Thanksgiving

Where to get the best cookies in Greater Boston

From gooey chocolate chip to citrus-sesame and dulce-de-leche alfajores, here's where to find the best cookies in Greater Boston — plus reader favorites and a map for your next cookie crawl.

Chris McIntosh for Boston.com

November 24, 2025

2 minutes to read

The rent is too high, the days are too dark, and the air is too cold. In other words, it is prime time for a little treat — and a cookie, that gorgeous, handheld dessert that goes down easy in a few bites, is the ideal little treat for these times. We scoured the city to find the cookies that hit all the right notes, from a melty chocolate chip cookie that tastes like it just came out of the oven to buttery, caramel-y alfajores, and a fancified black sesame orange cookie that is sure to impress any cookie exchanges that you may be engaging in this year. Consider these a few bucks very well spent.

Chocolate chip cookie from Cacao. – Chris McIntosh for Boston.com

Where to get it: Cacao

Locations: 570 Columbus Ave., South End; 64 Broad St., Downtown Boston

There are plenty of great chocolate chip cookies to be found in and around Boston, but only one can rule them all — and in our book, that title goes to Cacao’s ooey-gooey version. The chocolate shop stuffs each cookie with high-quality dark chocolate and bakes small batches of them throughout the day, ensuring that each order tastes like it just popped out of the oven. A sprinkling of fancy salt over top helps cut through the rich treat. If the day calls for multiple little treats, pair the cookie with one of the shop’s decadent hot chocolates.

Black sesame orange cookie from Michette. – Chris McIntosh for Boston.com

Where to get it: Michette Bakery

Location: 164 Broadway, East Somerville

Like your cookies a little more cheffed up? Michette’s black sesame orange cookie is that kind of deal. This little treat is packed with loads of nutty black sesame paste, and then somehow packed with loads more of orange zest, and topped with a fistful of sesame seeds. It boasts a chewy center with just-crispy-enough edges, and a subtle citrus kick in each bite.

Salted peanut butter cookie from Third Cliff Bakery & Cafe. – Chris McIntosh for Boston.com

Where to get it: Third Cliff Bakery & Cafe

Location: 3531 Washington St., Ste 101, Jamaica Plain

The alchemy of a peanut butter cookie is plain perfection: very few ingredients, mixing together into something soft, chewy, and perfectly companionable to a cup of coffee or tea. Third Cliff takes things a step further, subtracting the gluten, salting the top, and crafting it into something that really sticks in your mind after eating (pun intended). If you’re a fan of the genre, this version is a must-order.

Alfajores

Where to get it: Asaro Bakery & Cafe

Location: 1629 Cambridge St., Cambridge

Alfajores are something of a two-for-one special: A generous dab of creamy dulce de leche sandwiched between two crumbly, delicate butter cookies, with the sides rolled in white coconut flakes. Asaro sells fist-sized versions at their excellent bakery just off of Harvard Square. Or, better yet, grab a to-go pack of miniature versions that will be welcome at any holiday party.

