Business
Top 10 Best Cookies in America (Part 2)
Cookies are a staple treat for those seeking something decadent and sweet. As there are so many different brands to choose from, we have put a list together to help you choose which ones to try next. Here are the Top 10 Best Cookies in America (Part 2).
10. Girl Scout Cookies
If you haven’t heard about Girl Scout cookies, you may be living under a rock. The Girl Scouts of America is an organization that helps young girls build their character and confidence through a variety of activities, such as camping and helping their communities. The young girls who are known simply as ‘girl scouts’, earn badges for their work as an incentive to work harder. One of the activities that they participate in is selling cookies! This actually began around 1917, only a few years after the organization was created. Originally, the girls baked their own cookies and sold them, however now they sell pre-packaged cookies and their unique names and flavors continue to be pretty popular these days. Some of the most popular cookies that they sell include Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Patties (Tagalongs), Caramel deLites (Samoas), and Lemon-Ups. Now, you may have some questions about Girl Scout cookies, for example, where do you get them and where does the money go? Well, these cookies can only be bought from the Girl Scouts, and only during a very specific period of time. To find out where you can buy the cookies and when, you can visit their website and it will help you track them down! Now, where does the money go? The money made from Girl Scout cookies actually pays for different opportunities for the girls to gain life-experience. For example, the money helps fund their outdoor activities, trips to visit historical landmarks, and also it teaches them more about the value of money. The selling of these cookies helps build our world’s future entrepreneurs – and we don’t know about you, but that reason is more than enough to get us to eat some delicious cookies.
9. Nutter Butter
A peanut butter lovers delight! This peanut-shaped sandwich cookie has been around since the late 60’s and it has consistently been a popular choice with cookie lovers since then! A Nutter Butter is made up of two peanut butter flavored cookies with a creamy peanut butter filling in between. They are the perfect snack for when you’re on the go, or even for when you’re sat in front of the TV binge watching your favorite show on Netflix. This cookie brand is owned by Nabisco and it is believed that over a billion Nutter Butters are eaten every year in the United States. That is a lot of peanut butter-shaped cookies if you ask us. In the past few years, they actually came out with a Nutter Butter cereal! The cereal was made up of small, peanut-shaped cereal pieces that were coated with a layer of peanut butter and they essentially give you the same taste of the classic Nutter Butter – but in a way that you can justify enjoying first thing in the morning. Although Nutter Butters are a bit less popular with the young-school crowd (due to a lot of kids having nut allergies) it seems that this hasn’t stopped them from doing well and this is clear as they have been a popular choice for over 50 years!
8. Nilla Wafers
Maybe the simplest cookie on this list is the ever-so-classic Nilla Wafer. These yummy cookies were actually originally named ‘Vanilla Wafers’, however over time the name has been shortened to Nilla Wafers, which we think sounds a lot better. Rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it? Nilla Wafers are vanilla-flavoured wafer cookies that are light, thin, and honestly – simply a classic. This cookie was invented by a man named Gustav A. Mayer in the United States and he actually sold his recipe to Nabisco in the late 1800’s! Yes, that is how long this cookie has been around. It’s hard to believe but apparently our great-great-grandparents were munching on these too! You may recognize Nilla Wafers from their presence in banana pudding recipes! They are the perfect cookie to use when you are looking for something light, low-calorie, but sweet to add to your trifles, puddings, and even to just simply dunk into your tea or coffee! In fact, on the Nilla Wafers box, you can actually find a recipe for banana pudding. This makes the process of using the cookies to create a yummy dessert even easier. We love an easy-to-follow recipe. Nilla Wafers melt in your mouth and they are not overly sweet or overwhelming to eat (meaning, you can eat multiple of them and not feel a huge sugar rush!) Overall, we just have to say – this is one good cookie.
