Store-Bought Cookie Guide: The Healthiest Cookies Brands We Found

In This Guide

I still believe that the healthiest cookies are the ones you make at home. When you make them yourself, you can bake cookies with the highest-quality, natural, organic ingredients.

Obviously, many of our readers are busy moms (like my daughter, Maia), and making healthy cookies from scratch is not something you feel like doing once a week. 

And who doesn’t love a cookie-and-milk or cookie-and-tea snack?

So, there is a place for store-bought cookies in many homes! When looking for the healthiest cookies, I often first look at the amount of sugar they contain. I also try to stay away from brands of cookies with highly refined flours, refined sweeteners, heavily processed, low-quality oils, and sketchy additives.

I am fine with gluten in my cookies, but I do look for brands that use whole wheat flour or spelt flour. 

And no surprise here: I prefer organic ingredients in anything I buy, including cookies.

Btw: At home, I usually bake with sweeteners like maple sugarcoconut sugar, or honey. For fat, I prefer butter or coconut oil .

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Problematic Ingredients in Most Cookies

Some of the brands of cookies I looked at while researching this guide didn’t contain even a single ingredient I would call Good Stuff.

Still, there are a few types of ingredients that I’m particularly concerned about, with sweeteners and fats being at the top of my list.

Sugars

Perhaps the biggest problem with many cookies is the sweetener they use (in both type and quantity). You’ll see not only highly refined white sugar, but also sometimes even high fructose corn syrup, in most packaged cookie brands.

My thoughts on this:

  • High fructose corn syrup is an industrial food product, far from a “natural” substance. It’s cheaper than sugar because of government subsidies and therefore it’s the sweetener of choice in most big cookie brands. Any cookie we reviewed that contained high fructose corn syrup was immediately deemed Bad Stuff or Sneaky Stuff.
  • You’ll find cookies in our Okay Stuff category that contain sugar, but you’ll notice that it’s always cane sugar. While cane sugar and white sugar are both made from sugar cane, cane sugar juice does not undergo the same degree of processing that refined sugar does. Cane sugar therefore retains more nutrients.
  • Agave ranks relatively low on both the glycemic index and glycemic load scales because it has a high content of fructose, which doesn’t spike blood sugar levels. Unfortunately, research shows that fructose is bad for our livers. Agave actually contains more fructose than high fructose corn syrup! For this reason, cookies with agave aren't included in our Good Stuff list.
  • I understand that maple, honey, and coconut sugar are still sugar. However, all of them offer some benefits either from nutrients or a slightly lower glycemic index when compared to white sugar, high fructose corn syrup, or agave.

Of all the cookies that you’ll see we recommended below, the one with the lowest sugar per serving is the Maxine's Heavenly (5 grams per serving).

Fats

My other major concern with most store-bought cookies is the type of fat used. Partially hydrogenated oils (vegetable, soybean, cottonseed, etc.) are a source of unhealthy trans fats. These oils are used widely in fried and packaged foods because they’re cheap and they greatly extend a food’s shelf life. Unfortunately, they’re really bad for us.

Trans fats raise the risk of heart disease by raising LDL (“bad cholesterol”) and lowering HDL (“good cholesterol”). Human milk contains trans fat if the breastfeeding mother consumes it; the more she eats, the higher the concentration of trans fat in her milk and in her baby’s blood. Trans fat is implicated in cancers of the prostatediabetesinfertilityAlzheimer’sobesity (even with similar caloric intake), depression, and other maladies.

Partially hydrogenated oils have been banned in several countries (such as Denmark and Switzerland), states (California), and cities (Calgary, New York City, and others). But you’ll still find them in lots of packaged cookies!

Note: Be wary of packages that say “0g trans fats (per serving).” This does not mean that the food is trans-fat free. It just means that there is a half gram or less of trans fat per serving. (Thanks, labeling laws!)

If you look at the ingredient list, you may still see partially hydrogenated oils listed. And even though the amount may be relatively small, trans fats can add up in our diets—this is especially true for kids.

