Best and Worst Store-Bought Chocolate Chip Cookies

When it comes to cookies, nothing beats the classic chocolate chip. (Although my heart will always belong to Pirate Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies.) And while they may seem simple, chocolate chip cookies are complicated. They require depth of flavour, the perfect crisp/chewy texture, and the right ratio of cookie to chips. While homemade is usually best (especially when they’re warm out of the oven), can you find a good store-bought version?

I sampled 12 brands, from vegan to traditional, and included contenders from Italy, Pakistan, and my current city, Toronto. I avoided any “soft-baked” varieties. (I’ve already ingested too much edible plastic in my life.) Prices ranged from 99 cents to $8.99.

So what cookie was champ? And which cookie crumbled? Here are my rankings, worst to best.

12) Breaktime, $1.79

Made by Dare, the packaging reminded me of the old-school boxed cookies I grew up eating. But when I saw “great for dunking” on the box, it was a red flag. If they’re telling you to dunk them, that can only mean the cookies are dry. And there’s nothing worse than a dry cookie.

Tasting notes: There was nary a chocolate chip in sight! And, much to my suspicion, these cookies were very, very hard. For Dare, a well-known cookie brand, I was disappointed. These were like the chocolate chip cookies you get on a plane that you eat only because you’re trapped in the air.

Verdict: I wouldn’t dare eat these again.

11) New Moon Kitchen $6.99

I picked up these vegan cookies at Farm Boy. The package proclaims, “Best in the Whole Wide World.” That’s a tall order in the world of chocolate chip cookies. These were organic and made with spelt flour. They were also made in Toronto.

Tasting notes: I wanted to like these more, but they tasted a bit stale. They didn’t have that crispiness I craved. That said, the oats were a nice addition and, if you’re a spelt person, it’s viable option.

Verdict: This moon wasn’t full.

10) Mulino Bianco Cuoricini, $5.59

I bought these at Eataly and had to ask my Italian husband how to pronounce the name. “Quar-a-cheenie” means little hearts. In my experience, Italians aren’t big on chocolate chip cookies. They prefer to eat biscotti and drink espresso while standing up in cafes and talking with their hands. Would these cookies leave me broken-hearted?

Tasting notes: The first heart-shaped cookie I took out was broken which seemed a bad omen. Overall, these cookies were okay, but I didn’t get the distinctiveness of the chocolate chips. It was like everything was too blended together.

Verdict: Non ti amo.

9) Chocolicious, $0.99

I’ve never understood why some companies insist on mashing words that don’t belong together. Case in point: Chocolicious. What does that even mean? These cookies were made in Pakistan and were darker, I’m assuming because of added cocoa.

Tasting notes: These cookies had a pronounced sandy texture. And they tasted suspiciously like Coco Puffs cereal. This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but I wasn’t cuckoo for them.

Verdict: Okayalicious

8)  Good Day Chunkies. $1.29

“Good Day Chunkies” sounds like the name of a bad ‘90s movie centering around an overweight adolescent who is sent away to diet camp but learns to love himself by forming a bond with a tough-talking lesbian camp counsellor named Bev. (I realize I took that a little further than was needed.)

Tasting notes: Similar to Chocolicious, I wasn’t a fan of the granular texture. And the cookies had that shortening aftertaste that coated my tongue. Good Day Chunkies were okay, but no two thumbs up.

Verdict: I’ll wait for the sequel.

7) Chips Ahoy!, $3.79

This brand usually comes to mind when I think of chocolate chip cookies. As the name suggests, they’re best eaten while you’re at sea, but you can eat them on land, as well.

Tasting notes: The cookies had noticeably more chocolate chips than most of the other brands. But when it came to flavour, this cookie sank. The overall note was sweet. There was also a bit of a chemical aftertaste. As my mother would say, “Looks aren’t everything, Brian. Especially in your case.”

Verdict: Toss it overboard.

6)  Go Go Quinoa, $3.49

These plant-based, non-GMO cookies were individually packaged. I have mixed feelings about quinoa in a chocolate chip cookie. Especially when the quinoa is taking up space that could go to more chocolate chips.

Tasting notes: The quinoa added a nutty flavour but I found the cookies dry with a cardboard aftertaste. That said, I’d sooner have a cardboard aftertaste and know I was eating something (relatively) healthy than something that tasted great but was manufactured by cookie scientists.

Verdict: Not exactly a go-go, but not a stop-stop either.

5) Allergy Smart, $5.99

As a child of the ‘70s, I can tell you that the only things kids were allergic to back then were homework, Brussel sprouts and shag carpeting. The list of what these cookies were free from was longer than the list of ingredients. Even mustard!

Tasting notes: The texture seemed a bit off, but not bad. Oats were the first ingredient and that flavour came through. Overall, these cookies had a nice, brown-sugary undertone. I’d buy them again and feel reassured they don’t contain any Brussel sprouts.

Verdict: One smart cookie.

4) Betty Crocker Mix, $3.99 plus butter and egg

Every school bake sale had a mom who said it was “homemade,” but it really came from a mix. My mom was that mom. I remember watching her squirm when someone asked for the recipe. I included these as my “homemade” recipe. But once you add the butter and egg, are you saving yourself that much time and effort?

Tasting notes: These looked the most homemade. I guess that’s because they were. Kind of. They were a nice mix of chewy and soft. But they were a little on the sweet side and I didn’t get a lot of flavour. Still, nothing beats a warm cookie.

Verdict: My mom would be proud.

3) Celebration, $2.99

If you’ve never had a Celebration Milk Chocolate Butter Cookie, please stop reading this immediately and go buy a box. They’re dangerously delicious. So, I had to wonder if the chocolate chip version would be worth celebrating.

Tasting notes: These cookies had their undersides coated in chocolate (a long-standing fantasy of mine but that’s for another taste test). I was certain this was going to give them a competitive edge. The cookies were on the small side, and too uniform, but that chocolate underbelly did everything it needed to do.

Verdict: Bottoms up!

2) Tate’s Bake Shop $8.99

The iconic green packaging sends a message that these are gourmet cookies (as if the price didn’t already say that). Tate’s Bake Shop is based out of the States and is known for their thin, crisp variety rather than a chunky cookie. Would thin be in?

Tasting notes: These kicked butt! The chocolate chip flavour shone through and there was a lingering, caramelly aftertaste. Crispy, buttery, heavenly.

Verdict: No hate for the Tate.

 1)  President’s Choice The Decadent, $3.49

If the PC brand got two things right, it was White Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese and The Decadent chocolate chip cookie. Since its introduction in 1988, The Decadent has been giving Chip’s Ahoy! (and every other brand) a run for its money.

Tasting notes: The strong chocolate flavour of the chips immediately came through. They’re the real star of the show. There was a slight coconut undertone, but I didn’t know if that helped or distracted from my overall enjoyment. But this was one cookie packed with flavour, chocolate chips, and swagger.

Verdict: Fit for a president.

While my winner may not be as shocking as my Jarred Salsa Taste Test winner, I still think it’s good to revisit the classics to make sure they’re still deserving of their reputation. In this case, The Decadent held its own. Chips Ahoy, not so much.

Did I miss your favourite brand of chocolate chip cookie? Sharing is caring so leave a comment.