Map: Best cookies in Greater Boston, 2025

List: Where to find the best cookies in Greater Boston

Name	Address	What readers said
2nd Street Cafe	89 Second St #1, Cambridge, MA 02141	Best damn molasses cookies ever.
Asaro Bakery & Cafe	1629 Cambridge St., Cambridge
American Provisions	1971 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester, MA 02124	Big Chocolate Chip Cookie. They use a dark chocolate morsel that makes the cookie taste sophisticated.
Bakey – Downtown Boston	151 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02111	Chocolate chip cookies, chocolate babka, almond babka. – Mark, Needham
Blue Frog Bakery	3 Green St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130	Several types of chocolate chip cookies. They are the perfect mix of chewy and crispy. – Allan T., Jamaica Plain Cookies, croissants and bread…I go to Brad and Ginger anytime I want to get my carb fix. – Julie, Jamaica Plain Dark Chocolate Chip cookies. Fantastic and buttery! – Colin, Jamaica Plain
Blunch	59 E Springfield St, Boston, MA 02118	Chocolate chip cookies and a breakfast sandwich. – Jack, North End Choc Chip – so much chocolate!
Bova’s Bakery	134 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113	They remind me of my childhood. Chocolate chip rugalach.
Cacao	Multiple locations
Caramel French Patisserie	281 Essex St, Salem, MA 01970	Amazing flavors and the perfect size. -Lisa B., Melrose
Clear Flour Bread	178 Thorndike St, Brookline, MA 02446	Chocolate chunk. So yum. Chocolate chunk is the best cookie in Boston. – Jeff, Brookline Trail Mix cookies…unique and delicious. – Marianne, Brookline Chocolate chip. – Beth, Dorchester Most amazing cookies in the world. And they’re the size of your head!
Colette Bakery	509 Main St, Medford, MA 02155	Chocolate chip cookie. Perfect balance of crunchy and chewy and loaded with small chocolate chips so you get some in every bite. It’s covered in a coarse sugar as well. – Sam L., South Medford
Cookie Time	1375 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington, MA 02476	I love the people they are so nice and always have the best cookies 🥰. – Evelyn C., Arlington I like to get different things. My whole family loves Cookie time, the cookies are always amazing and the workers are so kind. – Sophia N., Arlington I get an assorted dozen because all of them are delicious. -Natasha Stack, Arlington Cookie Time has delicious options for cookies. – Luz L., Roslindale They are very delish especially the sugar cookie. – Klara F., Arlington Cookie time is a woman owned business and all the cookies are fresh and made in the Backery and they taste delicious! – Serwaa, Arlington Seasonal butter cookie cutouts, florentines, macaroons, raspberry linzers. It might be the nostalgia from my childhood or the butter but I love Cookie Time! There is something simple yet delicious about each cookie. My mom and I hide a few during Christmas time to make sure we have enough 🙂 – Elizabeth T., Charlestown
Crumbl	Multiple locations	Love the different varieties offered banana. – Deb, Wilmington Cookie Monster. -Jennifer N., Saugus They have different varieties every week. My favorite is the Cinnamon Bun and the Chocolate Chip. They are warm when you order them just amazing!!
Cutty’s Brookline	280 Washington St, Brookline, MA 02445	Brown Sugar Cookie.
Daniel’s Bakery	395 Washington St, Brighton, MA 02135	I’ve had my fair share of Half Moon’s from the North End to out MetroWest and I can adamantly say Daniels’ Half Moon’s are second to none. The cake is fluffy yet tight, spongy, and moist with no crumbs falling off on a bite. As for the frosting, the chocolate and vanilla are both rich, thick, and fluffy full of flavor(buttercream maybe? although i have legit no idea difference between frosting but it looks like pictures on google). The other half moon’s I’ve sampled throughout the area general have cake that crumbles and is way too fluffy or the frosting has a lemony hint for some reason, not thick enough, and the wrong texture/constancy you want