7. Teddy Grahams
These tiny little cookies (some may say crackers) are a childhood favorite for many people. Teddy Grahams are basically bear-shaped cookies that come in a few different flavors, such as chocolate, honey, and cinnamon. These cookies were so popular when they were released that they actually became the third best-selling cookie (right after Chips Ahoy! and Oreo). That is a pretty high level of popularity! Nabisco, the creator of all three cookies apparently knows a good product when they see (and taste) one! Unlike Chips Ahoy! and Oreos, Teddy Grahams are seen as a ‘healthier’ alternative for those seeking a cookie with a bit more nutritional value and a little bit less processing. Teddy Grahams do not have any high fructose corn syrup in them, and they actually have over 8g of whole grains and a significant amount of calcium and iron. Some flavors of Teddy Grahams such as chocolate and cinnamon are vegan, while others like honey are not. So, if you’re vegan – make sure you read through those ingredients before snacking away! These cookies are the perfect treat for kids, adults, and everyone in-between, just try to not eat an entire bag (or do, we won’t tell!)
6. SnackWell’s
SnackWell’s is a brand that makes ‘healthier’ cookies and sweet treats that are all low-fat! It can be hard to indulge in some cookies when you know they are not too friendly on the waistline, so having healthier alternatives really helps. One of SnackWell’s best-selling cookies is their Devil’s Food Cookie Cakes, which are chocolate cookies with a marshmallow layer on top, completely dipped in chocolate fudge icing. These cookies aren’t exactly sounding like they would be low-fat, but they are! SnackWell’s sells a few other cookie flavors, including Vanilla and Chocolate Crème. Also, some of SnackWell’s products are nut-free, which is pretty awesome for those with nut allergies. You may be wondering if you will be tempted to eat more cookies knowing that they are low-fat – and actually, you may be on to something. There is actually something that people call the ‘SnackWell Effect’ and it basically suggests exactly this idea. The ‘SnackWell Effect’ is this unpublished theory that people who are trying to lose weight will most likely over-indulge in low-fat and low-calorie cookies (meaning they would eat more of these types of cookies than regular ones). Maybe eating 10 low-fat cookies makes less sense than just eating a few regular-fat ones, but hey, who are we to judge? We love all of them.
5. Trader Joe’s Cookies
We all know Trader Joe’s as our favourite go-to grocery store and for good reason. There are so many fun and unique treats to choose from and it can be hard to know which ones are good – and which ones maybe you should pass on. From chips, to drinks, to cakes, to cookies – Trader Joe’s has a bit of everything. If you’re headed to Trader Joe’s soon and on a cookie hunt, there is one cookie that we highly recommend you add to your cart! The cookie is called ‘These Sprinkles Walk into a Sandwich Cookie’ and we know that the name is a bit silly – but the cookie is just so, so good. So, what exactly is in it? This treat is made up of two thick and chunky buttery cookies with sprinkles baked into them, with a buttercream frosting full of sprinkles in the middle! It is the definition of decadence and a must-try at Trader Joe’s! They taste exactly like a classic birthday cake and we really can’t recommend anything better than this flavor to try. Not a fan of artificial colors and dyes? Not a problem. The color for the sprinkles that are in these cookies is actually made from vegetable juice! It’s almost like this is a healthy cookie…almost.
4. Archway Cookies
For over 80 years, Archway Cookies has been creating delicious varieties of yummy treats in a variety of flavors. There are so many that it will probably take you a while to try all of them. With so many to choose from, here are three of the flavors that we highly recommend you check out. The first flavor of cookie is called Windmill. The Windmill cookie is essentially a speculoos cookie, meaning it is a biscuit that is spiced and tastes like the Fall, using spices such as cinnamon and ginger to create an amazing, unique, and distinct flavor. It is the ideal type of cookie to dip into your cup of coffee and it isn’t overly sweet or heavy. So, if you want to have more than one, we totally get you. The second flavor is called Iced Circus Animals and these cookies are in their own unique category. The Iced Circus Animals are small, a similar size to your classic animal cracker cookie, and they are made of a buttery biscuit and are coated in frosting and sprinkles. They are basically a frosting covered animal cracker and they are so good that even the pickiest of eaters will love them. The third flavor of cookie we love is Archway’s Rocky Road cookies. The Rocky Road cookies have a chocolate base and are full of chocolate and marshmallow chunks. These cookies are soft-baked and are even better heated up (we suggest 10 seconds in the microwave for an ideal melty effect). All three of these cookies are delicious and if you like the sound of them – there are dozens of others to try!
