I Tried Costco’s Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie and It's a Total Dessert Game Changer

There are a few iconic rites of passage at Costco: gathering around the rotisserie shelf with fellow shoppers in anticipation of a fresh chicken, making the rounds for as many samples as you can get your hands on, and of course, grabbing that legendary $1.50 hot dog and soda combo (soon to be with Coca-Cola!).

But now, there’s another must-do Costco experience to add to your list: indulging in one of their giant, gooey chocolate chip cookies from the food court. Much like waiting for that perfectly roasted rotisserie chicken, waiting for a warm, fresh-out-of-the-oven chocolate chip cookie at Costco has become a ritual in itself and people cannot get enough—and I was eager to see if it lived up to all the hype.

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What is the Costco Chocolate Chip Cookie?

The 7-inch behemoth known as the Double Chocolate Chunk Cookie debuted about a year ago in U.S. and Canadian Costcos. Made with all butter, bittersweet and semisweet chocolate chunks and served warm, this legendary Costco food court cookie costs $2.49 and clocks in at a whopping 750 calories. Redditors have been all over the Costco subreddit on this one, mostly in awe of how many calories this one is, with some pointing out that a cookie from chains like Crumbl are similar in nutrition facts.

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What Does the Costco Chocolate Chip Cookie Taste Like?

Putting my life in my hands, I headed to Costco on a Saturday morning (I cover Costco; I should have known better!). But I wanted this cookie and I wanted it bad. After placing my order at the kiosk and waiting for a few minutes, they called my number and handed me a small paper sleeve with a warm cookie inside, the butter and chocolate already melting out. I took this as an invitation to take a messy bite right then and there, in between the chaos of the checkout lines and the chicken bakes.

This isn't your average ho-hum chocolate chip cookie. It’s thick—Levain Bakery thick—and it's made with semisweet and bittersweet chocolate chunks and a heck of a lot of butter. It’s served warm, which means you get that fresh-baked aroma before you even take a bite. The exterior has a slightly dry crust, but once you bite into it, the center is gooey, slightly underbaked, and studded with chocolate—exactly what a chocolate chip cookie should be.

This isn’t a casual walking-around Costco snack—it’s a full-blown dessert. It's definitely a cookie to split with your shopping buddy (or not, if you’re feeling ambitious).

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What's the Difference Between the Costco Food Court Chocolate Chip Cookie and the Costco Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookie?

When I arrived at the bakery section (again, at 10:30 in the morning), the display of chocolate chunk cookies (a steal at $9.99 for 24) was nearly wiped out—a clear sign of their popularity. As I stood there, I overheard a couple debating about whether to grab a pack, hyping them up right in front of me, and eventually adding one to their cart. I thought for sure the bakery version would be similar to the food court one. Perhaps the food court cookie was just the bakery cookie, but bigger and warmed up, I thought. Nope! These two cookies are entirely different.

For one, the food court cookie is chewy, ultra-buttery, and noticeably heavier on the vanilla than its bakery counterpart. I suspect brown sugar plays a major role here because it also has that deep, deliciously dense caramelized flavor.

The bakery cookies are softer and thinner than the food court version, with a slightly lacy, caramelized edge and a chewy center packed with semisweet chocolate chunks. If you’re a Tate’s Bake Shop fan, these aren’t for you, but if you like a soft, chewy cookie, they'll hit the spot (especially, I discovered a few days later, after a 12-second stint in the microwave). The bakery cookies also have only 210 calories each versus the 750 in the food court cookie.

If you’re looking for a rich, bakery-style treat, the food court cookie is unmatched. It’s rich, buttery, and indulgent—but also a full-on calorie bomb. Meanwhile, the bakery 24-pack is a more practical, budget-friendly option that’s still delicious, especially if you’re feeding a crowd. Or, you know, you can just grab both. I did.

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