The Cookie Quest: Searching for NYC’s Best Chocolate Chip Cookie

When I moved to NYC three years ago, I quickly discovered that the city offers an overwhelming number of options for a chocolate chip cookie enthusiast, like myself. With so many choices, it’s easy to fall into analysis paralysis. That’s why I’m on a mission to identify all of the city’s best cookie spots and make the search a little easier for my fellow cookie lovers. Here are five of the latest spots I’ve tried.

Hani’s Bakery + Café

67 Cooper Sq, New York, NY 10003

Hani’s opened in November of last year and immediately captured a ton of buzz online. If you spend any time on NYC FoodTok, you’ve likely heard of this place. After seeing many rave reviews for Hani’s, I was excited to try it myself. I was very tempted to purchase one of their cakes or their cosmic brownie while waiting in line, but I had a job to do. I was there for one thing and one thing only: the chocolate chip cookie.

This is a good-looking cookie and it’s a decent size. Though, at nearly nine dollars, it certainly should be. With crispy, golden edges, rich discs of chocolate melting into the dough, and tiny flakes of sea salt on top, it looks like an elevated take on the classic chocolate chip cookie. Given the cookie’s appearance and the hype surrounding Hani’s other desserts, my expectations were high.

Upon first bite, the cookie was a bit hard and there wasn’t much contrast in texture between the center and the edges. I suspect this is because it wasn’t served warm. The chocolate discs, though visually appealing, were a little too bitter for my liking. Given the amount of chocolate in this cookie, a sweeter variety might’ve been a better choice. However if you prefer dark to milk chocolate, this probably won’t be an issue for you.

Concerning the base of the cookie, I enjoyed the dough’s flavor, but I would’ve liked it even more warmed up. Overall, this was a pretty good cookie, though it may be particularly enjoyable for dark chocolate lovers. In the future, I’d certainly return to Hani’s to try their other creative treats or chat with a friend over coffee in their adorable seating area.

Peacefood

41 E 11th St, New York, NY 10003

The next stop on my cookie quest is a bit lesser known. I purchased this cookie at Peacefood in Greenwich Village, a vegan bakery and café. I noticed Peacefood while walking to class and decided to give it a try. They have a large case of baked goods at the front of the store and a spacious seating area for dining in. I have little experience with vegan baked goods, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was excited to give this cookie a try.

At first glance, this looks a little different from your average chocolate chip cookie. It’s a very pale brown color and the chocolate chips aren’t melted into the dough. The chips are also quite small and, without breaking into the cookie, there don’t appear to be very many.

The first thing I noticed while biting into this cookie was that it has a hard outer shell. It’s comparable to the outer shell of a macaron. The juxtaposition of the crunchy shell with the chewy inside creates an interesting, but slightly disjointed mix of textures. The inside of the cookie, while chewy, was a bit grainy. Tastewise, I enjoyed the kind of chips they used, not too sweet or too bitter. Though the base of this cookie doesn’t have a particularly strong flavor, it was enjoyable.

All in all, though this wasn’t my favorite cookie, Peacefood offers a wide variety of baked goods, many of which look incredible and are quite inexpensive. I’d certainly recommend checking it out.

Molly’s Cupcakes

228 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014

Chapter three of my cookie quest takes us to a West Village staple. Molly’s Cupcakes is an acclaimed cupcake chain that’s been around since 2007. The New York store front is on Bleecker Street, about a five minute walk from the NYU campus. I’ve tried a few of the cupcakes here, but I didn’t realize until recently that they also sell cookies. The classic chocolate chip cookie is quite large and only $3.54.

The cookie’s exterior is a beautiful brown color, the edges being slightly darker than the center. No extra embellishments are added to enhance its appearance, making the presentation somewhat reminiscent of a homemade chocolate chip cookie.

Despite being served at room temperature, it was the ideal cookie consistency. It was soft, yet structurally sound. It wasn’t so hard that it cracked when broken in half, but also not so soft that it crumbled in my hands as I ate it. The edges were crispy and the middle was nice and chewy, creating a delightful contrast in texture.

