In Boston we’re blessed with world-class pastry chefs who channel their expertise into elevating something seemingly simple: the cookie. This classic snack is always a treat, whether you prefer crispy chocolate chip, chewy Snickerdoodle, or a pecan-studded oatmeal cookie. These standouts may not have been baked with love by mom, but the best cookies in Boston are so satisfying that you’ll never know the difference.
A companion to Oleana and Sarma, Sofra Bakery is a tribute to the baked goods and meze of Turkey, Lebanon, and Greece by the acclaimed duo of chef Ana Sortun and pastry chef Maura Kilpatrick. While savory dishes from Shakshuka to Spinach Falafel flatbread draw crowds to the West Cambridge cafe, make sure you leave some room for dessert, such as a dark, sweet Molasses cookie or a powdered sugar-covered Earthquake cookie that matches a soft, crumbly texture to a rich and intense chocolate flavor.
Clear Flour Bread may have made its name on crispy French baguettes and pillowy challah, but the same old-world dedication that makes this Brookline bakery destination-worthy applies to the homestyle cookies, too. We’re partial to the flourless Coconut Macaroon (whether chocolate-dipped or not) and the almond-packed Trail Mix. Meanwhile, a seasonal Molasses Spice cookie that tastes exactly like autumn should.
With nine locations now sprinkled throughout Boston and Cambridge, it’s never been easier to snag a treat from James Beard award-winning baker Joanne Chang. Each outpost of Flour Bakery + Cafe makes and serves more than a dozen cookie varieties, from the iconic Chunky Lola (oats, chocolate, coconut, and toasted pecans) to one of the ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies. For an extra hit of delicious nostalgia, order yourself a house-made Oreo Cookie with vanilla filling sandwiched between two tender, dark chocolate-cookie disks.
Muffins, scones, tarts, pies—there’s almost no baked-good category that the Hi-Rise Bread Company doesn’t touch. Cookies are no exception at the popular spot between Harvard and Porter Square in Cambridge. We usually find ourselves here for lunch—because wouldn’t ya know, Hi-Rise is excellent at sandwiches, too—but we always add on a treat from the likes of an Almond Chunk, Coconut Macaroon, and a Peanut Butter Cashew Cookie.
With legions of fans following La Saison Bakery for sourdough breads, buttery croissants, and show-stopping cakes, the Cambridge hot spot may appear to be a European-style, special-occasion bakery. But La Saison’s down-home, American-style baked goods are just as worthy of praise, including a decadent Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie, and chewy oat cookies studded with cherries and pecans, or enhanced with chai spice and chocolate.
Maca is where to go for macarons in Boston. A delicate sandwich cookie from France made with almond flour, macarons are simple in style yet difficult to perfect—and at Maca, they’re endlessly customizable. Founder Tamy Chung makes them in small batches at the Bow Market macaronerie, regularly introducing new flavors like Black Sesame, Honey Lavender, Matcha Green Tea, and Fruity Pebbles. Fill your perfect mix-pack (most flavors are gluten-free!) or make a custom order. Keep an eye out for specials like maca ice cream sandwiches and maca cakes.
From the breakfast sandwiches of our dreams to a low-key stellar coffee bar, Vinal Bakery is the kind of cafe everybody would love to have next door. The Somerville spot’s charm is in its simplicity: House-baked English muffins, scones, thick slices of banana bread, and irresistible cookies—a choice between Chocolate Chip or a Brown Butter Snickerdoodle—are all inspired by founder Sarah Murphy’s New Hampshire upbringing.
Updated by Jacqueline Cain. Emily Millian contributed reporting.
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