What’s the best cookie in Charleston? We asked and you answered. From sublime versions of the classic chocolate chip to more unusual combinations, the Holy City is not lacking when it comes to cookie options.
The origin of the cookie is disputed, but many believe it has roots in 7th century Persia soon after sugar was readily available. The word cookie derives from “koekje” in Dutch, which means “little cake,” and the chocolate chip cookie is said to have been created by Ruth Graves Wakefield in 1938 at the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Mass.
Regardless of where cookies came from, we can all rejoice that they exist and that Charleston bakers have perfected the baked treat.
Here are readers’ top 10 area cookies, based on an unscientific Instagram poll (listed in alphabetical order):
Chocolate chip cookie
Butter & Crumb Pie Company (Daniel Island)
Butter & Crumb Pie Company offers sweet and savory pies — everything from a chocolate pecan bourbon to a chicken pot pie. While there is no storefront, its products are available for pickup and delivery. Its cookies are chunky and delicious with options that include cookies and cream, s’mores, Heath bar, chocolate brownie and cinnamon roll. But it’s the classic chocolate chip that is the bestseller and lucky you, Butter & Crumb does both a thick-and-chunky version as well as a thin-and-crispy one.
- Pickup from 65 Fairchild St. More: butterandcrumbpies.com
Ube cornflake cookie
Butter Half Bakery (Ladson)
Riz Del Rosario, owner of Butter Half Bakery, makes artisan-baked goods and Filipino fusion snacks. She often bakes with ube, a purple yam native to the Philippines that has a vibrant purple color and a sweet, earthy, rich flavor. Butter Half offers everything from banana pudding cookies to sticky mango rice krispy treats, but the Ube cornflake cookie was your pick for one of Charleston’s best. Butter Half does not have a brick-and-mortar location, but the baked goods are available for porch pickups and at farmers markets around town.
- To see where Del Rosario is popping up, follow @butterhalfbakerychs
Linzer cookie
Christophe Artisan Chocolatier (downtown and West Ashley)
Christophe Paume is a third-generation French chocolatier who grew up in his father’s pâtisserie in Toulouse, France. Paume has been in Charleston since 2008 and he makes exquisite chocolate, from truffles to sculptures of the Eiffel Tower. While the chocolates might be the visual showstoppers, don’t overlook the cookies when visiting this shop. The macarons are a perfectly executed version of the French classic, but it was the linzer cookie that you named as a favorite.
- Downtown at 90 Society St. and 1901 Ashley River Road in West Ashley. More: christophechocolatier.com
Mexican hot chocolate cookie
The Cookie Chick
Faith Kepper, aka the Cookie Chick, has built a passionate following of very devoted cookie fans. Kepper bakes everything from a cinnamon praline pecan to a salted dark chocolate pistachio. But it’s her inventive Mexican hot chocolate cookie that was nominated for this list.
- Find her at the Summerville Farmers Market and other pop-ups. More: @cookiechicksc
Chocolate chip cookie
Five Loaves Cafe (Mount Pleasant and Summerville)
Five Loaves Cafe has been providing Charleston with consistently delicious sandwiches, salads and soups since 2003. After enjoying a vegetarian portobello goat cheese burger or a chicken Cobb salad, finish your meal with the chocolate chip cookie and you’ll have a well-rounded meal.
- Five Loaves Cafe is at 1055 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. in Mount Pleasant and 214 N. Cedar St. in Summerville. More: fiveloavescafe.com
Lemon zest and grit cookie
Grit Bakery (downtown)
Grit Bakery opened earlier this year and owner Allison Anspach has already made her mark on the Charleston bakery scene. Baguettes and sourdough are available Wednesday through Sunday at Grit and you can also find everything from ham-and-cheese croissants to danishes made with croissant dough. Salted chocolate chip cookies are a menu constant, but you should grab a lemon zest and grit cookie when you see it there — it’s arguably the best use of grits since a shrimp gravy.
- Grit Bakery is at 601 Meeting St. More: Follow @gritbakery
Best Friend cookie
Harken Cafe & Bakery and The Harbinger Cafe & Bakery (downtown)
Sister cafes and bakeries Harken and The Harbinger scratch almost every itch when it comes to what you want to find at a great bakery. Delicious coffee, beautiful salads, divine quiche and baked goods that run the gamut from a pimento bacon biscuit to a cinnamon twist. But it’s the Best Friend cookie — the signature triple chocolate chip cookie topped with local sea salt — that has amassed legions of fans.
- Harken is at 62 Queen St. and Harbinger is at 1107 King St. More: harkencafe.com and theharbingercafe.com
Decorated sugar cookies
Me and Mimi Cookies (James Island)
Me and Mimi Cookies started with a grandmother (Mimi) and a granddaughter taking an online baking course. They enjoyed creating designs and soon family and friends said they should sell them. And so began this custom made cookie company. Its handmade, decorated sugar cookies come in all kinds of shapes and sizes and are put in individual, heat-sealed cellophane bags. Recent designs include unicorns, flowers, mugs of beer and sea creatures; Me and Mimi can make a cookie for anything from a baby shower to a birthday party.
- More: meandmimicookies.com
Ginger molasses cookie
Sugar Bakeshop (downtown)
Sugar Bakeshop has been treating Charleston to delicious cakes, cupcakes and cookies since 2007. Current owner Mia Maness purchased the shop in 2022 and has continued the legacy of top-notch baked goods. From classics like chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin to seasonal flavors like peach pie, these cookies have a steadfast public. But it is the ginger molasses that made this list due to its crispy outside and chewy inside, perfect with a cup of coffee or glass of milk.
- Sugar Bakeshop is at 591/2 Cannon St. More: sugarbakeshopchs.com
Cherry chocolate chip oatmeal cookie
Two Fat Cooks
Kristy Bialas and Eric Rogers started Two Fat Cooks and they cover many bases with their baked goods menu. Scones come in flavors like smoked gouda-onion and chocolate hazelnut, and you might find pistachio cardamom shortbread cookies or a key lime tart. A recent cherry chocolate chip oatmeal cookie made a huge impact and made it onto this list of Charleston’s best cookies. Our advice is to try everything you can from Two Fat Cooks and decide which is your favorite!
- Catch Two Fat Cooks on Saturdays at the Sea Island Farmer’s Market at Charleston Collegiate School and on Sundays at the Sunday Brunch Farmers Market at the Pour House on James Island. More: twofatcooks.com
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