Other fats you'll find in packaged cookies include:

  • Canola oil is the product of a lot of processing, involving chemicals and high temperatures that can compromise the fatty acids, even hydrogenating some. It’s only been part of our food system since the 1970s. I try to avoid canola oil when possible.
  • Sunflower oil is also used in many baked goods, and while it does confer some health benefits, it is less healthful when heated. Sunflower oil is also high in omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-6 fatty acids are oversupplied in the Western diet, while the crucial omega-3s are undersupplied. The resulting imbalance contributes to cardiovascular disease and an inflammatory response in the body. Experts recommend low-heat cooking methods when using sunflower oil. Baking is considered a medium heat method, which is better than high heat (such as deep-frying). I eat some sunflower oil because it is in so many snack foods, but I try to keep it minimal.

As you'll see below, many of the Good Stuff brands use coconut oil as a fat for their cookies, which is healthier. If you want a cookie that uses good old fashioned butter, check out Highkey or Tate’s (both only Okay Stuff for other reasons!).

Are the Healthiest Cookies Gluten-Free?

Most of the cookies we recommend in this guide are either gluten-free or grain-free. This is not because we believe that flour is toxic, but rather that the brands that use gluten-free ingredients tend to skip the most problematic sugars and oils, too.

That said, there are plenty of gluten-free cookies that we consider Sneaky Stuff. Glutino cookies, for instance, list sugar as the first ingredient, and contain rice flour (which comes with arsenic concerns), soy lecithin, and natural flavors.

Almond flour is a very healthy ingredient found in some of the the better gluten-free cookies. Unfortunately, none of my grandkids like almond flour cookies! This is another reason that we favor Butterfly Bakery–these are the healthiest cookies that the kids in our lives actually like.

By the way, if you are really just wanting a white flour freaking cookie (been there), then your best bet are Annie’s Cookie Bites. I like Partake cookies for those of you with allergies.

Good Stuff

The good news is we found a few more brands of cookies this time around!


Butterfly Bakery of Vermont

  • Handmade in Vermont
  • Sweetened with pure maple syrup
  • Ginger snaps are a favorite (especially for kids)
  • Uses spelt flour instead of wheat
  • Spelt is an ancient grain with more protein, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals than whole-grain wheat
  • Considered one of the healthier cookie options
  • Still a sweet treat (about 11g of sugar in 3 crisps)
  • 10 added sugars

Sample Ingredients: Organic whole spelt flour, organic pure Vermont maple syrup, sunflower oil, ground dried ginger, arrowroot, baking powder, baking soda, salt

Cost per ounce: $2.65

Note from Suzanne: I am hooked on Butterfly Bakery cookies, especially the raspberry almond ones. This is not a gluten-free cookie, but the flour used is a whole wheat spelt. While there might be other brands that are arguably even healthier than these, there are the best tasting cookie on our approved list.

Butterfly Bakery of Vermont

Capello’s Cookie Dough

  • Bake from frozen
  • Included due to high reader interest in the brand
  • Ingredients are not fully organic but still considered very healthy
  • Made mostly with almond flour, maple syrup, and coconut oil
  • Certified Gluten-Free and Glyphosate Residue-Free.
  • One serving = 1 cookie
  • Contains about 8g of sugar per cookie (includes 8 added sugars)

Sample ingredients: Gluten Free Flour Blend (White Rice Flour, Almond Flour, Tapioca Starch, Brown Rice Flour, Coconut Flour), Cane Sugar, Chocolate Chips (Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Sunflower Lecithin, Natural Vanilla Extract), Coconut Oil, Eggs, Butter (Cream, Lactic Acid), Molasses, Sea Salt, Natural Flavor, Baking Soda

Cost per ounce: $0.96

Capello’s Cookie Dough

Maxine’s Heavenly Cookies

  • Not previously on radar but discovered during guide research
  • Considered a “Good Stuff” option
  • Not fully organic, but made with quality ingredients
  • Includes oat flour, flax seeds, and coconut sugar
  • Serving size is 1 cookie
  • Each cookie has 5g of sugar (includes 4 added sugars)


Sample Ingredients: Gluten Free Oat Blend (oats, oat flour, oat fiber), Palm Fruit Oil*, Semi-sweet Chocolate Chunks (cane sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter), Organic Coconut Sugar, White Rice Flour, Organic Coconut Nectar, Dates, Arrowroot Flour, Water, Cocoa, Flaxseed, Organic Gum Acacia, Sunflower Lecithin, Natural Flavors, Sea Salt, Baking Soda. *Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Certified

