Image: by Cookies Etc
A chocolate chip cookie may seem like a simple treat, but perfecting one is an art. With so many options available, The Hatchet staff set out to find the best chocolate chip cookie in the Bay Area. Our team blind-tested 12 different cookies, judging them on taste, affordability, and presentation to determine which truly reigns supreme.
To ensure fairness, three Hatchet staff members participated in a blind taste test, scoring each cookie on a scale of 0 to 10. The contenders ranged from family-owned bakeries and local chains, like Forest and Flour, Devout Coffee, Suju’s Coffee, and Anderson’s Bakery, to national chains including Trader Joe’s, Insomnia Cookies, Costco Bakery, Crumbl, BJ’s, and Cookie Plug.
The cookie contest kicked off with Forest and Flour, priced at $6.50 per cookie. Judges immediately noticed a strong cinnamon flavor and a dry texture. “This tastes like cinnamon; it’s so dry,” said Sarah Hamilton, one of the blind judges. All testers agreed that the taste did not justify the high price, giving it an average score of 3. Trader Joe’s was next, priced at $0.83 per cookie. The judges found it enjoyable but unremarkable, describing it as an average cookie and giving it a 5.6. Insomnia Cookies followed at $3.29 per cookie. Judges noted a slightly fruity taste, but overall, it was considered another standard cookie, earning a 6.
Then came a fan favorite: Costco Bakery’s chocolate chip cookie, priced at just $0.42 per cookie, making it the most affordable option. Even without seeing the cookie, all three judges recognized its taste immediately. “Ayyee I know that cookie good,” said Sarah Hamilton. The Costco Bakery cookie received the first perfect 10 from a judge and an overall average score of 9. Anderson Bakery’s cookie, priced at $3.50, didn’t make much of an impression. The judges found it average, giving it a 5. Suju’s Coffee, priced at $2.95, was better received, with the judges appreciating its taste, though it didn’t quite reach the Costco Bakery level. It earned a 7.3.
The next contender was the infamous Crumbl cookie, priced at $4.99. One judge gave it a perfect 10, and the others also enjoyed it, leading to an overall score of 8. BJ’s Pizookie Cookie, the most expensive on the list at $9.49, disappointed the judges, who described it as not worth the price. “It tastes burnt,” Sarah Hamilton remarked. It scored 5.3. A homemade cookie from a Hatchet staff member was also put to the test, but unfortunately, the judges didn’t enjoy it, giving it an average score of 2. Devout Coffee’s cookie, priced at $4.50, was described as mediocre and received a 4.
Next was the Costco Food Court’s viral double chocolate chunk cookie, priced at $2.49. Two judges loved its rich flavor, with one scoring it a 9 and another giving it a 10. However, one judge disliked the dark chocolate, leading to an overall score of 6.3. Finally, the last cookie came from Cookie Plug, priced at $5. The judges did not enjoy it at all, with one refusing to finish it. It received an average score of 2.6.
After consuming 12 cookies and battling a sugar overload, the judges created four awards to recognize the top contenders: “Best Cookie,” “Best Supporting Cookie,” “Most Affordable,” and “Best Presentation.” All three judges agreed that the Costco Bakery Cookie deserved the title of Best Cookie, earning the highest score and excelling in taste, affordability, and presentation. The Best Supporting Cookie award went to Suju’s Coffee, which had great flavor but fell short in presentation. The Most Affordable Cookie award unsurprisingly went to the Costco Bakery Cookie, while Crumbl Cookie won Best Presentation for its thick, picture-perfect appearance.
The final verdict? Price doesn’t always equal quality. While some high-end bakeries charged upwards of $6 for a single cookie, the humble Costco Bakery Cookie proved that sometimes the best treats come from the most unexpected places. So next time you’re craving a chocolate chip cookie, you might not need to look any further than your local Costco.
Ava Etemad Rezai is a sophomore at Washington High School. She was raised in Minnesota and just recently moved to Fremont 4 years ago. This is her first year with the Hatchet where she hopes to cover topics such as trending media, mental health, and opinions. Her main hobbies include playing on the girls’ tennis team, skiing, and being a manager at MiniCatTown and doing veterinary work for the cats. While working there she hopes to gain work experience to become a vet and eventually go to vet school. And she has dreams of going to college in San Diego.