in a half moon–Daniels’ cookies have avoid all these sins. I have been going to Daniel’s Bakery every Friday for the past year and a half or so to pick up 3 Moon Cookies to make the weekend that much better. I specifically remember one Friday going in before close and all the half Moons were sold out–that one was tough. Ill be honest I was reluctant to write this review in fear of creating a supply shortage leading to another Half Moon-less weekend, however I do think that Daniels Half Moons are that good and everyone should enjoy them and as well as Daniels should be praised for their excellent staff…..To sign off Ill keep it simple, Daniels half moon is far superior than any half moon and it is the best cookie in Boston. -Stephen M., Brighton
Delectable Desires Pastries	1755 Centre St, West Roxbury, MA 02132	They are almost always fresh and they are always delicious. Plenty of butter! -Dan G., Boston
Dolce Amar	497 Main St, Groton, MA 01450	Chocolate pecan or silician almond. – Carla Jeanne, Lunenburg
Elephantine Bakery	10 Commercial Alley #2, Portsmouth, NH 03801	Literally the best. Anytime of day.
Elm Street Bakery	173 Elm St, Everett, MA 02149	They are a family favorite. The Pistachio macaroons have just the right amount of flavor and chewiness with a hint of powdered sugar on top! They’re always so fresh! – Colleen O., Everett
Espresso Love	33 Broad St, Boston, MA 02109	Oatmeal chocolate chip, perfect hybrid; not too sweet, great balance chrunchy / chewy.
Fiore’s Bakery	55 South St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130	Chocolate chip. Literally the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had. A religious experience. Big and thick they are packed with dynamic contrast; at once chewy inside and crispy outside, perfectly balanced sweetness and saltiness, brown sugar sweetness cut through by the subtle bitterness of the chocolate. Buttery, decadent, and dense, these are simply the best cookies I’ve ever had. – Bruce, Somerville Ginger Toffee, as toffee pools in bottom of cooking process leaving a skin of candy. -Stuart K., Brookline Ginger molasses cookie, as the bottom pools into candy while cooking. Chocolate chip cookies. Ingredients mixed at the right temp.
Flour	Multiple locations	Chunky lola – perfect size, perfect sweetness, perfect texture. – Alice, Back Bay Flour tcho chocolate chip cookie — not actually chips, but chocolate discs layered on top of each other. I’m a chocolate snob and these are the best cookies ever. – Anonymous, Back Bay They are the right level of chewy and sweet. Gingersnap. – Kelly, Charlestown Flour’s Chocolate Chip Cookies with TCHO chocolate send me straight to heaven. No other cookie can compare. – Ashley, Medfield Very chocolate cooki loaded with chocolate chunks. Marie B., Seaport They’re crisp on the outside, chewy in the middle, and they use a high-quality chocolate. Jen M., Westwood Just a mouthful of deliciousness. -Jennifer C., Back Bay Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter. -Friendsir, Melrose Chocolate chip cookies. -Leah G., Newtonville Best ever! Chuky Lola is just a unique combination of flavors – Oatmeal, pecan, and chocolate. Not too sweet, great consistency. The peanut butter is also amazing! The sea salt on top makes it. -Tina S., Back Bay
Frozen Hoagies	534 Main St Winchester, MA 01890., Winchester 01890	Snickerdoodle cookies with salted caramel ice cream. – Molly, Dedham
Ginger Betty’s	215 Samoset Ave., Quincy, MA 02169	Best cookies around! – Melissa, Quincy Buy a half-dozen of the ginger snaps, and then microwave the cookie for 10 seconds to get the chocolate just melted enough to have the closest thing to heaven. Ginger bread cookies. They are The perfect blend of crispiness and soft gingerbread. -Kathleen O., Braintree Delectable! I can’t go to holidays in NY, NJ or VT without bringing these to the family! The Ginger cookies are moist, chewy and drizzled with chocolate. I never even liked Ginger cookies until these. And Ginger Betty’s Beth Veneto supports the community and our service men and women. And kids can have a cookie making birthday party there, too! I also enjoy the classic gingerbread man cookies and macaroons! And there are kits to make your own gingerbread house at home. Ginger Betty’s is a special place with delicious cookies and a hidden gem in Quincy! – Linda S., Quincy Gingerbread cookies, Macaroons and Chocolate Chip. – Kevin, Quincy Flavors change each week, they are always hot and fresh out of the oven. -Ash, Salem Decadent cookies and fun flavors that change weekly. -Julia N., Salem
