CHOCOLATE CHIP WALNUT COOKIE | NEW YORK CITY

Levain Bakery.  The legend.  It was at the top of my tasting list on my last trip to New York.  Before I left for the trip, everyone said I HAD TO VISIT LEVAIN.  In all caps.  Just like that.  I kept thinking to myself, “There’s no way that this cookie is that good.  It can’t be!”  Guess what?  IT WAS. 

A giant mound of chocolatey goodness, the Levain Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie is in a league of its own.  It is served so warm that it’s hard to get it to even stay put together!  This is one of those cookies that defies imagination.  How is it so big, yet so soft at the same time?  I don’t like walnuts, but they kept the cookie from being too sweet and added a nice layer to the texture. Do I like walnuts now?  How is this all possible?

I had a friend describe Levain cookies as a giant wad of dough.  I think that’s pretty accurate!  What’s incredible, though, is that this mountainous cookie has a crisp, golden brown outer layer.  Just underneath, there’s an extremely chewy, doughy center that melts in your mouth. And the chocolate?  It is everywhere.  I mean EVERYWHERE.  It was hard to take a beautiful photo of the center because I had chocolate all over my hands and, let’s face it, a gooey cookie just doesn’t really photograph well.  

In summary, there’s a reason why this cookie is the granddaddy of them all.  It’s one-of-a-kind.  Worth the wait.  A must-have. 

THE COOKIE TOUR STOP

I visited the location on West 74th Street.  We were very lucky and the line was short when we arrived (little hint—they have a Cookie Line-Cam on their web site!).  Even the locals were amazed at the lack of people waiting.  When we got inside, we discovered why there’s always a line outside—aside from the incredible cookies.  The interior is simply a counter.  There is little space to sit or stand.  Make your decision quickly, because everyone wants to get through as quickly as possible.  The aroma from the cookies is delicious.  Grab a few and be on your merry way.

it was a snowy Saturday when two of my favorite Cookie Tourists and I visited Levain.  Instead of digging in right when we left the bakery, we walked across Central Park to the Met.  It was a dream New York day!  We sat in The Met’s cafe to eat our cookies.  I’m not sure if that’s frowned upon, but we did it anyway! 

WHILE YOU’RE THERE​

While you’re there, you have to try the ​Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie, too.  WOW.  It is incredible, too.  It is the same magical mound of cookie with the crispy exterior and gooey center.  The dark chocolate dough is just bittersweet enough.  It pulls apart and is also big enough to share.  Grab one of each and share with a friend!

LIL’ NOOKIES | AUSTIN & OKLAHOMA CITY

When you think of a taco shop, you don’t normally think of chocolate chip cookies.  That’s why these cookies aren’t normal.  The Lil’ Nookies at Torchy’s Tacos are bite-sized balls of dough deep fried in a delicious batter.  They blew my mind!  They came out warm, gooey and oozing with chocolate.  That was the first time I’d had fried cookie dough balls, and it certainly won’t be the last. 

WHILE YOU’RE THERE

Torchy’s is known for its unique tacos, so you can’t go wrong with any of them.  Their sides are also crazy good.  Just take a look at the photo - I ordered everything!  Their queso and refried black beans are two of my favorites.  And of course, they pair well with the Lil’ Nookies.  

THE COOKIE TOUR STOP

I visited their location on South Congress in Austin, but lucky for you, they have locations across Texas and Oklahoma.  If you do find yourself in Austin, take a walk down South Congress.  There are lots of stores that are truly one-of-a-kind where you can find that perfect souvenir to remind you to “Keep Austin Weird.”  

CHOCOLATE CHUNK | WASHINGTON, D.C.

It’s always a good day when a quick sandwich stop surprises you with a gem of a cookie.  I popped into Taylor Gourmet before a flight out of D.C. and grabbed a chocolate chunk cookie (as I always do) just to give it a try.  What I found was my MVC of Washington, D.C.!

It was unreal!  The cookie was so doughy it tasted almost like it wasn’t even baked.  It had that “fresh out of the mixer” taste, if you know what I mean.  If you love dough just as much as the cookie itself, you need to get yourself to Taylor Gourmet. 

WHILE YOU'RE THERE

Try the Toffee Heath Bar Crunch cookie, too.  It’s got the same chewy texture as the chocolate chip, but it’s filled with sticky toffee.  Delish!

THE COOKIE TOUR STOP

You can find Taylor Gourmet across D.C. and in Maryland and Virginia (locations are listed at taylorgourmet.com).  That means while you visit the national monuments, Smithsonian Museums, and everything else D.C. has to offer, you can always have a cookie in hand.  Lucky you!