10 delicious chocolate chip cookies to try in Austin

A classic American dessert, the chocolate chip cookie has been largely credited to Ruth Wakefield and her 1930s New England restaurant, Toll House Inn. It was subsequently commercialized by Nestlé. Today, it’s possible to try thousands of iterations of the delightful dessert.

For this round-up, I only sampled cookies from locally-owned bakeries, restaurants, and a brewery, counting out any chocolate chip cookies that included nuts, with a notable exception made for sea salt.

I took into account the cookie to chocolate chip ratio, sweetness, consistency, density, meltiness, and cost.

Here’s where you can find some of the best chocolate chip cookies in Austin:

I want a classic take on a chocolate chip cookie…

Tiny’s Milk and Cookies (1515 W. 35th St., Building C)

This Houston import bakes up cookies from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day, assuring Austinites can get a fresh cookie whenever the craving strikes. A soft yet substantial cookie, this one combines a perfect ratio of cookie-to-chip combination. It feels refreshingly light… at least for a cookie.

Of note: They also make ice cream. Their Milk & Cookies ice cream combines vanilla ice cream with chocolate chip cookie chunks.

$3 per cookie.

I want a cookie that is obscenely delicious…

ThoroughBread (1709 Bluebonnet Lane)

Blink and you might miss this small location tucked away on a residential Barton Hills street. The cookies are hard to miss though. Rivaling Teddy V. in size, these cookies have a firm exterior with a melty, dare we say, raw interior. Bonus points if you manage to finish a whole cookie.

Of note: The banana Nutella cookies might put you in the best kind of food coma.

$4 per cookie.

I want to eat an American cookie with a French accent…

Epicerie (2307 Hancock Dr.)

Although technically a sit-down restaurant with French-Louisiana flavors, Epicerie serves up a salted chocolate chip cookie. With a dense, moist interior, and slightly crispy exterior, this cookie has a significant amount of chocolate chips.

Of note: If you’re here and willing to double up on the calories, the made-to-order beignets are also a real highlight.

$3 per cookie.

I want to eat a cookie that doesn’t look like a cookie…

Cookie Rich (2401 Winsted Lane)

These unusual cookies can be found at a food truck parked next to an unassuming office building on North Lamar Boulevard. Cookie Rich’s macaron-inspired creation is served directly from the fridge, after being freshly baked at their kitchen down the road. The chocolate chip cookies contain a generous portion of chocolate fudge, which serves as the glue keeping the two cookies together.

$4 per cookie, 4-pack $16, dozen $39

I want a cookie from an Austin OG…

Quack’s Bakery (Locations in Hyde Park, Westgate and Mueller)

Quack’s 43rd Street location has been open since 1983, older than most of Austin’s population. Let that sink in.

The most bang for your buck, this quirky bakery makes some big, flat cookies. It’s a drier confection than others on this list, but nothing 5 seconds in the microwave can’t handle.

$2.65 per cookie.

I want my cookie stacked….

Kellie’s Baking Co. (5245 Burnet Road)

Famous for their densely tiered cookies, Kellie’s chocolate chip cookies are the most simple item on their menu, yet, their relatively small size does not deflect from the flavor. Their chocolate chip cookie also serves as the base layer for their PB + Ganache cookie, another winner.

Of note: Their retail location is currently only selling pre-ordered confections, but Foxtrot, down the road sells an assortment of their cookies.

$4 per cookie.

I want to buy my cookie at Central Market…

Teddy V. (Purchase at Mueller Farmers Market, Medici Coffee or Central Market)

Each cookie is enough to satiate a small village. These cookies taste like the baker dropped a bag of chocolate chips into the batter, allegedly 125 chocolate chips per cookie. Wow. Owing to their large size and cost, these cookies are the most appropriate for sharing…or not.

$5.49 per cookie.

I want a pint of beer with my cookie…

Hold Out Brewing (1208 W. Fourth St.)

The only brewery on the list that made the cut with its cookies, Hold Out’s chocolate chunk cookies offer bang for your buck. Those looking for a cookie that is thinner than Teddy V’s, but still contains a healthy chocolate chip to cookie ratio, would prefer this confection.

Of note: These cookies are also sold at Little Brother, Hold Out’s coffee shops on Rainey Street and South Congress Avenue.

$4 per cookie.

I want a full meal with my cookie…

Sour Duck Market (1814 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.)

This East Austin staple doubles as a restaurant and bakery, slinging some scrumptious-looking pastries. Their chocolate chip cookie has a distinctly caramelized appearance. Biting into it, it’s a less sugary cousin of the others on this list. Those wanting a cookie that doesn’t overwhelm the senses should opt for this.

$4 per cookie.

I want a fair trade, non-GMO cookie…

Bakery Cloud Nine (3400 Comsouth Drive)

This bakery, serving up treats from their window at Ghostline Kitchens, in Southeast Austin, prides itself on only using local first, non-GMO, fair trade, and organic ingredients. This cookie is very sweet, owing to its inclusion of molasses, while still retaining crisped edges and a proportional chocolate chip to cookie ratio.

$3.50 per cookie.

Did we miss your favorite cookie spot? Tell us!

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: 10 delicious chocolate chip cookies to try in Austin, Texas