Grocery Store Chocolate Chip Cookies Ranked Worst To Best
There are certain foods that are just better together. Chips and salsa? The perfect snack. Peanut butter and jelly? The ideal quick lunch combo. And chocolate chip cookies with a big glass of milk is definitely at the top of that list as well. But you can't have a great experience with chocolate chip cookies and milk without utilizing a good cookie. That part of the equation definitely matters. And let's face it, there are some chocolate chip cookies that are just better than others.
The perfect chocolate chip cookie comes in so many forms for different people. Whether you love that classic soft and chewy chocolate chip cookie or you're obsessed with having a little crunch to your cookie, there are so many options to choose from. With buttery flavors and textures and plenty of chocolate chips, grocery store chocolate chip cookie options can seem overwhelming. But we're here to help.
With a gallon of milk in hand, we decided to do the heavy lifting and sample some of the most popular grocery store chocolate chip cookie options. And luckily for you, we ranked them worst to best. Grab your glass of milk and get ready to dive in.
22. Kroger Simple Truth Thin & Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies
How does the idea of biting into something that tastes like chemicals sound to you? Not great? You're right. But unfortunately, that's what you get with these chocolate chip cookies.
A cookie's a cookie, and all cookies are delicious, right? Normally we wouldn't be so cruel, but truly, we're not sure why anyone would want to eat these.
The thin and crispy cookie concept certainly sounds appealing. And as a thin cookie with a crispy exterior, it pulls it off well. Truly, the texture is pretty great. But what it makes up for in texture, these cookies certainly lack in flavor. One bite into these cookies tastes like nothing but fake ingredients. We're not quite sure where the recipe went wrong here, but do yourself a favor and skip this option if you're looking for a cookie with anything remotely close to a homemade taste.
21. Pepperidge Farm Thin & Crispy Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pepperidge Farm, known for its variety of breads, crackers, and cookies, started baking in 1937. And while there are plenty of delicious products coming out of the Pepperidge Farm production facilities (we're looking at you, Milano cookies and Goldfish), the Farmhouse Thin & Crispy Cookies with Dark Chocolate Chips aren't exactly at the top of the list.
The chewing experience of this chocolate chip cookie is awful. Sure, they've got the thin and crispy style going for them. But something is just off here. First, the cookie is actually see-through with little holes if you hold it up to the light. And as you take a bite, munching on this cookie feels gritty, without a pleasant, even texture.
The flavor, however, is delicious. These cookies offer a lovely, buttery experience with bold bites of dark chocolate chips mixed in and the perfect ratio of chips to cookie. But the flavor certainly isn't enough to make up for the texture of this cookie.
20. Grandma's Chocolate Chip Cookie
The Grandma's Cookies brand is one that a lot of people have a love/hate relationship with. The brand launched in Portland, Oregon in 1914, so it's definitely been around the block a time or two when it comes to making cookies. Snack giant Frito-Lay Inc. ended up buying the brand in 1980, expanding the distribution of Grandma's Cookies extensively by 1983.
With Frito-Lay Inc. having so many products in vending machines and at the grocery store checkout line, it's not surprising to find a variety of Grandma's Cookies on display when you need a snack. But if the only option for flavors is Grandma's Chocolate Chip, we suggest you skip it.
These big, soft cookies come two to a pack. And while the texture is pretty good, the color and flavor of these cookies are a little alarming. There's a bit of an unnatural look to them, with an orangey hue, and that's all due to the caramel color added in. We're not quite sure why a chocolate chip cookie would need to have color added to it, but between that and the ten grams of fat in the package, it's just not worth it.
19. Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookies
Many kids through the years have felt like Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookies were the best snack in the entire world. And probably, at that time, they really were. Often handed out at classroom parties or even after soccer practice, these individually packaged treats have been a staple since they came on the market in 1975. But let's face it, we didn't know any better but to think they were incredible. But we've learned our lesson.
These little bite-sized cookies are most often found in individually packaged servings, with a handful of cookies in each. They also come in boxes, offering a few more cookies to munch. But do you really want more?
