We Tried 10 Tate’s Cookie Flavors and We Didn't See the Winner Coming

When it comes to sweet treats, few things can compare to the simple pleasure of biting into a delicious cookie. Whether it’s a classic chocolate chip, a crispy-chewy oatmeal raisin, or a sugary snickerdoodle, there’s something undeniably comforting about a cookie.

And if you don't have time to bake, there's a wide array of store-bought options out there. It's hard to beat an Oreo, and Pepperidge Farm also has a lot of cookie options, but when I grab a bag of cookies at the grocery store I often go for the small green bags of Tate’s Bake Shop cookies.

The first time I had Tate’s was when my sister-in-law shared some of the cookies she bought at the bakery in Southampton, New York. Founded in 1980 by Katheleen King, the bakery quickly became a local destination for those who enjoy thin-and-crispy chocolate chip cookies.

Over the years, Tate's has made its way onto grocery store shelves and has expanded way beyond chocolate chip. To help you choose which green bag is right for you, we nibbled our way through 10 Tate's Bake Shop Cookie flavors and ranked them from our least to most favorite. Grab the milk, things are about to get interesting!

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How We Tested the Tate’s Bake Shop Cookies

As the brand has evolved, Tate’s has gradually introduced more cookie flavors. There are now 9 core flavors (plus some seasonal flavor drops and new items, like Tate's Cookie Bark and Tiny Tates) and it would be fun to taste my way through the line and see which flavors we liked best. To determine the best-tasting ones, I invited six people, including a biochemist, a retail clerk, home bakers and cookie lovers, to try them with me.

While I laid out the cookies on a wooden board, I passed each package around for everyone to check the ingredients. Two full-size cookies have about 130 to 160 calories, depending on flavor, so I broke them into small pieces so we could compare all of the flavors in one sitting.

Each person gave their feedback and rated each flavor from 1 to 10 (1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest). We ranked the cookies based on taste, smell, color, level of sweetness, mouthfeel, flavor and texture. At the end of the tasting, I added up the scores and ranked them accordingly.

10 Tate's Bake Shop Cookie Flavors, Ranked from Least Favorite to Most Favorite

10. Tate's Bake Shop Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies

When we opened this package, we instantly got the strong caramel scent. The warm, inviting smell intrigued us, but as soon as we took our first bite, our expectations fell. It seemed to have a strong bitter aftertaste as if the caramel and sugar were overcooked and burnt. There was also a lack of saltiness in the caramel. All of that said, we were fans of the combo of semi-sweet chocolate and butterscotch chips in this flavor.

9. Tate's Bake Shop Snickerdoodle Cookies

We love how Tate’s nailed a snickerdoodle’s cinnamon-sugar flavor, offering a delicate balance of sweetness and spice. But what piqued our curiosity was when we took our first bite: there was some sort of popping sensation or a crackling sound. While a snickerdoodle is known for its soft and chewy texture, along with a sweet, cinnamon-sugar coating, and slightly cracked surface, Tate’s version is thin and crispy with an almost smooth surface.

While we enjoyed these, we are also fans of a classic snickerdoodle texture, which is how these ended up at the bottom of the list. For a bite-sized (and extra-cute) version, try the Tiny Tate’s Snickerdoodles in resealable pouches.

8. Tate's Bake Shop Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies (Limited Edition)

Rich chocolate and cooling mint come together in this limited-edition cookie flavor. We liked that the peppermint oil in the cookie didn’t overpower the chocolatey sweetness and the mint provided a refreshing flavor that paired well with the chocolate chips. The hint of mint makes this flavor great for the summer or the holidays, when you could sandwich a couple of them with peppermint ice cream for a fun holiday dessert. (Dear Tate's: Maybe consider bringing these back around the holidays?)

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7. Tate's Bake Shop Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is the classic Tate's cookie that started it all, so we were intrigued to see how it would stack up against the rest of the flavors. We found the level of sweetness high and though it’s fairly a basic cookie, the high-quality ingredients speak for themselves. It's the quintessential thin, crispy chocolate chip cookie, full of buttery goodness and rich chocolate. This iconic Tate's flavor is also available in a Tiny Tate’s version for sweet snackers.

6. Tate's Bake Shop Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies

While we liked that this flavor wasn't overly sweet, we wanted more walnuts in the cookie. One tester, who’s been buying this product for a while, said the flavors were more pronounced before, and the cookies used to have more nuts. The cookies are dotted with melt-in-your-mouth semi-sweet chocolate chips, which brought a nice sweetness, but because there weren't more nuts the chocolate overshadowed the robust earthiness of the walnuts.

5. Tate's Bake Shop Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

This flavor was a little tricky to rank because some testers enjoyed it while others didn’t love the texture. It’s somewhere between crisp and chewy, which isn't everyone's cup of tea. It was my favorite of all because it tasted homemade. Studded with plump, juicy raisins and flavored with a hint of cinnamon, this cookie tasted as if it just came out of my mom’s oven. It had the right amount of sweetness and the cookie was soft and chewy in the center and slightly crispy on the edges.

4. Tate's Bake Shop Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip

Tate’s remade their famous chocolate chip cookies using rice flour and the gluten-free version tastes very close to the original. These cookies are crispy and buttery and have a generous amount of chocolate chips. They're so delicious you won’t miss the gluten. We loved that this option is something that everyone could enjoy.

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3. Tate's Bake Shop Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate lovers, this one's for you! This flavor wasn't overly sweet and we could taste the quality of the cocoa powder that was used in the cookie. There was a generous amount of chocolate chips in these cookies and they're really made for dunking in milk. If chocolate makes you happy, you should definitely give this flavor a try.

2. Tate's Bake Shop Coconut Crisp Cookies

The heavenly coconut aroma immediately transported us into tropical paradise. When we took our first bite, we thought it was rich and buttery, then came the sweet coconut flavor. While the cookie’s texture is grainy and a bit crumbly, we still enjoyed the crunch. We loved that the cookie is full of shredded coconut, which really drives the tropical flavor home.

1. Tate's Bake Shop Lemon Cookies

If there’s any cookie flavor that wakes your taste buds, it's this one. Using lemon oil as an ingredient gives each bite a natural flavor and citrusy punch. We loved the refreshing lemony flavor, which would be delicious paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. And don’t be fooled by the photo on the package—the actual cookie color is lighter, and the texture is crispier than the rest.

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