Food
Top 10 Best Cookies in America
You love them, I love them and the Cookie Monster really loves them. Cookies are a favorite all over the world and many American companies have gone on to create some of the most delicious and popular cookies of them all. So grab a glass of milk and let’s check out the Top 10 Best Cookies in America.
10. Newtons
Owned by Nabisco (the same company that owns Chips Ahoy!), the Newton is not as exciting as a chocolate chip cookie – but it’s a pretty good snack nonetheless. Originally called “Fig Newtons”, this cookie is made into a roll made of pastry that is then filled with a simple fig paste. Although most of us don’t think of figs as being something we expect to find in a cookie, its soft texture and subtle sweetness makes it a pretty comforting treat. Many people wonder if Newton’s are named after Sir Isaac Newton, however, they have absolutely nothing to do with him. They actually were named after a city called Newton in Massachusetts. The Newton comes with different fillings as well, for example strawberry, mixed berries, and raspberry. You may notice that Newton’s are more commonly found in the pantries of grandparents and seem more associated with this age group. We aren’t sure why this is. However, it may be due to the fact that figs are full of fiber and they help encourage your digestive system to behave, well, a bit more efficiently. If eating a cookie means that we are doing something good for our health, we guess we will have to make the sacrifice!
9. Mrs. Fields Cookies
Have you ever walked through a shopping mall and smelled something heavenly like freshly baked cookies and wondered where it was coming from? It was probably Mrs. Fields. Mrs. Fields Original Cookies is a franchise that can be found across the US as well as in over 30 other countries. You usually know you are close to one because you can smell it a mile away – and trust us – it smells amazing. Mrs. Fields was started by a woman named Debbi Fields who began the homemade cookie company in California. Although the recipe for these yummy cookies is printed on the packages of their pre-packaged cookie products, Mrs. Fields claims their recipe is a secret – a bit confusing if you ask us – but does it really matter? Mrs. Fields has so many different cookies now that it can be hard to choose which ones to buy. From chocolate chip, to snickerdoodle, to triple chocolate, there are so many options to select from. Mrs. Fields also sells Cookie Cakes, which are large, 12-inch in diameter cookies that are meant to serve 12 people. You can even add icing and words to them – truly making them a perfect choice for those seeking something a bit different than a classic birthday cake.
8. Keebler Fudge Stripes
Keebler is popular name when it comes to cookies and crackers. However one of its best products is their Fudge Stripes cookies. Unique in look, this cookie is made up of a circular shortbread cookie with a hole in the middle, striped with Keebler’s decadent chocolate fudge. This is one of those cookies that you can’t help but eat a whole row of because it’s nearly impossible to eat just one. The Keebler company is represented in ads by the Keebler Elves, who were actually created by Leo Burnett (a global ad agency). The elves have appeared in countless commercials for Keebler and their friendly faces can always be found on the packaging of their products. If chocolate fudge stripes don’t fulfil your chocolate needs – don’t worry. Keebler’s Fudge Stripes cookies also come in another version called the Whoopsy! Fudge Stripes. These cookies are the traditional striped cookie but fully coated in the fudge. Even. more chocolate? We can’t think of anything better.
7. Famous Amos Cookies
Now owned by the more-famous Kellogg’s company, Famous Amos is a well-known brand of cookies that are unique due to their size and popular because of their flavor. Famous Amos cookies are bite-sized chocolate chip delights that are basically the perfect grab-and-go snack. It is even suggested by the company that these cookies are good for when you are on the move, as they are commonly found in grab n’ go bags that are easy to transport for those not wanting to carry a big box of cookies on them (although we don’t see anything wrong with doing that). You may be wondering where the name Famous Amos comes from. The founder of the yummy cookie was Wallace “Wally” Amos Jr. who at a young age showed a knack for baking. He actually transformed his aunt’s recipe into what now is the recipe for Famous Amos’ traditional bite-sized chocolate chip cookies. His interest in baking took a pause until he started working for the William Morris Agency as a talent agent as an adult. He would bake cookies and send them to potential clients in order to get their attention and then possibly a meeting with him. He actually represented a lot of big stars, such as Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross and the Supremes. It wasn’t much later that Famous Amos became a household name and all because of the love of baking Wally had discovered as a young boy.
