1. “THE” CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE @ FRENCH MEADOW
Everyone’s in search of the best chocolate chip cookie, no? Well, I needn’t look any farther than the French Meadow. With one bite, this cookie, which appears to be crunchy upon first glance, reveals a crystalline yet wonderfully chewy interior. The crystal texture comes from sea salt—a perfect finish to any chocolate cookie. There’s not much that should be done to a chocolate chip cookie, and this one, with it’s simplicity and follow-through, is truly deserving of the title. $1.99 each.   

FRENCH MEADOW BAKERY & CAFÉ
2610 Lyndale Ave. S.
Minneapolis
612.870.7855




2. LEMON CREAM CHEESE COOKIE @ MOOSE AND SADIE’S
This sweet baby is so light and fluffy that it almost seems more like a cake, but the people at Moose and Sadie’s call it a cookie. And I call it delicious! I’m a sucker for lemon pastry, but all too often the result is either too lemony or too sweet. Not here. The fluffy cookie and sweet frosting achieve flavor harmony, complementing each other perfectly. It’s the perfect cookie for those of us who love lemon, or those looking for a little taste of spring. $.95 each.   

MOOSE AND SADIE’S
212 3rd Ave. N.
Minneapolis
612.371.0464

3. FUDGE CRUNCH COOKIE @ YUM!
Another frosted delight, this cookie certainly lends truth to the bakery’s name. The buttery cookie is laden with thinly sliced almonds and small fudge chunks. As if that wasn’t enticing enough, try topping it with chocolate fudge frosting. The crunch on the edge of the cookie works with the chewy middle and crunchy almond slices to create a wonderfully contradictory texture, finished by the creaminess of the frosting. This is a sizable cookie, but take my word for it, this treat is definitely worth it. $2.25 each.   

YUM! KITCHEN AND BAKERY
4000 Minnetonka Blvd.
St. Louis Park
952.922.4000

4. DATE BALL @ BIRCHWOOD CAFE
OK, so I don’t know if this is technically a cookie, but I don’t care. And once you’ve tasted it you won’t care either. I’m crazy about it for it’s caramel-like blend of dates and honey mixed with some walnuts, crisped rice and other assorted tasty ingredients rolled up into a ball and then dusted with finely chopped coconut. This date ball—which comes straight from the family recipe box of Birchwood pastry chef Sandra Sherva—is the tastiest thing I’ve had in quite some time. $1.50 each.   

BIRCHWOOD CAFÉ
3311 E. 25th St.
Minneapolis
612.722.4474

5. OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIE @ THE WILDE ROAST CAFE
This is my take on the classic oatmeal raisin cookie. I hesitate to mess with classics, but for me it’s all about flavor distribution. That’s why I pulse raisins and oats in a food processor in order to spread the intense flavors throughout the cookie. The result is a balanced cookie that has the pop of raisins and oats in every bite. And the best part: this cookie, while being tantalizingly scrumptious, is not overly decadent, allowing it to be enjoyed more often and without the guilt of gluttony. Perfect for the willpower-challenged cookie lover in all of us. $2.25 for bag of two.   

WILDE ROAST CAFÉ
518 E. Hennepin Ave.
Minneapolis
612.331.4544