The Best Cookies in Toronto
The best cookie in Toronto is a fraught and fought over title. Residents of this city hold strong opinions about this simple baked good. Upon hearing of this list, one friend threatened, "Le Gourmand better be on there!" (Thankfully, it was voted in at number two) But then, Toronto has so many great cookies in so many different varieties (and different sizes), I can see why this is a city of so few moderates.
Photos by Alyssa Bistonath
Wanda's Pie in the Sky
Wanda offers a complete selection of cookie options from sugar and shortbread to macaroons and the classic (and in this case, charmingly misshapen) chocolate chunk. Find also less-boring-than-most gluten-free options like the "chocolate almond kiss." More...
Le Gourmand
Impossibly dense and stacked enticingly by the window, Le Gourmand cookies incite impassioned responses and loyalties. Biting into one of these is like biting into four cookies at once. They're twice the price of a regular chocolate chip, but twice the size and taste. More...
Circle & Squares
C&S have closed their retail location for a while, baking up north by the DVP until they can find another downtown home. Until then, find their fine cookies in major theatre houses and espresso bars like Dark Horse. The toffee coffee chocolate chunk is mighty tasty. The classic chocolate chunk has visible grains of sea salt on top, and bursts with chocolaty flavour in your mouth. More...
Sweet Escape Patisserie
These cookies are somehow super buttery and refreshing at the same time. They're stacked neatly on sweet little white plates at this indoor corner shop in the Distillery District. Jason Poynton and Michelle Edgar, formerly of Bistro 990 and Sassafraz, expand upon "regular" chocolate chip with intriguing shortbread options like lavender, coconut curry and smoked paprika. More...
Queen of Tarts
This Roncesvalles bakeshop turns out big, fresh and chewy chocolate chip and "dried cranberry and Skor bar" cookies. They're also known for innovative gingerbread cookies. Find edible Star Wars and superhero characters here, in addition to gingerbread animals and "hunky firemen" - cookies here for every conceivable occasion. More...
Yummy Stuff
Yummy Stuff comes out of nowhere with its bright pastel Parkdale exterior. Find good-sized cookies for about a buck, buttery and soft, in flavours like snicker doodle and chocolate gingerbread. These are the kind of cookies that seep, buttery, through paper bags (the kind of cookies that satisfy you). Find also linzers and shortbread, custom designs, a "cookie necklace decorating kit," and sugar cookie lollipops. More...
Bread & Roses
They pile their cookies up in such a way that you want to buy a mound of them, they look so good crammed together like that. Good sized and well priced, their chocolate chunk cookies and chocolate-covered macaroons are a Bloor West Village favourite. More...
Rahier
Up on Bayview, Rahier offers plenty of pre-bagged cookies and fresh mini cookies sold by weight. Macaroon-like miniatures in chocolate and pistachio, as well as gingerbread variations, are bagged up on demand so nicely you want to make them a present. The whole bakery is like a giant edible gift shop. More...
Frangipane
This French patisserie strays from the usual cookie fare with the favourite lemon shortbread, chewy ginger molasses, and a variety of macaroons. The Parisian macarons come most recommended, and the store proudly offers gluten-free alternatives. More...
F'COFFEE
Piles of cookies disappear in a flash. They come in simple flavours (like "milk chocolate" and "dark chocolate") and taste really buttery and unhealthy, the way cookies should. They go down so good with the excellent (STRONG!) coffee, roasted down the street at the Fresh Coffee Network. More...
Dessert Lady
This tiny Yorkville bakery offers ribbon-tied bags of cookies in unconventional flavours like "smoked chili chocolate" and "double chocolate banana." "The chili will burn your throat," I'm considerately warned with my first purchase. And indeed it does. Sweet and spicy - a cookie marriage. I'm addicted. More...
Kensington Natural Bakery
Vegans can catch a break here. There are tons of dairy-free cookies, as well as gluten-free options, great tasting if weird looking. And oh, the spelt, spelt at every turn! Good sized and priced at about a dollar, KNB offers healthier and heartier (and more inclusive) cookie options than any other baked-good joint in TO. More...