Goodnight Fatty	1 Washington Square, Salem, MA 01970	Rotating cookies. Their menu changes. They are warm and fresh and always delicious. -Colleen, Salem Each week they have a new lineup. It varies but consistently they deliver hot and gooey goodness to your door. It’s just undercooked enough. -John, Beverly Whatever they have that weekend – lineup changes every week. I like the weird flavors like the recent Golden Banana. The cookies are always big, hot, chewy and delicious when dropped at my doorstep. -Monica H., Salem 3 cookies flavors released each Thurs for 3 nights only. Each flavor is an over the top delight. -Jen, Peabody Goodnight Fatty has the most inventive flavors (cosmic brownie; wild berry poptart; muddy buddy) the cookies are always soft and rich in flavor, and the flavors change every weekend. The fact that you don’t know what they’re making until 5 o’clock on Friday evening just makes you anticipate checking the menu all week. I love that they offer them in flights so you can try them all, and pairing a hot-from-the-oven cookie with their soft serve is a bonus. -Megan, Salem
Green Hills Irish Bakery	780 Adams St, Boston, MA 02124	The M&M cookies cannot be beat – perfect texture. -Kerrianne, Arlington
Greystone in Boston’s South End	123 Appleton St, Boston, MA 02116	Their chocolate chip cookies with sea salt are insanely good…one of the best cookies I’ve ever had. – AJ, South End
Harvard General Store	1 Still River Rd, Harvard, MA 01451	So good – the chocolate chips are large and soo good. -Erin, Harvard
Hens & Chicks Cookie Company	161 Dutcher St, Hopedale, MA 01747	All the cookies are made of top quality, organic ingredients. My favorites are the oatmeal/raisin and Chocolate chip, wife loves the sugar cookies and the kids ANYTHING they make!
Hi-Rise Bread Company	208 Concord Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138	Perfect cookies. Great standard and non standard options
L.A. Burdick	Multiple locations	THE CHOCOLATE CHUNKS ARE SUPER DELICIOUS AND PLENTIFUL! – Emily WH, Roslindale Dark Chocolate Mocha espresso with a chocolate chip walnut cookie. – Christina V. Burdick Cookie. Melts in your mouth! – Michael S. So warm and gooey. – Anand, Back Bay Perfectly cooked with a ganache center. – Margaret A., Medford 3 Chocolate chip cookies. -Lauren, Quincy Chocolate chip. -Maxine, Duxbury I love chocolate chip cookies! These cookies have lots of chocolate chips in them! Yummy! -Jeanne M., Medford Chocolate chip cookie and a hot chocolate 🙂 -Erin, Tewsbury Chocolate chip cookie! There is no better place in Boston. -Andrew, Tewksbury Burdick Cookie! The best chocolate you will ever taste. Like a hot chocolate in a cookie! -Megan W., Back Bay Chocolate Chip cookies ate delicious especially when warm. -RCW, Boston Their chocolate chip cookies are so chocolatey, rich and delicious. – Matt A., Keene, NH Raspberry cookies from burdicks. -Rob, South End The chocolate chip cookies are TO DIE DOR. – Laura Best chocolate cookie probably because they are the best chocolate shop. -C Liu, Back Bay I get the chocolate chip cookie with a white chocolate mocha. The cookie is always melty and gooey and the mocha pairs perfectly with the milk and dark chocolate chips in the cookie. – Devin B., Back Bay I love both the Burdick chocolate chip cookie and the raspberry chocolate chip version. The cookies are big chunky homemade cookies filled with chunks of decadent chocolate. -Karen, Watertown A box of Burdick cookies (chocolate chip) – perfect for a Sunday snack. -Gary
