Chocolate chip cookies are a classic dessert. I’ve never met someone who genuinely did not like them. I’ve made chocolate chip cookies at least once a month since I was about 9. I love them. I used to use the Nestle Tollhouse recipe on the back of their semisweet chocolate chips, but when I became gluten-free, I switched to the  Cup4Cup recipe on the back of their gluten-free all-purpose flour. Both recipes are delicious and easy! Chocolate chip cookies are a staple in my household. Sadly, now I live in a dorm without access to an oven. Sure, I could go to a friend’s apartment and use theirs, but I hate feeling like an inconvenience. Not to mention, I’d have to buy the ingredients, and what would I do with the leftover ingredients? I guess I could keep them in my dorm somewhere, but that all just seems like a hassle. I need a place I can rely on to give me a good cookie if I’ve had a bad day or just have a hankering. So, I am on a mission to find the best gluten-free chocolate chip cookie near campus.  

Zucchini Kill 

@zucchinikillbakery

This “Punk rock, a female-led bakery serving vegan sweet & savory goods that are also soy & gluten-free” is just a short drive away on 53rd street. I can’t talk about the bakery without mentioning their to die for cupcakes, but they lacked in the chocolate chip cookie department. The taste was pretty bland, and it could benefit from more chocolate chips. The texture reminded me of a corn tortilla, soft but crumbly. For $3.50, it’s not worth it, in my opinion. The cookie is vegan, soy-free, and gluten-free, so it’s a very inclusive cookie. However, it does not meet my standards for a good, gluten-free chocolate chip cookie. 

Rating: 1 / 5  

Quack’s 43rd Street Bakery 

@quacksbakery

This bakery is about a 10-minute drive north of campus on 43rd and Duval. They had so many pastries and desserts, but not many gluten-free options, which is fine because it’s not a gluten-free bakery. However, I am on a mission. They sell a pre-packaged pack of 7 cookies for $7.25. The cookies are gluten-free and vegan and honestly? You can tell. They were chewy but not soft. When I got back to my dorm, I heated one up in the microwave, and it was much better. It’ll fix your craving, but I know there is better out there. 

Rating: 2.5 / 5 

Mr. Natural   

@mrnaturalaustin

Mr. Natural is a health-focused restaurant and bakery with two locations in Austin. One is located on Cesar Chavez, about 10 minutes from campus, and the other is located on South Lamar, about 15 minutes from campus. They have plenty of gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan meals and treats to choose from. Their gluten-free and vegan chocolate chip cookie contains pecans, but they were subtle enough that I’ll let it slide. I loved the combination of chocolate chips on the inside and chocolate chunks on top of the cookie. I am a firm believer that the more cookie, the better, and Mr. Natural’s cookie had about a five-inch diameter (a bit smaller than an iPhone X). The size makes the price of $3.60 totally understandable. It had a nice soft and crumbly texture, and the pecans gave it a unique and subtle nutty undertone. 

Rating: 4 / 5  

Dream Bakery 

@dreambakeryaustin

The name is no exaggeration. I cannot emphasize enough how incredible this bakery is. Dream Bakery is about 20 minutes up Mopac and is entirely gluten-free. It also includes keto-friendly options. You can find their daily menus on their Instagram. They make everything from cakes to chocolate croissants to cinnamon rolls to, most importantly, chocolate chip cookies. One cookie is $2.35. This cookie definitely did not taste gluten-free. It was delicious! It was soft and chewy and overall delightful. The only downside of this bakery is how far it is, but it is totally worth the drive for the overwhelming amount of gluten-free treats. 

Rating : 4.5 / 5 

Insomnia 

@insomniacookies 

Insomnia is a staple in West Campus. It is perfect for late-night sweet tooth right under Castiallian and opens until 3 am on the weekends. Even better, they have a gluten-free and vegan chocolate chip cookie for only $1.89. One of my favorite things about this cookie is that they give it to you warm. It’s soft and melts in your mouth, and the slightly melted chocolate chips make it feel fresh out the oven. The cookie tastes completely normal despite being gluten-free and vegan! I recommend getting two, one for the walk home and one to eat at home. 

Rating: 5 / 5

Featured Image By Matilda Herrera Ramirez