After nearly a year of one of my best friends, Brittany, imploring me to try the tahini chocolate chip cookie from Sugar Moon Bakery, I finally got my chance when she brought me one as a surprise before we went to the Chicago Botanical Garden’s Orchid Show.

I, as you well know, am not a morning person, nor am I a person who ventures out on busy weekends, so it was difficult for me to find a chance to get to Sugar Moon before they sold out of baked goods (which happens almost any time they’re open!). Brittany is very well aware of my beef with the early hours, so she took it upon herself to finally rectify my unwillingness to brave the crowds by doing it herself.

That’s real friendship right there.

The chocolate chip cookie is as American as apple pie, and just like everyone has their weigh-ins on the best pie, such is also the case for the chocolate chip cookie. There are near infinite recipes and bakery takes on it, and frankly, my taste buds are tired whenever a new “Best CCC” makes the rounds.

But after taking a single bite of Sugar Moon Bakery’s version, I get why these are lauded as one of the best chocolate chip cookies you can get in Chicago. They have that perfect balance of a crisp outside with a soft center without getting too gooey. And as someone who’s not a center cookie person, I was shocked at how quickly I devoured the center and *coughs* the entire cookie. So many modern day cookies veer into the territory of too big and too gooey, actually venturing into inedible and raw.

But this cookie struck the balance I’d missed for many, many years. The tahini brings moisture and a subtle nuttiness which complements the caramelized edges and softened richness from the milk chocolate feves. The sprinkling of flaked sea salt adds further depth overall, and for such a giant cookie, you’d expect to feel tired of eating it by the halfway mark, but I’m pleased to report—and a little disturbed for my future cookie ordering—that you can eat the entire thing in a single setting before you can register what just happened. I think it being baked flatter is what keeps their cookie beautifully crisp and soft.

I’m eager to try more baked goods from the shop in the future since everything sounds delicious, and if they can pull off such an iconic American dessert which has countless iterations of its recipe, I know their selection will be a treasure trove of deliciousness.

Originally published on Instagram March 22nd, 2022. It has since been edited for the web version.