A dozen ways to satisfy your inner cookie monster on National Chocolate Chip Day
From celebrity baker Stella Parks’ behemoth version at New York’s Levain bakery to a Cookie Crisp cereal variation that’s blowing up the internet, the chocolate chip cookie has been modified and elevated in thousands of ways since its allegedly accidental 1930s inception (the fateful recipe is still printed on bags of Nestlé semi-sweet chips). And local bakers are no exception, taking their own creative liberties with the classic snack: From an Ice Blocks shop doling out chocolate chip cookie-cheesecake sandwiches to an Oak Park bakery making cookies with spent grains, here are 12 ways around the region to get your cookie fix on National Chocolate Chip Day.
Ginger Elizabeth
The menu at this midtown chocolate shop includes almond rocher cupcakes and macarons in flavors like rose butter caramel and apricot cobbler, but the chocolate chip cookies—studded with luxe Valrhona chocolate chips and baked every one to two hours for maximum freshness—are still one of the desserterie's most popular treats. $2.75. In-store pickup and free in-house delivery to Sacramento. 1801 L St. gingerelizabeth.com
Insomnia Cookies
At this national cookie chain with locations in downtown Sacramento and Davis, you can go classic with the chocolate chunk cookie, featuring semi-sweet morsels, or go big with the deluxe triple chocolate, a 4.5-inch round with semi-sweet, milk and dark chocolate chips. (A vegan and gluten-free chocolate chip cookie, made with brown rice flour and flaxseed meal, is also available.) $1.75-$3.50 for single cookie; prices vary for multiples. Takeout and in-house delivery. Locations vary. insomniacookies.com
Creamy's by Cayla Jordan
This Ice Blocks shop marries its signature cheesecake with the traditional chocolate chip cookie in two mouthwatering ways: the popular chocolate chip cookie mini cheesecake ($3.25 for a single), a two-bite dessert with an Oreo cookie crust, creamy cheesecake filling and a chocolate chip cookie crown, and a frozen chocolate chip cookie sandwich with a cheesecake center ($5). Prices vary. Takeout, curbside pickup and in-house delivery. 1610 R St. creamysbycaylajordan.com
Empress Tavern
The Maldon sea salt flecked on top of the vegan salted chocolate chip cookies at this downtown restaurant complement the dark chocolate chips, enhancing their sweetness. Despite the lack of eggs and butter, the cookies stay moist and gooey thanks in part to vegetable oil and molasses. $3 for two cookies. Takeout, curbside pickup and in-house delivery. 1013 K St. 916-662-7694. empresstavern.com
Cookies & Milk
Satisfy your late-night cookie craving with a delivery of warm cookies mottled with semi-sweet chocolate in different sizes (for optimum cookie-to-chip ratio in each bite) from this downtown cookie company. Whether you get just one or one dozen, don’t forget to add a cold Crystal milk ($1.75) for dunking. $1.75 per cookie; $18 for custom dozen. In-store pickup and delivery via Postmates, Uber Eats and DoorDash. 1201 F St. 916-539-3205. cookiesandmilksac.com
Quarantine time = Cookies & Milk time 🍪🥛#nofilterneeded #cookiesandmilksac
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Faria Bakery
This Oak Park bakery uses flour milled from spent (and then dehydrated) grains used in brewing New Glory Craft Brewery’s pilsner. Mix-ins include walnuts, chocolate and white chocolate chips, plus a sprinkling of Maldon flakes on top. $3. Pre-order for curbside and walk-up pickup. 3417 Broadway. 916-204-8726. fariabakery.com
35% FRESH MILLED SPENT BEER GRAIN COOKIEZ 💫 #freshmilled #spentgrain #foodcycle
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Karen's Bakery & Cafe
The signature cookie at this Folsom bakery features chocolate chips mingling with pieces of chewy toffee in a dough made with browned butter. Its rich, nutty flavor is enhanced by a smattering of Maldon sea salt as the cookies come out of the oven. $2.25. Takeout and curbside pickup. 705 Gold Lake Dr. Folsom. 916-985-2665. karensbakery.com
Burger Patch
To complete your plant-based meal at this vegan fast food joint in midtown, don't forget the salted chocolate chip cookies, which are warmed to order on the flat-top grill for an extra crispy exterior. Double down with a secret-menu Quake Crumble Shake ($7.50), where cookie pieces serve as an indulgent topping to a chocolate or vanilla (or mixed!) vegan shake. $2.90 for two cookies. Takeout and delivery via GrubHub, Postmates and DoorDash. 2301 K St. 916-750-4200. theburgerpatch.com
🍪 +🍦= 🤗 #PatchSecretMenu #EarthquakeCrumbleShake #Dairyfree
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Estelle Bakery & Pâtisserie
While melty chunks of Guittard chocolate give the hand-size delicacies from this Arden-Arcade French bakery their gooey factor, a crispy half-inch-high ridge and an always-soft center (the fresh-out-of-the-oven texture comes from baking small batches throughout the day) make them unlike any other cookies in the land. Currently, you can buy five and get one free, so you can stock up for the week—or the day, no judgment. $3 for single cookie. Takeout and curbside pickup, plus delivery via Postmates. 2530 Arden Way. 916-551-1500. estellebakery.com
Pushkin's Bakery
The chocolate chip cookies at this gluten-free bakery (with locations in Roseville and midtown) are also dairy free, and co-owner Olga Turner’s favorite treat on the menu. The first dessert she ever made for Pushkin’s, the cookies are slightly under-baked for a pleasingly chewy interior to match their caramelly flavor. Get the recipe to bake them at home with a purchase of the shop’s proprietary flour blend ($6.99). $3.25. Takeout and curbside pickup. Locations vary. pushkinsbakery.com
The Baker & the Cakemaker
This Auburn bakery uses dark chocolate morsels in its traditional chocolate chip cookie, but thinking outside the jar, the married co-owners came up with the Baker’s Cookie, which became an instant hit. Made with mix-ins of cornflakes and marshmallows, it’s a sweet, salty, chewy and crunchy riff on the classic form. $1.50-$2 for single cookie. Takeout and curbside pickup. 1102 Lincoln Way. Auburn. 530-537-2056. thebakerandthecakemaker.com
Hook & Ladder
The selection of rotating cookies at this midtown haunt includes a Valrhona chocolate chip version with Maldon sea salt flakes on top. If you don’t catch them for their usual weekend cameo, you can make them at home with this family recipe courtesy of the H&L sous chef’s mother. $3 for three cookies. Takeout, curbside pickup and delivery via DoorDash. 1630 S St. 916-442-4885. hookandladder916.com
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