Certainly, these little cookies will do in a pinch, but overall, they're pretty dull. They're dry, crumbly, and don't offer much. The flavor is decent, with a few chocolate chips in each mini cookie, but overall, they could do better.
18. Kroger ChipMates Chocolate Chip Cookies
Have you ever bitten into a chocolate chip cookie, and it just seemed to be too much of a task? Are the calories even worth it if you have to work for it? That's what it feels like biting into these Kroger ChipMates Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Taking a bite into one of these chocolate chip cookies presents such a crisp bite. If you prefer softer cookies, these definitely aren't for you. Strangely, it actually takes a lot of effort to eat them. And once you take that bite, even the chocolate chips seem to be too tough to chew. The texture is certainly too hard to be enjoyed on their own, so a cold glass of milk is definitely a must with these cookies.
The flavor is decent, but the ratio of chocolate chips to cookie is kind of off-putting, with, dare we say it, too many chips in each bite.
17. Keebler Chips Deluxe Original Chocolate Chip Cookies
Every time we think of Keebler cookies, it's hard not to think of the cute little elves that represent these cookies. Surely they work hard to put together a great cookie, right? Well, we think the elves could do a little better when it comes to the Keebler Chips Deluxe cookies.
Keebler is definitely well-known for its fudge stripe cookies, along with its Girl Scout cookie copycats like Coconut Dreams and Grasshoppers. Producing a chocolate chip cookie almost seems like an afterthought, and it comes through in the product.
These cookies are thick and crunchy, and frankly, a bit dry. Certainly, the addition of plenty of chocolate chips always makes a cookie better, but these still fall a bit short. Perhaps it's from the artificial flavoring that's added to the semisweet chocolate being used? Overall, it's a mediocre cookie, and a glass of milk is a must when enjoying these cookies.
16. Chips Ahoy! Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
At the point, we may always take our chewy store-bought chocolate chip cookies for granted. It seems like they've been gracing grocery store shelves forever, but they've actually only been around since the 1980s. And when chewy cookies came on the market, it was a bit of a war.
The chewy cookie was revolutionary, and it made a huge splash. Multiple brands were vying for the soft cookie crown, and Chips Ahoy's version was certainly one of those that was front and center. The cookie debuted in 1983 and has held strong ever since.
That original recipe that brought Chips Ahoy! Chewy to fame is certainly decent. But that's about as far as the praise goes. The texture is perfectly soft, and we love everything about that, but the flavor is slightly artificial. We get it, they're from a factory, but perhaps they go a little too far with the questionable ingredients label.
15. Chips Ahoy Thins Chocolate Chip Cookies
The second half of the 2010s was all about thin chocolate chip cookies. Perhaps it's a way to offer a cookie that seems healthier to those who want to indulge, or maybe it's at attempt to match up to the popularity of Tate's Bake Shop thin cookies. Chips Ahoy! launched its version in the summer of 2016, and it has fared well ever since, with multiple flavors of thin cookies debuting over time.
The original line-up of thins, of course, started with the original Chips Ahoy! cookies with a chocolate chip flavor. And we're sure glad it did. The package is jampacked with small little cookies. And these little cookies have such a great thin, crispy texture. The flavor of these cookies does seem a bit artificial, and perhaps that's due to the actual inclusion of artificial and natural flavor in the ingredients, but it isn't overwhelming. For a thin and crispy cookie from the grocery store shelves, it's definitely a solid choice.
14. Lenny & Larry's The Complete Cookie
Lenny & Larry's Complete Cookie packs a whole lot of nutritional punch into one chocolate chip cookie. It's got 16 grams of plant-based proteins and ten grams of fiber. It's made with non-GMO ingredients, and it's soy-free, egg-free, completely vegan, and kosher-friendly. These cookies come in many flavors, but the chocolate chip is a crowd favorite, and we had to give it a try.
Lenny & Larry's nails it when it comes to texture. At first bite, these cookies have a nice firm and chewy texture, and they don't skimp on the chocolate morsels. We have to point out, though, that these are not your average chocolate chip snack cookie. There's a denseness to this cookie that's reflected in its serving size and nutritional content: 210 calories per half cookie.
