Updated on Oct. 01, 2024
Craving cookies but don't have the time to bake? Snag the best store-bought chocolate chip cookies as chosen by our squad of pro bakers.
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We know: Homemade chocolate chip cookies are pretty much the best treat to come out of the kitchen. But what happens when have a craving but not the time to stir up a batch of Big & Buttery Chocolate Chip Cookies (a favorite in the Taste Recipes Test Kitchen)? You rip open a bag of the best store-bought chocolate chip cookies!
But before you hit the cookie aisle, take some tips from our Test Kitchen pros. These expert bakers know good treats. Which brands make the best store-bought chocolate chip cookies? Check out our four Test Kitchen-Preferred bites.
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This blind taste test confirmed what our Test Kitchen team knew to be true: Tate’s Bake Shop Chocolate Chip Cookies are the gold standard of store-bought cookies.
If you didn’t see these cookies come out of the bag, you’d think they came from your BFF’s oven. They’re thin and slightly irregularly shaped. Take a bite and you’ll still feel that way.
“The color is beautiful and the texture is nice and crisp while still having a buttery flavor—real butter,” explains Senior Editor Lara Eucalano. “It’s also crisp without being dry, which is a feat.”
Baker Mark Neufang goes on to sing the praises of one of the best store-bought chocolate chip cookies. “The flavor is nice: a lot of browned butter and brown sugar notes with delicious semisweet chocolate chips.”
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Most store-bought and homemade chocolate chip cookies use semisweet chips. If you rather stir milk chocolate chips into your dough, go for Pepperidge Farm Farmhouse Thin & Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies.
The difference in chocolate was apparent right away in this taste test. Every baker on our team made not of the change of pace—one that was welcome.
“The milk chocolate here is sweet with an almost butterscotch flavor,” explains Sarah Tramonte in the Test Kitchen. “And there’s a good amount of chocolate in here—delicious!”
Besides that great chocolate taste, these Pepperidge Farm cookies had a thin, crispy texture destined for dunking.
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When you’re shopping for the best store-bought chocolate chip cookies, you’re not always craving that homemade feeling. Sometimes, you just want a cookie that reminds you of after-school snacks and study break sweets. If that’s the case, snag the classic: Chips Ahoy! Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Maggie Knoebel in the Test Kitchen describes these cookies best: “Definitely not homemade-looking or -tasting but they are just plain good.” For many of us, that’s what we’re looking for with packaged treats.
Each of these cookies is a nice size with a good scattering of chocolate chips and the right amount of sweetness. They’re slightly crunchy with a texture that melts on your tongue—especially when dunked into a glass of cold milk.
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If you ask our Test Kitchen, cookies are meant to be a sweet indulgence. However, if you’re looking for a cookie that’s a smidge better for you than most store-bought sweets, try Kodiak Cakes Thin and Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies.
So what makes these cookies the slightly more nutritious option? Kodiak Cakes’ chocolate chip cookies are made with whole-grain wheat flour and have five grams of protein per serving. That’s pretty impressive for a sweet treat.
But how do these better-for-you store-bought cookies taste? Pretty darn good! “These cookies are sweet and you get the taste of brown sugar and real butter,” explains Sarah.
Like the Tate’s Bake Shop cookies, these chocolate chippers are flatter, golden brown and crispy. These are a big win for crispy cookie fans looking for some whole grains and protein.
