Hey cookie enthusiasts!
I think we can all agree that chocolate chip cookies are the best and most universally loved cookie in existence, right? Last night, I found myself in the midst of an unbearable chocolate chip craving. I did not want to go through the effort of actually making a batch of cookies, though. They’re one of those things that could come together really quickly if one were so inclined to make them. I was not in the mood for a quick fix, though; I wanted the chocolate chip cookie of my dreams. So, what is it that makes that perfect cookie so elusive?
It’s the kind of cookie that can only truly be enjoyed after the dough cures overnight, with an expertly balanced recipe, and when it’s perfectly baked by the best. That is the cookie I’m after, and it unfortunately does not come from my own personal kitchen. Where then? Who could hold the keys to the cookie kingdom? Well, at least the cookie kingdom in my own town of Vancouver, Washington. Folks, I’m taking up the mantle, and I will sacrifice sleep, money, and the relentless endeavor of not getting diabetes to hunt down this elusive dream cookie.
This cookie champion may not be the tops for everyone, but to be crowned the king of this competition, it’ll definitely be worth tasting by anyone out there.
Now, this experiment will examine each cookie at the time of purchase and again after 24 hours
The variables here are a little harder to ensure 100% accuracy. For instance, even at the time of purchase, did Shop A make those cookies this morning while Shop B made them 20 minutes ago? To counter this factor as much as possible, the final compendium of vendors will be organized by opening time and distance. It will then be mapped out to determine the optimal route to procure each product as quickly and as close to freshness as possible. All the cookies will be brought home in the packaging in which they are sold, as that is what any customer would receive. Thus, there will be no special heat boxes or bags
The 7 categories the cookies will be judged on are:
1. Chewiness
2. Crispiness
3. Thickness
4. Softness
5. Sweetness
6. Quality and distribution of Chocolate Chips
7. Oil or Butter Residue
the jury
The cookies will be judged by three people: myself, my partner, and another recent culinary school graduate. They will receive scores in each category.
Contenders were selected based on local online forums, Google searches, alternative “best cookie” lists, cookie availability, and their relative distance to the Vancouver downtown area. The establishments needed to have a physical location, and they had to make their dough and bake their own cookies. With all that in mind, we narrowed it down to:
The Contenders:
1. La Provence – Fisher’s Landing Area
2. Chandelier Bakery – Hazel Dell
3. Martizz Bakery – E. Vancouver
4. Chucks Produce – Mill Plain
5. Larsons – Mill Plain
6. Bleu Door – Uptown Vancouver
7. Forevers Bakery – Hazel Dell
8. Simply Sweets – Uptown Vancouver
9. Crumbl Cookie – Hazel Dell
Now, this was a competition I could really get behind! I planned and thought about nothing else for days. Bouncing gleefully, we drove from one bakery to the next. Finally, it was time to take these treats home and taste them. I had calculated six cookies from each place, which would mean one cookie per person for both days from every bakery. In my head, eating nine cookies in one sitting seemed like a dream come true. In reality, however, nobody should eat that many cookies.
When I started this, I assumed there would be a top cookie and all the others would line up behind it. However, during this experiment, I realized that a chocolate chip cookie means very different things to different people. There was so much contrast between them that a straight-out competition just didn’t seem viable anymore. Instead, I will walk you through all the fun we had comparing each cookie.
*The attributes noted below will vary from cookie to cookie
La Provence
This bakery in Fishers Landing offers an astounding array of top-notch goods, and this cookie was everything you’d want it to be. Even when we felt sick to our stomachs and were loath to continue, it was a delight to eat. Weighing in at 110g and with an 11.5cm diameter, this was one of the larger cookies. Priced in the middle of the pack at $2.75 per cookie, it was worth every cent. That being said, even though they make their own dough and bake it themselves, this is a trendy, posh place with multiple locations. Expect it to be busy.”
Price
$2.75 per cookie
Attributes*
Weight: 110g; Diameter: 11.5cm; Thickness: 1.25cm.
Taste & Texture
It’s notably chewy but not to the extent of feeling undercooked. Though soft, it doesn’t shy away from having crispy edges. On the sweeter side, but not overly. The presence of larger, milk chocolate chips is a delight, and there’s a hint of an oily, buttery taste. Although I don’t think it’s an included ingredient, there were some oatmeal like notes as well.
Chandelier Bakery
Price
Attributes*
Weight: 90g; Diameter: 10cm; Thickness: 1.5cm
Taste & Texture
Notes
Martizz Bakery
Price
Attributes*
Weight: 76g; Diameter: 8.25cm; Thickness: 1.25cm
Taste & Texture
Chuck’s Produce
Price
Attributes*
Weight: 44g; Diameter: 7.75cm; Thickness: 1cm
Taste & Texture
Larson’s Bakery
Price
Attributes*
Weight: 50g; Diameter: 9.5cm; Thickness: 0.75cm
Taste & Texture
Bleu Door Bakery
Price
Attributes*
Weight: 66g; Diameter: 10cm; Thickness: 1cm
Taste & Texture
Notes
Forevers Bakery
Price
$3.25 per cookie
Attributes*
Weight: 117g; Diameter: 12.25cm; Thickness: 1cm
Taste & Texture
Notes
Simply Sweets
Price
Attributes*
Weight: 46g; Diameter: 8.25cm; Thickness: 1.25cm
Taste & Texture
Crumbl Cookie
Price
Attributes*
Weight: 144g; Diameter: 10cm; Thickness: 3cm