Which means you're not gonna sit in front of the TV eating ten of these in one sitting. We'd recommend these cookies as a pre-workout snack or a mid-morning chomp to tide you over until lunch. One last warning: Go easy on these at first. Some reviewers report a little post-snack flatulence while their bodies get used to the high-protein nature of the cookie.
13. Chips Ahoy! Original Chocolate Chip Cookies
Of course, we couldn't put this list of cookies together without the OG of store-bought chocolate chip cookies. Chips Ahoy! Original chocolate chip cookies have been on the market since 1963, and they've definitely been a staple in plenty of household pantries ever since.
When they debuted, the claim was that these packaged cookies tasted just as delicious as a homemade batch of cookies, even though they were produced in a factory. That's a tall glass of milk to live up to, isn't it? But time and time again, Chips Ahoy! holds its own as a classic.
This childhood favorite offers the ideal crunch in a thick cookie. The cookie is flavorful, with the perfect amount of chocolate chips. It's not quite as buttery and delicious as other options ranking higher on this list, but Chips Ahoy! forever remains a great classic for dunking in a glass of milk.
12. Emmy's Organics Coconut Cookies Chocolate Chip
Emmy's gives us another cookie to feel good about even while we're stuffing our faces. Made with 100 percent organic ingredients and fair-trade dark chocolate chips, these vegan, grain-free goodies are a great item to add to your grocery list.
Don't be fooled by the angelic ingredient list. These cookies still feel like a decadent treat because of their moist, chewy texture and bits of coconut throughout, which make them seem like a cross between a chocolate chip cookie and a macaroon. There's a nice crunchy coating on the cookies which balances well with the chewiness, and you taste the high quality of the dark chocolate chips.
We're serial cookie dunkers here at Mashed, but it's important to keep in mind you can't dunk Emmy's cookies. They'll fall apart in your milk, and you'll end up with coconut-chocolate flavored milk, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Overall, these aren't your average chocolate chip cookies, but we enjoyed them just the same.
11. Walmart Great Value Classic Chippers Chocolate Chip Cookies
If there's one thing that Walmart's Great Value brand does well, it's mimic other brand name products. But the company certainly does it in its own way. And this alternative to the Chips Ahoy! Original cookie is, dare we say it, actually better than the original.
These chocolate chip cookies are baked in a similar, crispy, crunchy format as Chips Ahoy! Original cookies, but we think the texture of these Classic Chippers actually outranks the classic blue packaged cookies. Biting into the cookie, it's crispy and crumbly, but in a great way, making for the perfect pairing with a glass of milk while still being able to enjoy these cookies on their own.
The chocolate chips are plentiful, making that ratio of cookie to chocolate chip just about perfect. The flavor is buttery without going overboard, and the chocolate chips are perfectly sweet without being overwhelming.
10. Annie's Homegrown Organic Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites
We're a fan of Annie's Homegrown brand. From their Cheddar Bunnies to Fruit Snacks, they've cornered the market on offering organic versions of our favorite childhood snacks. Knowing this, we were pretty stoked to come across Annie's Organic Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites.
Like Annie's other offerings, these cookies are a healthy take on a classic snack. These mini cookies reminded us most of Famous Amos' cookies: a not-too-soft, not-too-crunchy bite-sized treat. These little morsels pack a lot of chocolate flavor, and being mini-sized, we felt completely entitled to eat a bunch of them in one sitting (heaven).
Though small, these cookies hold up nicely for a mini-dunk into milk. They work well as a sweet snack or dessert and are small enough to top over ice cream if you wanna get fancy. The advantage these cookies have over Famous Amos, other than being healthy, is that you aren't limited to a tiny bag of goodies. You get a whole box to yourself, so long as you can hide it from the rest of the family.
9. Kirkland Thin & Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies
If you want a ton of great cookies for a good price, of course, Costco is the way to go. These cookies were spotted by @thecostcoconnoisseur in early September 2020 at their local Costco store. The cookies have been debuting in warehouse stores all over, and we are so glad.
