A good cuppa is a ritual for many Australians, but let’s be honest—no tea break is truly complete without a biscuit to dunk.
And when it comes to the classic chocolate chip cookie, the debate over which one reigns supreme has raged for years.
Is it the fancy gourmet brand, the nostalgic favourite, or the humble supermarket home brand?
Well, thanks to a rigorous taste test by the experts at CHOICE, we finally have some answers—and the results might just surprise you.
The great cookie showdown
CHOICE, Australia’s leading consumer advocacy group, recently set out to settle the choc chip cookie debate once and for all.
They didn’t just rely on their own taste buds, either. First, they polled their community to find out what makes the perfect cookie.
The verdict? Aussies are split: 36 per cent want their cookies crunchy, while another 36 per cent prefer a bit of both—crunchy on the outside, chewy in the middle. Only a minority were firmly in the chewy camp.
Armed with this knowledge, CHOICE assembled a panel of three professional judges with backgrounds in pastry and baking.
Their mission: to blind taste 22 of the nation’s best-selling chocolate chip cookies, scoring each on appearance, texture, chocolate distribution, and—most importantly—flavour.
The judges spent hours meticulously tasting, writing detailed notes, and rating each cookie. Flavour made up a whopping 90 per cent of the final score, with the remaining 10 per cent based on the Health Star Rating (yes, even cookies get one!).
The winners: Supermarket home brands take the biscuit
So, which cookies came out on top? In a twist that will delight bargain hunters everywhere, it was the supermarket home brands that dominated the podium.
First Place:
A Coles home brand cookie took the crown with a score of 78 per cent. Judges praised its ‘big, round and rustic’ appearance, generous dark chocolate chunks, and the perfect balance of crunch and chew.
At $5.20 for a box (about $1.30 per cookie), it also boasted the highest Health Star Rating of the bunch. The only downside? Like most cookies tested, it contains palm oil, which raises environmental concerns.
Second Place:
Hot on its heels was another Coles biscuit, scoring 77 per cent. This one was a real steal at just 19 cents per cookie ($5 for a box). Judges loved its rustic look, abundance of choc chips, and the light, crisp texture with a hint of chewiness.
Third Place:
Woolworths wasn’t far behind, with their home brand cookie earning 75 per cent. Described as ‘great rustic looking’ with a lovely golden colour and a soft, not-too-sweet flavour, it cost $5.50 for a box ($1.10 per cookie).
Surprising results for big brands
If you’re loyal to the big names, you might want to sit down. Iconic brands like Byron Bay and Cadbury didn’t fare so well.
Byron Bay’s milk choc chunk cookies scored just 47 per cent (and cost a whopping $4.04 per cookie!), while Cadbury’s Classic Chocolate Chip cookies came in 21st out of 22 with a score of 46 per cent.
Even the legendary Arnott’s was outperformed, with their Premier Chocolate Chip Cookies scoring 71 per cent and Farmbake Chocolate Chip cookies trailing at 66 per cent.
As Pru Engel, CHOICE’s audience editor, put it: ‘It’s good to see—the cheaper products still perform well.’ It seems the days of assuming you need to pay top dollar for top taste are well and truly over.
What makes a winning cookie?
The judges were looking for more than just a sugar hit. The ideal cookie had to have a golden, biscuity colour, a good thickness, and a generous distribution of real chocolate chips.
Flavour was key—too sweet, and it was a turn-off; too bland, and it didn’t make the cut. Real ingredients and a genuine chocolate flavour were highly prized, while the presence of oils and preservatives often let cookies down.
Nutrition also played a small but important role. There was a wide range in sugar content and the presence (or absence) of trans fats, which can impact both health and taste.
The palm oil problem
One recurring issue was the use of palm oil, which is linked to deforestation and environmental harm. While it’s common in many processed foods, some shoppers may want to check labels and opt for palm oil-free options where possible.
The takeaway: Don’t overlook the home brands
If you’re looking to save a few dollars without sacrificing taste, the message is clear: don’t overlook the supermarket home brands.
Not only are they affordable (as little as 19 cents per cookie!), but they also stand up to—and often beat—the big-name brands in blind taste tests.
What’s your favourite dunker?
We’d love to hear from you! Do you have a go-to biscuit for your tea break? Have you tried any of the top-rated cookies from Coles or Woolworths? Or do you swear by a local bakery or a homemade recipe? Share your thoughts, tips, and dunking techniques in the comments below—let’s keep the great Aussie biscuit debate going!
And if you’re feeling inspired, why not host your own taste test with friends or family? You might just discover a new favourite (and save a few dollars in the process).
Happy dunking!
Also read: This $6 treat has shoppers racing to supermarkets—here’s why
