The budget cuts announced last week took a lot away from us as citizens. They took away our free healthcare, our equal education opportunities, our pension before we’re 70, and much much more, but what they can never take away from us is the joy of a perfectly crafted chocolate chip cookie.

In these dire times we need to take comfort in the citizen rights that still remain to us. With this in mind, we set out to sample some of the most popular cookies in Sydney and decide once and for all, which are the best. We sent out our feelers to get the public’s opinion on their favourite cookies around Sydney. What we came up with was Luxe, West Juliett, Cookies+Milk, Flour & Stone and yes, even Subway. We consider ourselves impartial, fair judges so we allowed the people’s voices to be heard by including the corporate giant Subway.

The ranking was determined on a very sophisticated preferential voting system with Delia, Jen and I all weighing in. Fierce debates ensued over differing opinions but the final ranking was eventually determined.

1. West Juliett – Pink Salt Chocolate Chip Cookie ($3.80)

30 Llewellyn Street, Marrickville, NSW 2204
Phone: (02) 9519 0101
Web:facebook.com/westjuliettcafe

Coming in at first place are the well respected and universally adored saucer-sized cookies from West Juliett. Delia and Jen ranked this their number one, with special mentions going to the amazing contrast between the pink salt with the sweet chocolate as well as the flawless crunchy exterior and chewy interior. At $3.80, they certainly aren’t the cheapest of the bunch but their unbelievable size makes them more of a meal than a snack. I ranked this cookie number two because I found the crusty edges far saltier than any cookie should ever be, however popular opinion reigned supreme.

2. Cookies and Milk – Choc Chip Oat ($3)

531 King Street Newtown, NSW 2042
Phone: 02 9516 4381
Web: polka.com.au

These incredibly chocolatey delights came in a close second overall, topping my personal preference list. At first sight, these cookies were hands down the most visually attractive, with gooey chocolate oozing everywhere and a wholesome appeal that made them the most reminiscent of home-cooked cookies fresh from the oven. They had a lot less crunch factor and were much more soft and chewy, which I personally preferred to some of the crunchier cookies. The oats didn’t dominate the flavour and texture of the cookie but instead added variety and texture to every mouthful. These beauties were absolutely packed with perfectly melted chocolate chunks and gave a strong impression of high quality, expertly chosen ingredients.

3. Luxe – Oat Chocolate Chip ($3.50)

195 Missenden Rd, Newtown, NSW 2042
Phone: 02 8084 1775
Web:luxesydney.com.au

These bad boys are heavy on the oats, and you can see them sticking out as soon as you lay eyes on them. Their texture is extremely chewy and the flavour is equal parts oaty and chocolatey. They were actually a little bit reminiscent of a museli bar, but of a far better quality. We all enjoyed these oaty wonders but thought they departed too much from a traditional chocolate chip cookie to be highly ranked. However they are a guaranteed hit with museli cookie lovers. They’ll set you back $3.50 each but they are pretty big and the oat content makes them rather filling.

4. Flour and Stone – Dark Chocolate Chip ($12.50 for 8)

53 Riley Street Woolloomooloo, NSW 2011
Phone: 02 8068 8818
Web:flourandstone.com.au

Jen really liked these cookies, saying that she felt they were the quintessential chocolate chip cookie. They were quite different from the others as they were thin and crunchy, without any chewiness or softness. The chocolate to cookie ratio was good and the quality of ingredients was high, however after the flavour and texture sensations of the other cookies, these fellows felt a little lacklustre.

5. Subway – Chocolate Chip (90c)

Web: subway.com.au

At this price, these bad boys are undeniably the cheapest way to get your cookie fix, however after tasting high quality café fare, the contrast was startling. Sure we all love a good Subway cookie, however when we paid attention to the flavour, we found they were incredibly fake tasting and far too sweet. The trademark chewy texture hits the nail on the head every time and the simple sugary flavour is sure to satisfy most cookie cravings, but in terms of quality they were leagues behind the others.

So there you have it, a breakdown of the best cookies available in our great city. In dark times such as these we must always remember to take comfort in the little things and at least we can be thankful for the fantastic variety of high quality chocolate chip cookies out there. The rankings are of course our personal opinions but hopefully the descriptions will help you decide which one is the perfect cookie for you. Sure you may no longer be able to afford your student loans or pay your medical bills but at least you don’t have to waste your time eating bad cookies.