Cost per ounce: $1.04

Maxine’s Heavenly Cookies

Siete Mexican Wedding Cookies

  • Part of the Siete snack line, which is generally well-liked
  • Grain-free cookies
  • Sweetened with coconut sugar
  • Not organic (would be preferred)
  • Serving size is 6 cookies
  • 8g of sugar per serving (Includes 8 added sugars)

Sample Ingredients: Grain Free Flour Blend (Almond Flour, Tapioca Flour, Arrowroot Flour, Cassava Flour, Chickpea Flour), Coconut Sugar, Coconut Oil, Powdered Sugar (Sugar, Tapioca Flour), Pecan Pieces, Avocado Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Sea Salt, Baking Soda, Cinnamon, Orange Peel Powder, Vanilla Extract, Jasmine Tea Extract.

Cost per ounce: $1.02

Siete Mexican Wedding Cookies

Simple Mills Cookies

  • Not fully organic, but still one of the healthiest cookie options
  • Made with very clean ingredients
  • Grain-free
  • Uses a blend of nut-based flours
  • Fat source is coconut oil (preferred over sunflower oil)
  • Sweetened with coconut sugar
  • Considered tasty
  • Serving size is 4 cookies
  • 7g of sugar per serving (includes 6 added sugars)

Sample Ingredients: Nut & Seed Flour Blend (Almonds, Coconuts, Flax Seeds), Tapioca Starch, Chocolate Chips (Cane Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Butter), Organic Coconut Sugar, Organic Coconut Oil, Arrowroot, Vanilla Extract, Sea Salt, Baking Soda, Cream of Tartar, Rosemary Extract (For Freshness)

Cost per ounce: $0.72

Simple Mills Cookies

Skout Organic Soft Baked Cookies

  • Made with organic ingredients
  • Uses simple, whole food ingredients like oats, coconut oil, and date syrup
  • Sweetened with organic date syrup and coconut sugar (no refined sugar)
  • Free from gluten, dairy, and soy; suitable for plant-based diets
  • Contains 7 grams of sugar per serving (2 cookies), including 5 grams of added sugar
  • No natural flavors or artificial additives
  • Includes coconut, which may be a concern for those with sensitivities
  • Soft-baked texture with a short, recognizable ingredient list

Sample Ingredients: Organic Date Syrup, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Coconut Sugar, Organic Oats, Organic Chocolate Chips (Organic Cocoa Liquor, Organic Coconut Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter), Organic Oat Flour, Organic Cassava Flour, Organic Navy Bean Flour, Baking Soda, Organic Vanilla Extract, Pink Himalayan Salt. Contains: Coconut.

Cost per ounce: $1.65

Code: GIMMETHEGOODSTUF20 for 20% off on their website.

Skout Organic Soft Baked Cookies

Okay Stuff

The brands listed here are cookies I would enjoy as a treat without feeling bad about it. They don’t make our Good Stuff list because they either contain too much sugar, junky oils, not enough organic ingredients, or all of the above.


Annie’s Cinnamon Graham Crackers

  • Great option for s’mores in spring and fall
  • Pairs well with these marshmallows made without corn syrup or questionable ingredients
  • Contains 8g of whole grains per serving
  • 9g of sugar per serving (2 full cracker sheets)
  • Made with whole grain wheat flour
  • Sweetened with honey and molasses
  • Better option than traditional graham crackers (e.g., Nabisco, Honey Maid)
  • Convenient alternative to making homemade graham crackers

Sample Ingredients: Organic Whole Wheat Flour (graham flour), Organic Wheat Flour, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Expeller-Pressed Sunflower Oil, Organic Honey, Leavening (baking soda, ammonium bicarbonate, cream of tartar), Organic Cinnamon, Organic Natural Flavor, Sea Salt, Organic Rosemary Extract.

Cost per ounce: $0.38

Annie’s Cinnamon Graham Crackers

Annie’s Cookie Bites

  • Small, pre-portioned cookies
  • Serving size is 6 cookies
  • 9g of sugar per serving
  • Available in flavors like Chocolate Chip
  • Tasty and fairly sweet
  • Ingredients are mostly organic
  • Fats include palm oil and sunflower oil (not organic)
  • Made primarily with white flour and cane sugar
  • Each flavor includes some whole grains (such as whole wheat flour or oats)

Sample Ingredients: Organic Wheat Flour, Organic Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (organic cane sugar, organic chocolate, organic cocoa butter, organic vanilla extract), Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Whole Grain Oat Flour, Organic Expeller-Pressed Sunflower Oil, Organic Palm Oil, Organic Invert Cane Syrup, Sea Salt, Organic Molasses, Organic Natural Flavor, Leavening (baking soda, ammonium bicarbonate), Organic Rosemary Extract (to protect flavor).

