Butter Believe It: These Local Cookies Melted the Competition

We went on a mission to find South OC’s best chocolate chip cookie - no chains, just real-deal local bakers doing magical things with butter and sea salt.

After combing through local recommendations, our team of 13 sugar-fueled taste-testers sampled dozens of cookies from South OC’s best small-batch and micro bakeries. Score sheets were filled, and sugar highs were real.

And the winner? There was some debate, but once the crumbs settled and score cards tallied, the choice was clear:

1st Place 
🥇Maven’s Treats

The salted chocolate chip cookies from Maven’s Treats absolutely crushed it. Soft, buttery, a tiny bit crispy, and just salty enough to keep you coming back for more. Made with real butter, Nielsen-Massey vanilla bean paste, and fancy Maldon Sea Salt. Perfection. Text 949-254-5757 or DM @mavenstreats to order.

2nd Place 
🥈 Liyah’s Bake Shop

Big hit with the teens, and for good reason: brown butter chocolate chip cookies perfected over two years of tinkering. Soft, rich, and totally addictive. Order via @liyahsbakeshop 

3rd Place
🥉 Parchment & Twine

Sourdough chocolate chip cookies that surprised everyone—in the best way. Soft, fluffy, packed with chips, and just the right kind of dense. Amy the baker is in Ladera Ranch. @parchment.n.twine

Honorable Mention: Lucy’s Bakery

You can find Lucy every Saturday at the Mission Viejo Farmers Market (9am–1pm) or order online for Friday porch pickup in Lake Forest. Order here

Also loved: 

Emerald Sweets – Orange County’s only all-chocolate bakery. Call (949) 942-4054

Krista’s Kitchen – Her sourdough starter is over 100 years old. Text 949-648-0418 to order.

P.S. Yes, we tasted Crumbl as a comparison. No, we didn’t like it better. That being said, my favorite cookie from the large chains is Paradise Bakery in the Mission Viejo Mall. These are easily the best deal in town. 6 mini cookies for a few dollars.

P.P.S. These were our favorite cookies that we sampled, but obviously not every baker in all of South OC knew about this tasting, or were able to get us cookies to try.

These chocolate chip cookies came highly recommended from locals but we were unable to sample them:

A Little Something Sweet Desserts

W&W Home Bakery 

Baked by the Queen