If you have a crush on Kirkland products, these definitely fit the bill. And with such a craze surrounding thin and crispy cookies, these are easily closing in on the top spot. They taste very similar to Tate's Bake Shop Chocolate Chip Cookies with their perfect thin and crispy texture. And with that texture comes the most delicious buttery vanilla flavor. And the ratio of chocolate chips is, of course, perfect. Our only qualm with these cookies is that they come in little one-ounce pouches. Sure, there's 30 to the box so we could eat multiple pouches if we really wanted to, but we wish there was an option for a whole sleeve of these cookies instead.
8. Trader Joe's Way More Chocolate Chips Cookies
Trader Joe's Way More Chocolate Chips Cookies are a welcome improvement from their predecessors, their more modestly chocolate studded Crispy Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies. As reviewers have pointed out, the old version was losing its hold on cookie lovers across the nation with too many burnt and dry-tasting batches to count.
We were relieved when Trader Joe's rallied and came out with a fresh reboot of their crispy cookie recipe, similarly packaged in a handy 16-ounce plastic tub. Kudos, first of all, on keeping the transparent packaging, TJ's. We love seeing exactly how many cookies are left so that we know when to replenish our cookie supply. Running empty on chocolate chip cookies is never a good thing.
The original, buttery flavor is still there, thank goodness! These lovely chippies offered a pleasing crunch and a mouthful of chocolatey goodness that kept us digging deep into the tub for way longer than our dentists would recommend. Based on the awesome flavor, texture, and generosity of chocolate chips in Trader Joe's new iteration of the chocolate chip cookie, we're officially renewing TJ's cookie cred for the foreseeable future.
7. Pepperidge Farm Montauk Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies
When cookie companies started to debut soft and chewy cookies from their factories, it was a bit revolutionary. But nobody could have guessed how much that concept would be expanded since then.
But given all of the competition on the market for chocolate chip cookies, we're certainly glad Pepperidge Farm decided to take a stab at a soft-baked cookie. Because what the company came up with is absolutely delicious.
These cookies are super soft. Truly, the texture is amazing. The flavor of the chocolate chips is slightly off, with a bit too much sweetness coming through. It's definitely not a homemade flavor from these cookies, but it's pretty darn close considering they weren't made in grandma's kitchen. They don't pair as well with milk as other, crunchier cookies do, but they still hold up well with a good dip if that's your preferred method of eating cookies.
6. Benton's Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookie Thins
Aldi's version of Tate's Bake Shop Cookies (read on to see where those rank on our list!) come in the form of Benton's Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookie Thins. Tate's is famous for its crunchy texture and high-quality taste, so we weren't sure how Aldi's offering would compare. But we were pleasantly surprised.
These cookies had a similar pleasing crisp, crunchy texture, and buttery flavor, like Tate's cookies. There's that same lacy lightness you get from a high-quality crunchy cookie, and they're packed with a ton of chocolate chips bursting with flavor. If we had to compare, we'd say Tate's cookies have a bit more genuine buttery flavor, but Benton's generous smattering of chocolate with added toasty coconut flavor comes very, very close. In all, Aldi's crisp cookie, which comes in classic chocolate chip as well as the coconut variety, is a less pricey version of Tate's and worth every crunchy bite.
5. Entenmann's Chocolate Chip Cookies
Entenmann's has a way of making us feel like we're actually buying from a bakery. And given the packaging they put these baked treats in, it's pretty close.
These boxes are filled with sweet little cookies, and the texture is spot on. If you've ever baked a batch of soft chocolate chip cookies and then pulled them out of the oven just as they begin to brown, then you know that this is the trick to a soft and gooey center of a cookie. And this doughy cookie captures that so well. The softness of the cookie is perfect, just like a homemade version, and the flavor of these cookies is well-balanced and delicious.
With how good these are, we wish that they were bigger so we didn't have to eat a whole box to feel satisfied (oops). And because the ratio of chocolate chips to cookie definitely matters, we do wish there were a few more in these cookies. But overall, they're a solid staple.