6. Little Debbie Salted Caramel Cookie Bars
Little Debbie is a company that makes a variety of cookies and cakes that tend to come in individual wrappings, making them the perfect addition to a lunchbox or as a snack on-the-go. Although Little Debbie makes a lot of different treats, one of the best things to come from the brand are their Salted Caramel Cookie Bars. Even the name of the cookies makes your mouth water. The Salted Caramel Cookie bars consist of a crunchy cookie that is topped with caramel and then dipped and coated in chocolate fudge. Although the cookie is crunchy, the chocolate immediately melts in your mouth – and so does the caramel. If you’re looking for a cookie with a bit more depth – you can’t go wrong with this one. Little Debbie founders O.D. and Ruth McKee actually named the company after their grand-daughter. The McKee’s started selling their sweet treats in the 1920’s and since then the company has gone onto making all sorts of tempting snacks. What was the first cookie they ever made? It was actually an Oatmeal Creme Pie in 1935 – which is a cookie they still sell today. It’s made up of two soft oatmeal cookies, pressed together with a layer of creme filling in the middle. This cookie is so popular that it has remained one of their best-selling products for almost 85 years! It’s crazy to think how different life was during the 1920’s and 1930’s, but it’s nice to know that people still appreciated a good cookie when they tasted one.
5. Pillsbury Cookies
Making freshly baked chocolate chip cookies has never been so easy. Pillsbury chocolate chip cookies come in a tube that you’re supposed to keep in the fridge and cut into slices, lay on a baking tray, and bake until slightly golden. Now, if you’re like us and do not have that kind of self-control, you probably find yourself eating half of the dough raw (even though you shouldn’t), and the other half you bake immediately. Pillsbury is owned by General Mills and its mascot is known as the Pillsbury Doughboy. This cartoon-like character is essentially exactly what the name suggests – yes, he is made of dough. This character is well-known in the cookie world as being friendly, cute, and representative of the yummy cookies that the company produces. Pillsbury is also known for its holiday-themed cookies that come in a tube or pre-cut on a tray so that you can bake them fresh at home. During Autumn you can buy Pillsbury sugar cookies with pictures of pumpkins, ghosts, and turkeys. During Christmas time you can get the same sugar cookies but with snowmen, reindeer, Christmas trees, and elves. It’s difficult not to pick up a pack of these when they are just so easy to make and eat. Not only are Pillsbury cookies light, they aren’t overly sweet, which probably will lead you to eating them mindlessly. Don’t worry – we won’t tell.
4. Nestlé Toll House Cookies
Nestlé is the largest food company in the entire world. The company is based in Switzerland and was actually founded over 150 years ago! Nestlé has created some of the best food-products we know of, and one thing that we cannot resist is their cookies. Nestlé Toll House Cookies are well-known for their soft, chewy texture, and their rich, high-quality chocolate. When you think of a classic soft chocolate-chip cookie, this one comes to mind instantly! The chocolate chip cookie was actually invented by an American chef named Ruth Graves Wakefield who was the first one to add chocolate chips into cookies – and the chocolate just happened to be from a Nestlé chocolate bar. These cookies became extremely popular during WWII with soldiers all over the US who would be sent the cookies by their families. As Ruth didn’t work for Nestlé, the company ended up asking her for permission to use her recipe, along with its name ‘Toll House’ and in return all they gave her was a single dollar and as much Nestlé chocolate as she wanted for the rest of her life – imagine that. Now when you purchase Nestlé chocolate chips, Ruth’s recipe is printed on the package – making it easy for you to recreate the recipe from scratch in the comfort of your own home. It’s crazy to think that the Toll House cookie was the first chocolate chip cookie ever to be made and sold. From this, Nestlé is sure to hold a place in cookie history forever.