The chocolate chips used were just the right amount of sweet, and the balance between the volume of dough and chips was perfect. The chips were thoroughly incorporated into the dough, ensuring that there was chocolate in every bite.

My one note would be that this cookie is quite sweet, so if you don’t have a huge sweet tooth, it might not be for you. However, as an individual that typically gravitates towards very sugary sweets, I’d consider it one of the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve tried in New York. I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking for an intensely sweet, yet delicious cookie that will remind you of home. I can’t wait to return to Molly’s for another chocolate chip cookie and maybe a few cupcakes.

Posh Pop Bakeshop

192 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012

The fourth location I visited is a bakery I pass often, but have never had the chance to try. Posh Pop Bakeshop is a gluten free bakery chain that first opened in 2011. In the last fourteen years, they’ve opened multiple storefronts throughout New York, one of which is only a ten minute walk from campus. The shop is cute, cozy, and adorably decorated. If you’re in search of a fun location for Instagram pictures, it’s the perfect spot. They sell a variety of desserts, including cakes, doughnuts, even pop tarts.

This cookie was served warm, making the chocolate chips on the outside perfectly melted and the dough soft and chewy. The top of the cookie was completely covered in milk chocolate chips and the inside was packed with even more. This cookie was also the perfect thickness—thick enough to have a doughy and soft center, but not so thick that I felt full after only a few bites.

The inside of the cookie had a pleasant, chewy consistency and the outside had a subtle crisp. It was quite sweet and even I, someone with a major sweet tooth, found it a bit overwhelming. Adding a sprinkle of salt or using a darker chocolate variety may have given the cookie a more balanced flavor. As I mentioned previously, this cookie was loaded with chocolate chips, so if you’re a chocoholic, I’d certainly recommend it. Despite the high volume of chocolate, each bite offered a satisfying mix of dough and chips—melted chocolate nestled in buttery dough, neither overpowering the other.

All of the desserts at Posh Pop Bakeshop look incredibly tasty and visually stunning. Though this cookie might be a bit too sweet for one person, it’s perfect for splitting with a friend while catching up in their seating area. I can easily see myself stopping by Posh Pop Bakeshop again whenever I’m craving a sweet treat after class.

Kerber’s Farm

264 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014

Our fifth and final stop, Kerber’s Farm, is a favorite of many New York celebrities. In 1941, the original Kerber’s Farm shop opened in Long Island, but only in recent years did the owners open a second location on Bleecker Street, a five minute walk from campus. There are many savory and sweet baked goods available here, ranging from pot pies to doughnuts. There is also a good amount of seating and plenty of tables, making it a great place to get lunch with a friend or do some studying. I found that most of their items are reasonably priced, with the chocolate chip cookie coming out to only $3.50.

This cookie is thick and has a dark, golden brown exterior. It was crispy on the outside and the inside had an almost bread-like texture. The cookie was also pretty crumbly, falling apart with each bite I took. It wasn’t particularly soft, but you’d definitely enjoy it if you prefer a crispy cookie over a chewy cookie.

Chocolate squares were used in this cookie and the chocolate variety was a tasty balance between dark and milk chocolate, keeping the cookie from being overwhelmingly sweet or bitter. Though I certainly enjoyed the flavor of the chocolate, I do think more could have been added to achieve the ideal dough to chocolate ratio. Speaking of the dough, it had a sweet, delicate flavor, but it might be improved by adding a pinch of sea salt to the dough or on top of the cookie.

All in all, I enjoyed my experience here and found the cookie pretty tasty. I appreciated that Kerber’s Farm offered a wide variety of savory and sweet snacks, ensuring there’s something for everyone. No matter what you decide to purchase, the relaxed atmosphere makes it a comfortable spot to unwind, whether you’re looking for somewhere to chat or somewhere to enjoy some alone time.

It’s easy to get lost in a sea of online reviews when searching for a good chocolate chip cookie in NYC, but each place brings something unique to the table and no matter where you end up, you’re sure to discover something new. Of all the places I visited this past week, my favorite spot had to be Molly’s Cupcakes. That cookie was unforgettable, and while I’m excited to go back for another, I’m just as eager to see what the next new cookie spot has in store.