Best Cookie Shop (2024) - USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards (2024)

Sweet dreams are made of these

Best Cookie Shop(2024)
June 19, 2024

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Visitors to these 10 independent cookie shops in the U.S. enjoy yummy treats that come in a range of flavors and varieties, crafted with top-notch ingredients and the utmost love and care.

From small businesses to family-owned endeavors, these shops have been selected by an expert panel and voted by readers as the best in the country for their outstanding confections that keep customers returning over and over again.

Photo courtesy of Extraordinary Desserts

No. 10:

Extraordinary Desserts - San Diego, California

Chef Karen Krasne, once a featured dessert chef at the James Beard House, doesn't shy away from experimenting with new desserts and flavor profiles, proudly serving up showstopping treats. One of the most popular picks? The Luxe Cookie which, true to its name, includes Valrhona white chocolate, caramelized cocoa nibs, and a sprinkle of French sea salt, and is embellished with a 23-and-three-quarters-karat edible gold leaf.

Photo courtesy of Susan Catron

No. 9:

The Sweet Shoppe of the South - Blue Ridge, Georgia

Owners Nikki Kaylor and Susan Catron from The Sweet Shoppe of the South in Blue Ridge, Georgia, gained national fame when their cupcakes won Food Network's "Cupcake Wars." But if you haven’t tasted their cookies before, then you’re in for a real treat. Funfetti, lemon cheesecake, and salted caramel sugar cookies are just a few of the scrumptious flavors featured.

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Photo courtesy of Linda Reeve

No. 8:

Christie Cookie Co. - Nashville, Tennessee

A Tennessee institution for more than four decades, Christie Cookie Co. offers a diverse array of treats for Nashville locals and visitors alike. While cookie options span from snickerdoodle to rocky road, the Great 8 pack is perfect for sampling a multitude of different flavors.

Photo courtesy of boblin / E+ Getty Images

No. 7:

Oakmont Bakery - Oakmont, Pennsylvania

A favorite for Pittsburgh natives since the late '80s, Oakmont Bakery serves as one of the largest retail bakeries in the nation, with plenty of room to craft superbly designed cookies for guests to enjoy. Visitors can spring for a classic pumpkin spice, black-and-white cookie, or M&M cookie, while custom portrait cookies are available for anyone hosting a graduation party, themed dinner, or baby shower.

Photo courtesy of Justin Roskowske

No. 6:

SugarBot Sweet Shop - St. Charles, Missouri

Situated in the heart of St. Charles, Missouri, the owners of SugarBot Sweet Shop opened this charming bakery in 2012 with the goal of specializing in “childhood favorites, better than you remember them.” To that end, all their baked goods, ranging from cakes to cookies, are made from scratch using only high-quality ingredients. As for the cookies, one of SugarBot's bestsellers is a double chocolate mint.

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Photo courtesy of Gingagi // Getty Images

No. 5:

Hello Robin - Seattle, Washington

Since 2013, Hello Robin has been consistently churning out what many say are the best cookies in Seattle, Washington. Everyone raves about the bakery’s Mackles'more cookie (a s’more cookie with a chunk of Theo chocolate), but the choices don’t end there. Other goodies worth pursuing include brown butter snickerdoodles and the orange habanero chocolate chip, a chocolate chip cookie with citrusy notes and a spicy kick.

Photo courtesy of Monique Brand, OneMo Studio

No. 4:

Famous 4th Street Cookie Company - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This iconic Philadelphia cookie producer has been doling out chocolate chip cookies since 1978. Today, Famous 4th Street Cookie Company has expanded operations and its award-winning cookie lineup to now offer over a dozen different flavors, including tempting picks like toffee pecan, white chocolate cranberry, and blueberry muffin.

Photo courtesy of Katie Morgan

No. 3:

Katiebug's Sips & Sweets - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Serving shaved ice in the summer, hot chocolate in the winter, plus an array of sweet treats out of a mint green bungalow, Katiebug's Sips & Sweets is clearly the place to go for a sugar fix in downtown Oklahoma City. Find everything from cake slices to homemade marshmallows to a rotating roster of cookie flavors with options like brown butter oatmeal and butterscotch crack.

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See Also

This Fluffy No-Bake Cookies & Cream Mousse Is 1,000x Better Than Ice Cream57 Sandwiches That Define New York CityCookies and Cream Ice Cream – Taste of HomeEasy and Delicious Recipe – Happy Muncher

Photo courtesy of PLEASE & THANK YOU

No. 2:

Please & Thank You - Indianapolis, Indiana, and Louisville, Kentucky

It’s impossible to look up any Louisville travel guide without this cookie cafe popping up on the list. And there’s a reason for that: Please & Thank You’s chocolate chip cookies are often named the best in Kentucky. Soft and gooey on the inside and slightly crisp around the edges, they’re made from a secret recipe that took the shop’s owner over two years to perfect. Indianapolis residents and visitors can also enjoy cookie goodness at the company's second location.

Photo courtesy of Sara Schulte Photography

No. 1:

Grandma's Cookies on Main - St. Charles, Missouri

Perched just west of the banks of the Missouri River,Grandma's Cookies on Main offers a wide array of sugary snacks to the St. Louis metro area. Visitors can dine on oatmeal raisin and coconut cookies during a visit, while dairy-free options like snickerdoodle and sugar sprinkle are up for grabs as well.