Comments (22)
Cherry Bomb Cafe on Roncesvalles has shockingly good baked goods, including some of the better fresh-baked cookies I've tasted in town, as well as the most delicious scones. Yeah!
Mmmmmmm..... dulce......
It's SO GREAT to see how north america's embraced Dulce de Leche so much(*i'm from latin america originally, where Dulce is abundant) Churros, Dulce Hagen daus, now cookies..(mmm)
I love Canada even more now.
Don't forget cookies online - www.zelcoviacookies.com is pretty darn good, their Signature Series cookies are incredible!
Emily: Why no mention of one of Toronto's BEST biscotti and other baked goods?: Leah's Home Baking.
She's been written up in Toronto Life, and has an enormous following for her baked goods all over Toronto...not to mention is in almost ALL go-to shops in the city, including Pusateri's, Whole Foods, Summerhill Market, and a million others.... I think this is a big ommission;
Perhaps an addendum is needed?
I'm still working off the pudge from a raging Gourmand cookie addiction, 3 years ago. Fond memories, though.
I'd like to recommend to everyone to read the comment thread on the Le Gourmand review if you're looking for a wacky adventure. It will also get you to stop thinking about cookies, which is also good.
Not sure where they're available outside of Summerhill Market, but Robyn's Cookies are awesome... the chocolate chip tastes like eating a big Smartie :D~
Fresh has the best vegetarian double-chocolate cookies I've EVER had. I don't care much for their (over-priced) menu, but I will always go back for the cookies. Nomnomnom!
I have to disagree on Le Gourmande having the best cookies... I think they're awful.
People at work always buy them for the office so I've had plenty (we're nearby) but I've started refusing now. They're so dry and bland, and always overcooked with burnt bottoms. The recipes aren't that spectacular, either, they pretty much taste like sawdust.
They're also prohibitively expensive. I'd say you're better done by to spend the money on ingredients and make your own. Guaranteed they will taste better!
I would have to say that the Dessert Lady's cupcakes are very good as well; she also does special cakes and cupcakes for special occasions such as showers, weddings etc. Her shortbread cookies are the best I've ever tasted!
New Moon Kitchen has some incredible stuff - all natural and really yummy http://www.newmoonkitchen.com/. Cherry Bomb gets my vote too.
Has everyone forgotten Monsieur Felix and Norton. Show up at 11am and you'll get the freshest melt-in-your-mouth in downtown T.
Its nicely tucked away in a lonely corner of the Eaton Centre so chances are you fav ones are not sold out by the time you get there.
My fave shortbread cookies are from Mary Macleod's Shortbread at the edge of Leslieville and right beside F'Coffee (excellent strong coffee and cookies, too). She has limited hours because she does a huge wholesale business (Holts Cafe, etc), so be sure to check the website http://www.marymacleod.ca/ I snuck over there for a chocolate-orange shortbread to have with my coffee next door (I'd already polished off one of F'Coffee's dee-lish chocolate chip cookies - excellent, too).
Our family is currently addicted to the new Sweet Flour in our neighborhood - Bloor West Village.
http://sweetflour.ca/
They bake your cookies while you wait, the way you like them. Bespoke Biscuits!
Another great contender in the Biscotti category is a new line called Mandelbites. They are bite sized biscotti that come in 3 varieties, roasted almond, chocolate almond and deep caramel pecan.
I have bought them at Pusateri's , Nortown Fine Foods and La Salumeria at Yonge and Eglinton. The taste and texture are superb!!
Dude, the best cookies are Mr. Norton and Monsieur Felix cookies. Their lemon cookies are to die for.
Check out Sweet Flour Bake Shop. Now that's a cookie! They specialize in custom baked cookies. Haven't had a dud yet. My favourite - Peanut Butter dough, chocolate chunks and butterscotch chips! In Bloor West Village just west of Windermere.
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