4. Pepperidge Farm Sausalito Milk Chocolate Macadamia Chocolate Chip Cookies
We know, these aren't within the parameters for pure chocolate chip cookies, but hear us out. Believe us, they're worth it to bend the rules just a little bit.
While these aren't your classic chocolate chip cookies, these are hands down the best cookies to enjoy with milk. And it's not even out of necessity, as it might be with some of the drier chocolate chip cookie options. These cookies truly pair well with milk because of their unique and delicious crispy texture. And yes, they're still good on their own.
Unlike a thin and crispy cookie, these crunchy cookies have some heft to them in the best way possible. They're thicker than your average chocolate chip cookie, and they offer such great texture, leading to a melt-in-your-mouth experience. The flavor of the cookie is delightful, and the huge chunks of milk chocolate and macadamia nuts in the mix make the cookie that much better.
3. Trader Joe's Soft Baked Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Trader Joe's Soft Baked Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies had us barking and howling for more when we first got a taste. TJ's describes these creamy treats as "cloud-like," and we have to agree. The texture of peanut butter added to the classic soft-baked batter somehow took the cookie to another level of fluffiness that is rare in the grocery cookie world.
And don't even get us started on the taste. If there's anything better than chocolate, it's peanut buttery goodness combined with it. To top it off, instead of plain old chocolate chips, Trader Joe's gives us chocolate chunks, which means great gobs of lip-smacking chocolate in every bite.
We definitely think cookie lovers are getting their bang for the buck with these chewy cookies. TJ's prices are always economical, and this ten-ounce bag of treats is no exception. We also couldn't help but notice that peanut butter, the first ingredient listed, makes up 25 percent of the recipe. That explains the dreamy, creamy flavor of the cookie and why we just can't. stop. eating. them.
Coming in the classic hand-held cookie size, these cookies are 100 percent perfect for dunking in milk. We're picturing these topped with ice cream or even paired with morning coffee. Heck, as far as we're concerned, a cookie this good is welcome at any meal, any time of the day.
2. Trader Joe's Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie
Is it overstating things to say we were over the moon when we saw this box of Trader Joe's Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie in the freezer aisle? This reminded us of some of our favorite desserts at restaurants. You know the ones: where they bake a huge cookie in a skillet and put ice cream all over it and you fight your family members over it like a cackle of hyenas over their prey? Yeah, those. So we grabbed a couple of these pretty blue boxes and a tub of ice cream and ran home to recreate the magic.
The directions say this baby can be heated up in a microwave or oven, so, having two boxes, we tried both methods. The cookies are pre-baked, so we didn't have to wait long either way. Though the microwave version held up well, we preferred the oven-baked chocolate chip cookie. There was a slightly less rubbery texture to the oven-baked cookie, and the kitchen smelled fantastic when we were taking it out of the oven.
Taste-wise, we thought these cookies compared favorably to the restaurant versions we've had in the past. The chocolate was lovely and melty, and the cookie had that thick, just-baked texture. Paired with ice cream, this was a delight. The only bone we have to pick with TJ's is the serving size. They say one box can feed ten, but we hyenas definitely say otherwise.
1. Tate's Bake Shop Chocolate Chip Cookies
Certainly, the Tate's Bake Shop brand has come a long way since founder Kathleen King started baking on her family farm at the age of 11. But the result is nothing short of magical.
King started baking as a young girl and sold her cookies at a roadside stand. According to an interview with Business Insider, King would sell six cookies for $0.59, and she continued to grow her business from there. Ten years later, King rented a bakery when she was 21, and she ran a wholesale business with her cookies. But after a business failure, it was time to start over, and King launched Tate's Bake Shop in 2000.
Considering these cookies topped our list, we're sure glad that King persevered and continued moving forward with her cookie business. These chocolate chip cookies have the most incredible buttery, caramel-vanilla flavor with the perfect balance of chocolate chips. The thin and crispy texture is well-balanced to the point that biting into the cookie takes you from a crunchy exterior to a semi-soft center, making the experience that much better. Our only complaint is that there are only 14 cookies in the package, and that bright green bag always leaves us wishing for more.