Allison Levine

Allison Levine

Allison Levine is the owner of Please The Palate, a boutique agency specializing in marketing and event planning for the wine and spirits industry. With over 15 years of experience in communications, marketing, and event planning, Allison is passionate about the world around her and the diverse people in it. Allison holds a master’s degree in international communications with a focus on cross-cultural training from the American University School of International Service and holds a WSET Level 3 Certificate from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET). As an industry expert, she has worked with wine regions around the world. She has traveled extensively and has lived abroad in Italy, Spain, and Mexico where she developed her passion for food and wine. Her work allows her to live life to the fullest and, as a freelance writer, Allison communicates her experiences in articles, as well as in her blog. Allison is the US Host for the international podcast Wine Soundtrack where she interviews winemakers and gets to know them in 30 questions, and she is co-host of the YouTube wine series Crush On This. Her website iswww.pleasethepalate.comand you can follow her on Instagram @plsthepalate.

Carly Caramanna

Carly Caramanna

Carly Caramanna has a passion for covering the latest in unique food, travel, and theme park trends. Growing up in the carb-filled land of bagels and pizza by the slice (aka New Jersey), her parents instilled a love of all things adventure and food. Featured on CNN Business, BBC, NPR, MSN, Huffington Post, and host of the Attractions Magazine podcast, she uses her expertise as a contributor to Travel + Leisure, Business Insider, Delish, and many more.www.adventuresbycarly.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/adventuresbycarly/ X: https://twitter.com/CarlyCaramanna

Jacky Runice

Jacky Runice

Born in Bucktown when bulletproof was a home safety choice and not a coffee order, Jacky Runice has been knocking around Chicago as a professional print, online and broadcast journalist and editor specializing in separating the riff from the raff in culture, entertainment, food, travel and pure unadulterated fun. Jacky is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).In her best Chicagoese, Jacky asks, "Who has the time or money to blow on hotels, attractions, restaurants, exhibits and activities that blow?"

Jamie Davis Smith

Jamie Davis Smith

Jamie is a travel writer who has visited over 50 countries, many of them with her children in tow. She loves visiting everything from theme parks to ancient ruins and packs strictly carry-on-only. Jamie can be reached at jamiesmithwrites@gmail.com.

Kristin Luna

Kristin Luna

Kristin Luna is a Nashville-based travel writer who has contributed toTravel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, USA TODAY, Southern Livingand many more. You can follow her adventures via her blogCamels & Chocolateor on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Marilyn Johnson

Marilyn Johnson

Marilyn Johnson is an award-winning Philadelphia area-based food and travel writer focusing on the greater Mid-Atlantic region. Marilyn founded Philly Grub in 2008 and South Jersey Food Scene in 2019. Her work has appeared on MSN, NewsBreak, Philadelphia Today, Cherry Hill Neighbors, New Jersey Monthly, and other online publications. She is a member of Les Dames d'Escoffier Philadelphia, a society of professional women leaders in the fields of food, beverage, and hospitality.

Marla Cimini

Marla Cimini

Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion for travel, music, surfing and culinary adventures! An avid globetrotter and guidebook writer, she has covered topics such as the Hawaiian islands (including food trends and luxury beachfront resorts), as well as European getaways and global destinations. Her articles have appeared in many publications worldwide, including USA Today.Marla lives in New Jersey (Philadelphia area) and is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and Southern California, and often covers those destinations.Her travel website is:www.marlacimini.com

Melissa Curtin

Melissa Curtin

Melisa Curtin is a travel and food writer who has documented her globetrotting adventures for over a decade. AConnecticut girl madly in love with California, her work has appeared in Lonely Planet, LA Weekly, Canadian Traveler, AAA, Roadtrippers, JohnnyJet, Travel Awaits, and many southern California print publications.Melissa is always on the hunt for the best local bites and destinations with few tourists, splittingher non-travel time between Malibu and Palm Springs with her husband and ever-growing collection of plants.Traveling around the world at age 20 on Semester at Sea sparked Melissa's desire for learning about other cultures. As a 20+ year educator and new travel advisor with Fora, she inspires others to reach their goals and pursue their travel dreams. Some of her recent favorite jauntsinclude a Viking river cruise from Paris to Normandy with her mom, truffle hunting in Tuscany, and eating her way through Florence.Get to know the Best of L.A. and California by checking out her websiteLaLaScoop.comor following the @lalascoop on Instagram.

Melody Pittman

Melody Pittman

Melody Pittman is the owner and creator of Wherever I May Roam Blogand is co-owner of the Southern Travelers Explore annual conference, in its 4th year, which brings CVBS and writers/influencers together from all over the country.She is a digital influencer and writes for both online and print publications, such as Travel Awaits, Charleston Home and Living Magazine, Matador Network, She Buys Travel, and more. Melody has worked with major brands during her nine-year career, such as Viking River Cruises, Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Disney, hundreds of tourism boards, and GO RVing.Melody’s first book “100 Things to Do in West Virginia Before You Die” was released in the spring of 2023. She has a podcast, 100ThingsWV, and social channels to go along with the book.Melody loves road trips, small towns, cruising, and sharing lesser-known destinations with her followers via TikTok, Youtube, IG, and FB. After a year of full-time RV travel, she now resides in Mesquite, Nevada.

10Best Editors

10Best Editors

USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.

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