Cost per ounce: $0.74

Annie’s Cookie Bites

Cadia Sandwich Cookies

  • Made with white flour and cane sugar, so not particularly nutritious
  • Only notable benefit is that the ingredients are organic
  • Contains soy lecithin and natural flavors, lowering overall quality
  • Falls into “Okay Stuff,” but close to “Sneaky Stuff”
  • One serving (1 cookie) contains 9 grams of sugar
  • Maple flavor includes both sugar and maple syrup, which is unnecessary
  • Kid-approved taste, but still only rates as “Okay Stuff” overall

Sample Ingredients: Organic Enriched Wheat Flour (Organic Wheat Flour, Niacin, Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Organic Cane Icing Sugar, Organic Palm Oil*, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Invert Cane Sugar Syrup, Sea Salt, Organic Maple Syrup, Baking Soda, Organic Flavor, Ammonium Bicarbonate, Organic Soy Lecithin. *Sustainably Sourced.

Cost per ounce: $0.70

Cadia Sandwich Cookies

Emmy’s Organics Coconut Cookies

  • Comparable to Simple Mills cookies
  • Uses organic almond flour, which is a plus
  • Contains agave syrup, which is not considered a healthy sweetener
  • Sweetened option is slightly better than white sugar, but still not ideal
  • Sugar content ranges from 5–7 grams per serving depending on flavor

Sample Ingredients: Organic Coconut, Organic Agave Syrup, Organic Almond Flour, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Vanilla Extract, Himalayan Salt, Organic Vanilla Bean Powder.

Cost per ounce: $1.67

Emmy’s Organics Coconut Cookies

Highkey Mini Cookies

  • Sugar-free and Keto-friendly
  • Made with real butter as the fat source
  • Does not use organic ingredients
  • Sweetened with stevia and monk fruit instead of sugar
  • Contains 0 grams of sugar per serving
  • Taste may not appeal to everyone

Sample Ingredients: Almond Flour, Erythritol , Chocolate Chips (unsweetened chocolate , inulin, erythritol, cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin , natural flavor, milkfat , stevia extract), Coconut Oil, Butter (cream [milk], salt), Egg, Natural Flavors , Baking Powder (monocalcium phosphate, tapioca starch , baking soda), Hydrolyzed Collagen , Guar gum, Sea Salt, Xanthan gum, Stevia Extract , Monk Fruit Extract

Cost per ounce: $2.21

Highkey Mini Cookies

Jovial Einkorn Cookies

  • Made with einkorn flour, a more nutritious and traditional wheat
  • Einkorn is genetically pure and lower in gluten, making it easier for some to tolerate
  • Sweetened with cane sugar
  • Contains 5 grams of sugar per serving, which is relatively low
  • Serving size is 2 cookies

Sample Ingredients: Organic Einkorn Flour, Organic Cane Sugar*, Organic Palm Fruit Oil, Organic Eggs, Organic Cocoa*, Leavening (Monocalcium Phosphate, Baking Soda), Salt.

Cost per ounce: $0.71

Jovial Einkorn Cookies

Made Good Cookie Bites

  • Not grain-free, but they are gluten-free
  • Made with organic ingredients
  • Contains brown rice flour, which may carry a risk of arsenic contamination
  • Includes veggie extracts and chia seeds, adding some nutritional value
  • Contains natural flavors and sunflower oil, which are not ideal
  • Sweetened with cane sugar
  • One serving (1 pack) has 7 grams of sugar

Sample ingredients: Gluten Free Flour Blend* (Oat Flour*, Tapioca Starch*, Ground Chia Seeds*), Invert Cane Syrup*, Palm Fruit Oil*†, Chocolate Chips* (Cane Sugar*, Unsweetened Chocolate*, Cocoa Butter*), Sunflower Oil*, Vegetable Glycerin*, Baking Powder, Natural Flavor*, Vegetable Extracts (Spinach, Broccoli, Carrots, Tomatoes, Beets, Shiitake Mushrooms), Sea Salt. *. †Sustainable.

