There are very few things as heavenly as a chocolate chip cookie: soft, chewy, made with butter and loaded with chocolate.

This American style cookie is not to be confused with a South African biscuit.

True connoisseurs will appreciate the difference.

The definitions change depending which country you are in but for the purpose of this review I use the British English definition.

The term biscuit refers to a small, baked, unleavened cake, which is typically crisp, flat, and sweet, while a cookie is a soft, squishy, moist biscuit

While I love biscuits, I have a severe weakness for cookies.

So I took it upon myself to seek out these delicious baked goods and find, in my opinion, the ones that will satisfy my cravings when they come calling.

They were all so different.

Here are my top six.

6. Tasha’s Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies

Taste: Slightly crunchy and not as loaded with chocolate as most of the other cookies I sampled. It lacked the slight chewiness and buttery-ness I feel is essential for this type of cookie and rather under-awed me. The waitress told me they get them sent in from Tasha’s Jo’burg, unlike the rest of their baked goods which are made on the premises. I think I should have rather had the cake.

Look: Blond and definitely the largest cookie I sampled – it was almost bigger than my hand.

Where: Tasha’s at the Ballito Junction

Price: R26

5. Kelly’s

Taste: Sweet and fresh, this cookie was a hit with my three year old boy and was great for satisfying a craving without being too much of an indulgence. It was less loaded with chocolate than most of the others I tasted and reminded me of simple biscuits my mom would make when I was a child.

Look: Blond, about the size of my hand.

Where: Kelly’s are busy relocating from the Ballito Village to The Litchi Orchard.

Price: R8 (best price by far!)

4.  Wonderland at Linc

Taste: Amazingly, of all the cookies I tasted in town, no two were alike. The chocolate chip cookie I found at Wonderland was packed with bittersweet chocolate and was really yummy. The chocolate was not in the traditional chip form but looked almost shredded, streaking through the cookie – a nice twist by Olive Twist catering who make them. The cookie was more crunchy than the traditional American style cookie, but not as hard as a South African biscuit.

Look: Soft brown in colour and as large as my palm.

Price: R17

3. BBM Cafe  

Taste: These cookies are about the size of my open hand and filled with milk and white chocolate chips. Buttery, rich and chewy the cookies are made by the owner Christo’s wife Lee-Ann. She makes the brownies too. The manager told me that they are popular and I can see why! The home-baked touch really makes the difference here. They are slightly on the sweet side but still really delicious.

Look: Blond with milk and white chocolate chips.

Where: Tiffany’s Shopping Centre in Salt Rock

Price: R15

2. Double Chocolate Chip cookie from Waterberry

Taste: Now being double chocolate this cookie is a bit different from the others, but its still pretty freaking delicious. The cookie is loaded with chocolate and is packed with buttery goodness. Its slightly more crunchy than the traditional American style cookie but not too much so. The cookie simply melts in your mouth. I would recommend having this with a cup of tea or coffee with no sugar to break the sweetness.

Look: Dark! So much so that it is difficult to see the chocolate chips but they are definitely there.

Where: Waterberry in Ballito (near Willard Beach).

Price: R15

1. Yolis Bakery 

Taste: When I arrived at Yolis in The Market at the Lifestyle Centre the cookies had literally just come out of the oven. Warm, soft and with the dark Belgium chocolate chunks melting into the cookie. . . I had two. The cookies are a bit smaller than the others I sampled but they make up for that by really nailing the concept.

Look: Golden brown with large dark chocolate chunks

Where: The Market at the Lifestyle Centre

Price: R15

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