digestible starch prevailed over rapidly digestible starch. The serum concentrations of the oxLDL receptors between the test and control groups were similar. We can conclude that the moderate consumption of whole grain cookies with fruit by-products does not lead to the formation of oxLDL receptors in healthy women.