La Saison Bakery	407 Concord Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138	La Saison is obviously known for their croissants, but you can’t overlook their browned butter chocolate chip. I think it’s the best I’ve had – soft, chocolate-y but not, you know, too much so, with a little bit of heft to it. -Erin D., Medford
Levain Bakery	180 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116	Chocolate chip. -Meredith, Cambridge 6 shortbread 6 choc chips with nuts. -Louise P., Leominster Chocolate chip walnut (Levain) and all the cookies (Flour). -Frandi, South Boston Chocolate Chip Walnut, Dark chocolate peanut butter, dark chocolate chocolate chip, two chip, Oatmeal raisin. -Pam, Back Bay Levain – can’t go wrong with any cookies they have. -Michael H., Hyde Park
Lyndell’s Bakery	720 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02144	So yummy, we ate them in the car o the way home! -Lynn, Somerville Half Moons, Chocolate Chips Cookies, Cupcakes – everything there is great. -Pat K. They are big and full of great ingrediants. Crunchy but not dry! Flavor bombs for your mouth. Lyndells in Somerville makes peanut butter cup cookies to die for, also apricot madelines! -Philipe G., Ball Square Half moon. Thick frosting and low price. -Eric M., Everett
Michette Bakery	164 Broadway, East Somerville
Mike’s Pastry	300 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113	Chocolate Dipped Biscotti are nutty, crisp and made for dunking in coffee. The use of pastry flour. -Jox, Boston
Modern Pastry Shop	257 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113	Macaroon. -Anonymous, Boston Taste. -Rob, Boston Chocolate covered almond Biscotti, butter cookies, rainbow cookies, champagne cookies. -Karem D., Orlando, Fla. Biscotti….Italian wedding! Simple and classic. -Amy, Dracut Pistachio Macaroons (Italian). Loaded with pistachios, always tender, perfect end to a great meal or a great treat for a weekend morning with a cappuccino. -Kara, Boston-native now living in Rockville, MD Rainbow cookies, Florentines. – Quietbuggy, North End
Oakleaf Bakery	12 Westland Ave, Boston, MA 02115	The softest cookies! -Marie, Boston Chocolate Chunk Cookies! I love their cookies because they are large, soft and consistently delicious. -Jaz, Boston
Old Sturbridge Village Store	1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd, Sturbridge, MA 01566	Chocolate chunk -warm, lots of chocolate chunks and soft. – Mike, Hopkinton
Sam LaGrassa’s	44 Province St, Boston, MA 02108	M&M bc they are huge! A meal by themselves. -Emo, Norwell
Sofra Bakery & Cafe	1 Belmont St, Cambridge, MA 02138	Earthquakes. -George M., Winthrop Molasses cookies, unique and unlike any other for sale in the Boston area. -Zeke K., East Lexington
Sugar Baking Co.	1884 Centre St, Boston, MA 02132	Brambles. -Stephanie, Dedham Chewy and flavorful. -Carol, Roslindale A dozen brambles; flaky, just enough raspberry filling, always fresh! -Barbara H., West Roxbury Coconut macaroons – they’re the best on the planet. -Ellybelly, Stow Delightful pastry puffs filled with jam. Delicate yet sturdy and one of kind goodness. Originally Hanley’s Bakery cookie and when Sugar took over they kept the tradition going. -Elaine M., West Roxbury
Sweet Life	2243 Dorchester Ave, Boston, MA 02124	They use the best of ingredients and cook them to perfection. -Jack A., Dorchester
Tatte Bakery & Cafe	Multiple locations	The butter cookies because they literally melt in your mouth. -Carrie, North Shore It’s fresh and very unique. -Renee C., Boston
The Boston Chipyard (Faneuil Hall)	1 Faneuil Hall Market Place, Boston, MA 02109	Their chocolate chip cookies are perfection. Usually served warm and they don’t skimp on the chips. – Courtney, Loudonville NY Mix and match, bite size, tons of flavors and they melt in your mouth. – Howie, Quincy Chocolate chip oatmeal. You can taste the butter! So bad, so good! But way too small. – Jill, South Boston Crispy edges and soft center. – Amy, Needham Chocolate chip cookies – classic and taste great, just right consistency. – Andrew S., Overland Park, KS Always warm and yummy.