Cost per ounce: $0.77

Made Good Cookie Bites

MI-DEL Ginger Snaps

  • Long-standing brand with a classic, Swedish-style recipe
  • Made with organic flour and sugar
  • Crunchy texture and widely considered tasty
  • Does not contain whole grains
  • Uses canola oil as the fat source
  • Contains 12 grams of sugar per serving (5 cookies)
  • Better than many conventional grocery store options
  • They are far better than most cookies you’ll see at the grocery store, but we can only call them Okay Stuff.

Sample Ingredients: Organic Unbleached Wheat Flour, Organic Dehydrated Cane Juice, Canola Oil, Unsulphured Molasses, Ginger, Baking Soda, Sea Salt, Soy Lecithin

Cost per ounce: $0.58

MI-DEL Ginger Snaps

Partake Cookies

  • Good gluten-free option without rice flour
  • Most ingredients are organic
  • Contains sunflower oil and fructose, which are not ideal
  • One serving (3 cookies) has 8 grams of sugar (all added)
  • Not rated as “Good Stuff” due to ingredient quality
  • We like that this is a Black-owned business!

Sample Ingredients: Gluten Free Flour Blend (Oat Flour, White Rice Flour, Cassava Flour, Sorghum Flour), Organic Cane Sugar, Sunflower Oil, Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (Cane Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Butter), Water, Tapioca Starch, Tapioca Fiber Syrup, Baking Soda, Vanilla Extract, Sea Salt, Caramelized Cane Sugar, Rosemary Extract.

Cost per ounce: $2.00

Partake Cookies

Tate’s Bake Shop

  • Popular brand, especially in New York
  • Uses butter instead of seed oils, which is a plus
  • Made with real, recognizable ingredients
  • Certified Kosher
  • Not made with organic ingredients
  • Contains 9–12 grams of sugar per serving (2 cookies), depending on flavor (includes 10 added sugars in lemon flavor)

Sample Ingredients: Unbleached wheat flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid, malted barley flour), Butter, Cane sugar, Molasses, Eggs, Spices, Baking soda, Natural vanilla flavor, Salt.

Cost per ounce: $0.85

Tate’s Bake Shop

Bad Stuff

Bad Stuff

Keebler Fudge Stripe and E.L. Fudge Elfwich are both Bad Stuff. The Fudge Stripe has partially hydrogenated palm oil and high fructose corn syrup, and the E. L. Fudge Elfwich has high fructose corn syrup and TBHQ, a food additive which studies show increases the incidence of tumors in rats.

Sorry, but you knew that Nabisco Oreo Cookies would be on the Bad Stuff list! Oreos are sweetened with high fructose corn syrup, and the fats in Oreos are palm oil and canola oil.

Nabisco Chips Ahoy cookies contain Bad Stuff like white sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil.

Nabisco Honey Maid Teddy Grahams are some of the least concerning cookies made by Nabisco because they don’t contain trans fats or high fructose corn syrup. However, they are very sweet, thanks to white sugar, honey, dextrose, and maltodextrin. With the exception of the honey, all of these sugars are highly processed.

Pepperidge Farm Milano Cookies don’t contain high fructose corn syrup. They are still Bad Stuff thanks to the fats– hydrogenated vegetable oils and “interesterified soybean oil,” a new fat that I hadn’t seen before. My research revealed that interesterified fats are being used by some manufacturers to replace trans fats. These oils are highly processed and early studies show similar risks as trans fats.

Stauffer’s Animal Crackers don’t contain trans fats, but they are sweetened with high fructose corn syrup and white sugar. They also contain white flour and soy lecithin.

Sneaky Stuff

Sneaky Stuff

Alternative Baking Company makes giant vegan cookies. I was prepared to like them because my friend who own a health food store told me to check them out. I admit they taste delicious. However, these cookies are FULL of sugar. One cookie—two servings—has 24-38 grams of sugar; that’s as much as 8.5 teaspoons of sugar per cookie! I like that they use unrefined cane sugar, but that’s still a lot of sugar! Also, not every ingredient they use is organic, and their ingredient lists are long. I call these cookies Sneaky Stuff because the packaging promotes vegan diets as having a profoundly positive impact on your health. I don’t think eating a cookie with that much sugar and unbleached wheat flour is good for you. If you still want to try them, plan to share the cookie, and perhaps choose the Peanut Butter or Oatmeal to slow down the sugar rush!

