In the past several years, there has been a rise in cookie shops all over the country. In Orange County, the cookie boom seems to be soaring. Let’s take a closer look at the more popular OC cookie hot spots.

First up, my personal favorite cookie spot, Milk and Cookies. Originating in 2020, Milk and Cookies combined two classic favorites, specialty ice cream and homemade unique flavored cookies. Their best known menu item is their classic, cookie and a scoop. This is exactly what it sounds like. A piping hot cookie, fresh out of the oven topped with a mound of high quality, ice cold, homemade ice cream, giving you the best of both worlds. 

As well as ice cream and cookies, Milk and Cookies sells old fashioned milk in a retro glass bottle in a multitude of flavors bringing the classic trope of milk and cookies to a modern day audience. These nostalgic milk vessels come in two size options, single serving and family size.

The next stop on our cookie tour is the late night bingers go to, Insomnia. The first Insomnia opened its doors in Orange County in 2021. They quickly gained popularity by providing fresh baked cookies with a gooey consistency at all hours of the night, specifically catering to college kids with the late night munchies. This shop delivers cookies to your door as late as three am, tapping into a market not previously served by local and big time bakeries. They offer big buckets of cookies that can be shared by many or devoured by one.

Next, a southern California staple, adored by many, is Hudson’s Cookies. This cookie joint is a SoCal exclusive. They specialize in larger than life cookies that have an ooey-gooey center surrounded by a crispy edge, leaving cookie concourses craving more. They have a collection of 30 rotating flavors that keeps fans wondering what’s coming next. Hudson’s has a unique combination of traditional flavors with a twist.

“Out of all the cookie stores I’ve been to, and I’ve been to a lot, my all time favorite is Hudson’s,” said Katelyn Johnson (12). 

Joining the scene in 2017, cookie monsters all around crave Crumbl. Best known for its sugary concoctions, this franchise exploded during the Covid-19 pandemic. With many rating Crumbl’s new flavors of the week on Tik Tok, they have accumulated a cult following. They have a menu of over 300 flavors that rotates weekly. In recent years, they have added other confectionaries to their line up. Including cakes, pies, and dirty sodas. Crumbl is one of the biggest of the bunch and has collabs with stars such as Olivia Rodrigo, the Kardashians, and Benson Boone.

One of the most eccentric cookie spots on our list is Dirty Dough. This place is known for their “stuffed cookie bombs” that lend themselves to an experience like no other. The first store started in San Diego and has made their way up north to a location in Dana Point. This delicacy is for the cookie fanatic and hard core foodies. If the size of this cookie feels intimidating, you can always share it with a friend.

Finally, the newest cookie phenomenon to come to Orange County is Levain’s bakery.  In places such as New York and Boston, their cookies are known for their thick and gooey consistency and picture perfect appearance. Their first location in Orange County  will open later this year at Fashion Island. Bringing a little slice of the East Coast to the West Coast, crowds are  already excited. 

“With all the cookie stores I’ve been to in my life, I’d have to say I really have grown fond of Levains in New York City. They will have a new location coming to Fashion Island. I think that it will be a great addition and will bring a little bit of New York to Orange County,” said Gavin Malone (12).