3. Pepperidge Farm Milano
Pepperidge Farm is a family-favorite because of the many types of cookies they make. One of the best ones? The Pepperidge Farm Milano cookie. Pepperidge Farm established and actually trademarked the Milano cookie. The cookies are made up of two, thin oval-shaped biscuits with a layer of chocolate in-between. The cookies are crispy – but the chocolate is nice and creamy, making for a super-decadent treat. The Milano cookie comes in different flavors, including milk chocolate, dark chocolate, double chocolate, mint chocolate, and dulce du leche, among many others. The cookies are sold in the familiar white paper bag that is foiled lined, instead of a cookie tray within a box like most cookies you buy off of the shelf. This keeps them fresh and stops them from becoming stale. Pepperidge Farm also makes soft and chewy cookies, that are known as their Chunk cookies. These cookies are reminiscent of a homemade cookie fresh out of the oven and they come in a variety of traditional and unique flavors, such as milk chocolate, dark chocolate brownie, and caramel apple. For those seeking a cookie that mixes crunch and a bit of softness, Pepperidge Farm makes one that they call their Farmhouse cookie. Farmhouse cookies are described as ‘thin and crispy’ and are essentially a thinner version of the chunk cookies with chips instead of chunks. These cookies also come in a variety of flavours, but we have our favorites. Some of the best? The dark chocolate chip or triple chocolate chip cookies – both of which will instantly have you reaching for more. Whether you eat a Pepperidge Farm cookie on its own or dipped into a cup of coffee, tea, or milk, these cookies are too good to pass up.
2. Oreo
Known as “milk’s favorite cookie,” the Oreo is another extremely popular and tasty cookie that almost everyone has at least heard of if not tasted. The Oreo is extremely recognizable. The classic Oreo consists of two, thin cocoa biscuits with a sweet, icing-like filling in the middle. There are many ways to eat an Oreo. Some people twist the cookie, lick the icing and then eat the rest of the cookie. Others dip the whole cookie in a glass of milk. And then there are those who just eat it like you would eat any other cookie – aka biting right into it! We’re sure there are many other ways to eat an Oreo, but those are just some of the most popular ones. Oreos are actually extremely popular in the vegan community because there are no animal-products in their ingredients. However, Oreo did mention on their website that although they do not have any animal-products in their ingredients, it is possible that the cookies may have been cross-contaminated with milk. As there is a chance that Oreo’s could have traces of milk, they cannot be considered a fully vegan product. So, if you are vegan, it really is up to you to decide if this yummy cookie is going to be stocked in your pantry or not. People have used the classic Oreo as an ice-cream topping, crust for cheesecakes, and even have deep-fried them at carnivals and fairs. There isn’t much you can’t do with this cookie that wouldn’t be delicious.
1. Chips Ahoy!
There is nothing more classic than a chocolate chip cookie. Chips Ahoy! is one of the most popular cookie brands in the world. Owned by Nabisco (an American producer of many cookies and other goodies), Chips Ahoy! is a pantry-staple in most households that appreciate the sweeter things in life. The classic Chips Ahoy! cookie is a crunchier cookie with lots of yummy semi-sweet chocolate chips in each bite. In 1999, Chips Ahoy! announced a campaign called the “Chips Ahoy! 1,000 Chips Challenge” which was a contest for members of the public. The goal was for people to figure out a unique and creative way to prove that there were over 1,000 chocolate chips in each bag of cookies. We don’t know about you, but this sounds like a contest we would be happy to take part in! Not a big fan of a crunchy cookie? Chips Ahoy! actually can be bought in a “chewy” version, which gives you the same great taste of the classic cookie, but with a softer bite to it. Can’t find the chewy version in your local store? Not a problem. You can actually put the classic Chips Ahoy! cookie in the microwave for 10 seconds and it will soften just enough to give you a chewy texture. It’s difficult to just eat one of these delicious treats as once you start eating them, it’s hard to stop! Chips Ahoy! are still found in its classic blue packaging (although the design has changed over the years!) but one thing hasn’t changed – it’s delicious taste. This cookie will always satisfy your sweet tooth, it will just take some self-control to not eat the whole box.