Most Americans like this ‘perfect’ cookie best: poll

The classic chocolate chip cookie is still No. 1.

Two thousand Americans were polled on behalf of Crumbl Cookies, looking at people’s love for cookies ahead of National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day Aug. 4. It also dived into what makes a cookie “perfect,” according to South West News Service.

The survey found that 62% preferred the classic chocolate chip. Nostalgia was likely a factor with half of respondents saying they ate chocolate chip cookies often as kid. It was the favorite cookie flavor, followed by peanut butter, brownie/double chocolate and then oatmeal raisin.

The poll also found that 82% of respondents enjoy baking their own cookies — and half enjoy the baked good so much that they make their own at least once a month.

Many of those polled — 41% — said that they’ve eaten so many cookies in their lifetime that they are “cookie experts,” estimating a person should eat around 319 of the baked treats to become one. On average, people still consume 21 cookies a month in adulthood, although 24% shared they eat more than this.

Practice makes perfect when it comes to baking the delicious treat, with the average person reporting plenty of trial and errors, saying it usually has taken five tries to bake the perfect cookie.

The ingredients involved were a bit more in depth and varied, but most said they can’t go past a fresh-baked soft, chewy cookie made with brown sugar.

The “must-have” ingredients for a perfect cookie included vanilla extract (31%) or cinnamon (22%), while some listed more complex ingredients like brown butter (19%) or citrus zest (13%) for the perfect baked good.

“National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day is a day of nostalgia for many as people from all over the world likely grew up baking chocolate chip cookies with their families — that was a major reason for starting Crumbl in the beginning,” said Sawyer Hemsley, COO and co-founder of Crumbl Cookies.

“While we love our chocolate chip cookies, it can be fun to explore new and exciting flavor profiles that are unexpected for cookies — things like caramel popcorn, lava cake or even cornbread,” he added.

Respondents reflected this sentiment, with 59% saying they are interested in trying more unique cookie flavors.

Nearly a fifth of respondents also said the sweet treats are a solid afternoon pick-me-up (19%), and most people (61%) said a good cookie can turn a bad day around.

Jason McGowan, CEO and co-founder of Crumbl Cookies, said the beauty of cookies is to share them with people you love, with 29% saying they will munch on a cookie if they’re celebrating good times with loved ones or just passing by a bakery (23%).

“Our mission is about bringing friends and family together over the best cookies in the world because we believe that cookies can be used for celebrating, connecting, comforting or even just to satisfy a sweet tooth with a friend,” he told Talker.

“Between the sharing and delicious elements of a cookie, we believe there is no better snack!”

When asked to come up with their own flavor, Americans got creative with ideas like “a cookie that tastes like a birthday cake,” “cranberry orange cream” and “chocolate-covered strawberry cheesecake cookies.”