Taste test: Cookie dough

The Good Housekeeping Research Institute tested 15 cookie doughs to find these Taste Test winners and a super-simple cutout-cookie cheat.

Nestlé Toll House Ultimates

Tasters’ Pick: "Chewy," "buttery," and "wonderfully chocolatey"; there's a reason these break-and-bake cookies ($3.29 for 16 oz.) are called "Ultimates."


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(Photo: Jesus Ayala/Studio D)

Wholly Wholesome Oatmeal Raisin

Tasters' Pick: Crisp outside and tender inside, these chunky, cinnamony cookies ($6 for 11.25 oz.), filled
with "plump" raisins, taste like "homemade."

(Photo: Jesus Ayala/Studio D)

Pillsbury Big Deluxe Peanut Butter Cup

Tasters' and Editors' Pick: "Decadent" and "melt-in-your-mouth" soft. Mini peanut butter cups (like the famous candy) give these cookies ($3.29 for 16 oz.) a creamy texture and "rich" chocolate flavor.

(Photo: Jesus Ayala/Studio D)

Wholly Wholesome Chocolate Chip

Editors’ Pick: Our tasters enjoyed the "generous amounts of chocolate chips" in Wholly Wholesome's chocolate chip cookie dough ($5.99 for 11.25 oz.). These cookies tasted "natural" and "home-baked," and the texture was crisp. For some, it was almost too crisp — a few volunteers
complained about a burnt, "smoky" flavor.

(Photo: Wholly Wholesome)

Nestlé Toll House Oatmeal Scotchies

Editors’ Pick: With loads of butterscotch chips, some of our volunteers could "barely tell" Nestlé Toll House Oatmeal Scotchies ($3.29 for 16 oz.) even contained oatmeal. While these cookies were “too sweet” for some, they were just right and “oat-y” for others. The “chewy,” “soft” texture earned it most of its points.

(Photo: Nestlé)

Nestlé Toll House White Chip Macadamia Nut

The "crisp" and "crunchy" Nestlé Toll House White Chip Macadamia Nut ($3.29 for 16 oz.) cookies were "the driest of the bunch." The white chocolate chips were a hit or miss based on one's personal preference, but the macadamia nuts gave the cookies a "good crunch." Tasters thought the flavor was "super buttery," "more like a butter cookie."

(Photo: Nestlé)

Pillsbury Big Deluxe Oatmeal Raisin

If you enjoy cookies on the softer side, consider Pillsbury Big Deluxe Oatmeal Raisin ($3.29 for 16 oz.) cookies, though some volunteers thought they actually tasted “too soft.” Raisin-lovers rejoiced at the “large” and “juicy” raisins.

(Photo: Pillsbury)