3. C. Krueger’s Finest Baked Goods
There is a special place in our hearts for cookies that taste like they were freshly made in grandma’s kitchen. Cheryl Krueger, the founder of the C. Krueger’s Finest Baked Goods, made her debut in the business in the early 80’s and since then she has turned her company into one that is worth over $50 million. Offering a variety of treats, including cookies, brownies, and other amazing baked goods, C. Krueger’s has so many products that are worth the extra calories. In terms of cookies, they offer your more traditional flavors, such as chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, peanut butter, oatmeal, sugar cookie, and double chocolate. But they also sell certain cookies to meet more unique dietary needs, for example they sell a gluten-free version of the chocolate chip, peanut butter, and oatmeal cookie. One thing that sets C. Krueger’s cookies apart from other brands, is that a lot of their cookies are topped with icing! One of our favorites is their Peanut Butter Cookie with Fudge Icing. This cookie is soft-baked, nice and nutty, and has the perfect dollop of smooth chocolatey icing on top. If you’re looking for a cookie that is soft, tastes amazing, and will make you feel like someone baked it specifically for you with love – then you have to try these ones.
2. Williams Sonoma Cookies
You may think of Williams Sonoma as your go-to place for high-end kitchenware, supplies, and tools. However, Williams Sonoma actually sells a lot of food products that can only be found in their stores. One of the things that the store carries is baked goods that are pre-packaged and a bit fancier than your average sweet treats. One of the best cookies that you will find at Williams Sonoma is the Meyer Lemon Moravian Cookie Thins. A bit of a mouthful to say, but these are by far one of the best fruity cookies that you will find. These Moravian cookies taste super bright and fruity due to the fact they are made with lemon oil and also lemon zest. The addition of these tarte ingredients makes them absolutely unique and delicious. The recipe for these cookies was actually created over 75 years ago in Moravia, which is now a part of the Czech Republic. These cookies are definitely worth the purchase and although they are a bit more on the expensive side – they are a good way to indulge into something a bit more unique that you can’t find anywhere else. These Moravian cookies do not only come in this lemon flavor, they actually come in a few other flavors that are just as delicious and unique. For example, if you are not only a fruit-lover but a chocolate lover, the Raspberry Chocolate Dipped Moravian Cookie Thins may be perfect for you. No matter which one you try, you will not be left feeling disappointed. Williams Sonoma only carries the best of the best, and so why not try new products that guarantee you a delicious experience?
1. Pamela’s Products
Pamela Giusto-Sorrells is an American-born baker who started the company Pamela’s Products in order to provide gluten-free baked goods to customers who otherwise may have had a hard time finding gluten-free treats. When you think of a gluten-free cookie, you may not automatically think that it will taste good. However, Pamela’s products are not only gluten-free, they are extremely decadent. You can’t really tell that they are made without gluten and that is what makes them one of our top choices in our favorite cookies list. There are 5 groups of cookies that Pamela’s Products sells, including Classic Cookies, SimpleBites Mini Cookies, Nutty Cookies, Crispy Cookies, and Figgies & Jammies. Each type of cookie comes in multiple flavors. One of our favorites is the Pecan Shortbread Cookie which is exactly what it sounds like – yummy shortbread full of pecans! This cookie can easily be made into a crust for a pie or a cheesecake and it is so rich and buttery that you’ll find it hard to resist once you try it! It is always nice to see different alternatives for people with dietary restrictions to enjoy. If you are gluten-free, or even if you’re not, Pamela’s Products are a must-try in our books.