Back to Nature makes several types of cookies, and I was surprised that none of their ingredients are organic. This means that their cookies contain pesticides, GMOs, and who knows what else. One small pouch has 8 grams of sugar, but I give them some points for the fact that they use honey and brown rice syrup rather than more refined sweeteners.

Glutino is Sneaky Stuff, with sugar as the first ingredient, plus rice flour, soy lecithin, and natural flavors.

Goodie Girl Cookies list cane sugar as the first ingredient. These cookies also contain rice flour, sunflower oil, soy lecithin, and natural flavors. At 11 grams of sugar per serving (two cookies), these are among the sweetest we reviewed.

Horizon Cinnamon Grahams get points for being organic. But because they contain soy lecithin, a widely used and controversial additive, I would choose Annie’s Cinnamon Grahams instead.

Lenny & Larry’s cookies are ubiquitous in New York City delis and bodegas. One thing to know is that if you eat the whole cookie it’s considered two servings, and that packs 24 grams of sugar. These have a protein blend that’s kind of weird (pea protein and rice protein), natural flavor, and guar gum. Overall these are pretty processed, not organic, and therefore Sneaky Stuff. 

I have to call Mavericks cookies Sneaky because at the end of the day these cookies are made of white flour and sugar (plus “natural flavors”) and nothing is organic—yet these are marketed as a health food cookie for some reason.

Newman-O’s are a hit with my grandsons, and I’ve been a fan of the company (and Paul Newman himself) for a long time. But they’re basically Oreos made with processed organic ingredients like white flour, refined white sugar, and palm and sunflower oils. They’re better than Nabisco’s Oreos, but not much.

Trader Joe’s makes tons of different cookies, and some of them are better than others. As a whole, we have to call TJ’s cookies sneaky. Many of them contain white sugar (as opposed to cane sugar), and in some cases it’s the first ingredient. TJ’s cookies aren’t organic, and all are made with white flour and contain natural flavors. Trader Joe’s cookies also tend to be very sweet, with upwards of 10 grams of sugar per serving. Trader Joe’s gluten-free cookies all contain rice flour. The very worst Trader’s Cookies might be their little packs of mini chocolate chip cookies, which pack a whopping 23 grams of sugar in each pouch. The best Trader Joe’s cookies are the Belgian Butter Waffle Cookies, which, while not organic, have a very simple ingredient list: sugar, flour, egg, butter.

To your health,

Author's Signature

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1 comment

Amy

Thank you for all of your suggestions.

I am trying to rebuild my go to foods with healthier options instead of cutting things out completely. Cookies are without doubt my biggest downfall and I always feel like crap after eating them. I think I’m addicted to junk food and I want to do a complete reset. Do you think opting for healthier versions will silence the junk food noises?

Start with the serving size — many packages list a single cookie as a serving, but it's easy to eat more. Then check total sugar (aim for under 8g per serving), fiber (higher is better), and the ingredient list. Ingredients are listed by weight, so if sugar or refined flour is first, that's the dominant ingredient.

The American Heart Association recommends no more than 25g of added sugar per day for women and 36g for men. A single cookie can easily contain 8–15g of added sugar, so it adds up fast. When shopping, look for cookies with under 8g of added sugar per serving, and check that sugar isn't the first or second ingredient on the label. Natural sweeteners like honey or coconut sugar are still added sugars — they're slightly less processed but should still be consumed in moderation.

Healthier cookies tend to be made with whole grain or alternative flours (like almond or oat flour), use less added sugar or natural sweeteners, contain some fiber and protein, and skip artificial ingredients. Portion size matters too — even a better-for-you cookie should be enjoyed mindfully.

Watch out for these red flags on the ingredient list: partially hydrogenated oils (trans fats), high-fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors and colors, and a long list of unrecognizable additives. The shorter and more recognizable the ingredient list, the better.

Most store-bought cookies are not considered health foods, but some are better than others. Look for options made with whole food ingredients, lower added sugar, and no artificial additives or hydrogenated oils. The cookies we recommend in this guide are the best we've found for balancing taste and nutrition.

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