The Cookie Monstah	Multiple locations	Just overall best cookie. Oatmeal Raisin—chewy, cinnamony, delicious. – Tim G., Bedford Green Monstah. Best cookie ice cream sandwiches around! – B Wood, Westford Salted caramel. – Heather, West Roxbury Yum yum. – Joe, Holiston Chocolate Chip. Perfectly chewy. – Mike, Westwood Oreo stuffed chocolate chip. – Lucy, Foxborough I suggest the peanut butter cookies as they are a hidden gem. The cookies are always fresh and delicious. – Dan S., Needham Absolutely fantastic cookies. I spent months trying to recreate the Cookie Monstah chocolate chip cookies at home. Simply the best! – Elizabeth S., Chestnut Hill OMG! Not only are there cookies amazing, you can combine them with ice cream and make a delicious ice-cream sandiwch. -Steven M., Burlington
The Half Cookie	3a Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, MA 02467	All of their cookies are absolutely delicious ! The S’mores is my favorite but you can’t go wrong with any of them! -Camille, Brighton
The Purple Cactus	674 Centre St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130	It’s big chunky with caramel It’s to Die for. Not the nasty chocolate chip one either.get caramel cookie. – Kim M., Boston
Third Cliff Bakery	3531 Washington St Suite 103, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130	Browned butter chocolate chip cookies…browned butter! Need I say more?! Such a depth of flavor! – Jennifer C., Watertown
Top Shelf	516 Gallivan Blvd, Boston, MA 02124	Cocoverdose. -Ami F., Exeter, NH Black and Golds. Perfection. – Donna A., Middleboro Black and Gold. great taste. -Ken, Hanover They are all amazing. -Chuck, Hanover Sam Adams Boston lager is the MVP. -KG, “Chelsea’s finest” Goatmeal. -Crim, Boston Black & golds, I like the blends of flavers. -J. Lavalley, Boston Black and Gold Stack, Raisin Healthy stack. – Donald, Jamaica Plain Not sure I understand the question so I will go with this – Oatmeal Raisin, any of the chocolate and whatever the new flavor might be… Why do I like them- since her earliest days, she has held to an awesome, just above underbaked cookie with well thought ought and tested flavors..s! cookie. -B. Stevens, Boston Women owned business started in Boston. -Lilian, Somerville The flood, black and golds. -Melissa C., Quincy Any of them. It’s too hard to choose just one. -Chris Black & Gold – perfect mix of chocolate and peanut butter! – Megan K., Candia, NH Every cookie is tasty! I get a monthly subscription order and everything from the basics to the funky are well worthy my order. -Carl H., Saugus I’ve known the owner since she was one table at the Sowa Farmers Market, and I’d look forward to her cookies every week. It’s no surprise she had a store front in Boston now! I order Top Shelf Cookies as gifts for Christmas and birthdays, and it’s safe to say everyone looks forward to it at this point. The fact that it’s a local, woman owned small business is just the icing on the cookie. – Bianca M., Middleboro Black & Gold. They are the perfect mix of sweet and salty. – Melissa L., Medford Always delicious! And a great community business! – Maureen F., Boston They are delicious, fresh and even Boston Themed! – Paula, Quincy Cookie of the month. Variety. – Carmel K., Lynn The black and gold and Hazel’s chocolate chip! These are your classic cookies with an unexpected twist that has you coming back for more! – Morgan R., Adams Village, Dorchester Inventive recipes, a great back story, and my favorite cookie of all time. And handy, in Adams Village. – Amy, Quincy The cocoa overdose cookies. Satisfies any chocolate craving! – Jen S., North Andover
Vinal Bakery	222 Somerville Ave, Somerville, MA 02143	Get a Miss Maple Breakfast sandwich and a hermit and a chocolate chip cookie for dessert
Woodbery Food Market	157 Essex St, Beverly, MA 01915	Lemon Blueberry. -Andy G., Beverly

Where to get the best cookies in Greater Boston