By Rachel Duncan

“It started with one big dream…” According to Crumbl Cookies’ website, the franchise was co-founded by two cousins, Jason McGowan and Sawyer Hemsley. The two spent thousands in their long quest to create the perfect cookie recipe.

Since the establishment of Crumbl’s first store in Logan, Utah in 2017, they now have expanded to over 800 bakeries in all 50 states. Furthermore, as of 2023, Crumbl is an international franchise, with stores in Canada. From only selling “fresh milk chocolate chip cookies for takeout and delivery,” Crumbl now has a rotating menu incorporating bizarre but ingenious flavors each week. This past fall, Harper Hope (’24) meticulously reviewed their Thanksgiving selection for The Match.

Recently, my classmates—Chloe Miles (‘24), Anjun Dhillon (‘24), Isaac Rivers (‘25), and Aaron Atkins (‘26)—and I eagerly ventured to the local Crumbl in Short Pump to ask the simple question: “Are they worth it?” Upon our entrance, the boldly displayed menu lists the costs for each available purchase option:

Single                             $4.78

4-Pack (save 18%)        $15.58

6-Pack (save 16%)        $23.98

Party Box (Save 28%)   $40.78

That week’s 600 to 920-calorie cookie line-up included: Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chunk, Raspberry Butter Cake, Oatmeal Skillet Cookie, Classic Pink Sugar, Chocolate Cookies & Cream, and Key Lime Pie.

Before starting the test, I asked my classmates their initial thoughts about Crumbl, to see if their opinions would change after our group experience. Dhillon replied, “They’re overhyped, but sometimes I fall if every flavor is good.” She explained that it’s not necessarily the cookies themselves that have become so beloved, but the innovative idea that excites consumers. She added that their dynamic social media presence is a key ingredient to their success.

Raspberry Butter Cake cookie. Photo credit: Crumbl Cookies via TikTok.

Beginning with Raspberry Butter Cake, this “raspberry-fused” butter cookie was “perfectly crispy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside,” according to Miles. The rather savory cookie base was complemented with a sizeable amount of sweet jam that had a pleasing consistency. To top the cookie was an artful swirl of buttercream that contributed less to the taste and more to the presentation. After a table full of satisfied faces, Atkins commented, “It reminds me of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.” Miles expressed, “It’s delicious. Ten out of ten.” This cookie was Miles’ favorite.

Then I asked the question, “Is it worth it?” Three out of the five of us agreed that the cookie was worth the untaxed $4.78. Rivers remarked, “I would pay the money, but nothing more.”

Key Lime Pie cookie. Photo credit: Crumbl Cookies via X.

Next, we all tried Key Lime Pie, which, as the Crumbl app states, “It’s not a cookie, it’s a pie.” This raised the question, “Should Crumbl cookies be selling pies and cakes?” Rivers argued, “I have a problem that it’s not a cookie. It’s called Crumbl cookie, but it’s not a cookie.” Regardless of the irony, although none of my peers were lime fans, it was unanimous that a Key Lime Pie-lover would take great liking to this cookie. If nothing else, it was “refreshing,” Miles stated optimistically. Unfortunately, no one at the table would justify spending $4.78 for this cookie/pie.

Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chunk cookie. Photo Credit: Crumbl Cookies via YouTube.

After a palate cleanse, we shared the classic Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chunk. This cookie was no doubt incredible. And while “the consistency was phenomenal, it just tasted like a regular chocolate chip cookie,” according to Atkins. To put it bluntly, “It is an overpriced chocolate chip cookie,” Rivers concluded. While the chocolate chips are the perfect sweetness as to not overpower the cookie, there was hesitation over the amount of salt that was sprinkled on the otherwise cooked-to-perfection cookie. Only Dhillon and Atkins would spend the money to purchase this cookie again.

Oatmeal Skillet cookie. Photo credit: Crumbl Cookies via TikTok.

We then split the Oatmeal Skillet cookie, described by Crumbl as “A gooey oatmeal cookie crowned with a scoop of vanilla bean mousse, a drizzle of butterscotch caramel, and finished with oatmeal cookie crumbles.” This cookie soon became Atkins’ and my favorite, and three out of our group of five would purchase it again. Similar to the raspberry cookie, it was buttery sweet just in its own way.

To conclude our taste test, we ended with Chocolate Cookies and Cream, which would become Dhillon’s and Rivers’ favorite. This Oreo-inspired cookie is a chocolate cookie base stuffed with cookies & cream pieces and what appeared to be white chocolate chips, or what Crumbl calls “creamy white drops.” After admitting his bias, Rivers, a profound Oreo lover, exclaimed, “It definitely smacked. The way the flavor exploded in my mouth was very eye-opening. I’ll give it a 17/10.”

Chocolate Cookies & Cream cookie. Photo credit: Crumbl Cookies via TikTok.

While each cookie cost nearly five dollars, they range from four-and-a-half to five inches in diameter. The 720 calorie Milk Chocolate Cookie alone contains 20 grams of saturated fat and 28 grams of added sugar. Consuming this singular cookie is calorie-equivalent to eating a Double Quarter Pounder with cheese from McDonald’s.

So, are Crumbl cookie worth it? I came to the conclusion that they are, but not necessarily because of the cookies themselves, but rather the innovation behind them that joins people in anticipation and excitement. In other words, indulging in 700+ calorie cookies by yourself definitely does not compare to when you’re surrounded by friends. Miles thoughtfully answered, “Yes, they are. They’re different from regular cookies that you’d get at the grocery store because they’re so intricate.” Rivers passionately interjected, “They’re worth the money because of the variety of flavors they offer, and how it doesn’t matter what cookie you get, the flavors explode in your mouth with each bite.” Dhillon put simply, “Yea, they’re worth it.”

Two weeks later, we returned to Crumbl to try their new lineup.

Featured image credit: Crumbl Cookies via YouTube.