Depending on what you’re in the mood for, there seem to be many places to have dessert. Are you trying to find a pastry or a cake? Then your best option is a bakery. Can you satisfy your sweet desire with anything other than ice cream? Then, a trip to an ice cream shop or parlor is the only answer. Are cookies more up to your speed? Well, you’re especially in luck on that front, as two major cookie chains Crumbl Cookies and Insomnia Cookies offer up an abundance of sweet treats to keep even the pickiest of cookie lovers satisfied.
Given the size of both Crumbl and Insomnia, it’s reasonable to question which is the greatest. Now, there are a lot of variables involved, so figuring out what is “best” can be a little challenging. The flavor of the cookies is arguably the most crucial element of any outstanding cookie chain, but I’m taking other aspects into account when deciding which is the greatest. These additional factors include accessibility (how many locations does each chain have, and how late are they open?), dessert options (cookies are obvious, but each chain offers treats as well), delivery options, and whether or not either chain offers vegan or other diet-friendly options.
Naturally, I had to taste test a few cookies in order to compare Crumbl and Insomnia, so I chose and tasted a few cookies from each chain that had comparable flavors. In the end, I was able to identify the best cookie chain by taking into account all of the previously mentioned characteristics in addition to the taste test.
What types of desserts does Crumbl Cookies sell?
Finding out that a store called Crumbl Cookies sells cookies doesn’t need much critical thinking, but figuring out that the chain sells more than just cookies is a little more difficult. Crumbl has gradually added more desserts to its menu in addition to a lineup of cookies (which is subject to weekly adjustments, but we’ll talk more about that later). These delicacies have included banana pudding, pumpkin bars, little loaves of banana bread, and mini cakes like tres leches cake. It goes without saying that Crumbl Cookies‘ growing dessert menu may provide you with something to enjoy even if cookies aren’t your thing.
Weekly menu revisions are another distinctive feature of Crumbl’s offerings. A milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chunk cookie is usually a menu mainstay, but the other flavors vary, and seasonality definitely plays a part (for instance, you’re undoubtedly going to see a pumpkin cookie or two during fall). Because Crumbl’s menu is constantly changing, fans are always on the lookout for when their favorite cookies will be available again. Additionally, if a lineup doesn’t appeal to you one week, it will be the same the next week.
What types of desserts does Insomnia Cookies sell?
Like Crumbl’s namesake, Insomnia Cookies’ name gives away what it sells, but that doesn’t imply you’ll just find cookies there. The sheer variety of cookie flavors and alternatives offered by the restaurant is just one aspect of Insomnia Cookies’ amazing dessert menu. In contrast to Crumbl, Insomnia’s menu features a selection of cookies that are deemed classic, so you can find them almost anywhere and on any day. Chocolate chunk, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter chip, snickerdoodle, and M&Ms are a few of these traditional flavors.
Additionally, Insomnia offers limited-edition fall tastes, such as apple cider donuts and pumpkin spice lattes. Then there are a few premium cookies, which are much bigger cookies with tastes like salted caramel, confetti, oatmeal chocolate walnut, and s’mores. Last but not least, Insomnia’s dessert menu offers treats like brownies, ice cream (which can be paired with cookies or brownies), and ice cream cookie sandwiches in addition to cookies. If you want to serve a large group of people, the restaurant even sells cookie cakes.
What is the price difference between Crumbl Cookies and Insomnia Cookies?
While the prices of both Crumbl’s and Insomnia’s cookies are ultimately pretty similar, there are certain differences worth noting. If I were to purchase a single, regular-sized cookie from my nearest Crumbl location in Chicago, the cookie would cost $4.99. A classic cookie at Insomnia would cost $2.99, but one of the chain’s deluxe cookies (which is much more comparable in size to Crumbl’s cookies) is priced at $4.99, and seasonal options like pumpkin spice are priced at $3.39. Crumbl does have mini cookies, but you would have to get at least a three-pack of minis for $9.99, whereas you could get a six-pack of classic Insomnia cookies for $16.49.
I bought four cookies in total from each chain for this post; a four-pack of classic Crumbl cookies cost $17.99, while four individual cookies from Insomnia (three classic and one deluxe) cost roughly $14. Therefore, Insomnia offers more affordable options when it comes to cookies alone; you can enter a store and get a single cookie for less than $3. If you’re only searching for one cookie, Crumbl will cost you a little bit more, but since the cookies are quite large, you might be able to stretch a single Crumbl cookie farther than an Insomnia one if you want to get the best value.
What is the availability of Crumbl and Insomnia cookies?
Even though both Crumbl Cookies and Insomnia Cookies are popular businesses, each person’s access to either may vary based on where they live. Insomnia has officially hit 300 sites as of September 2024, all of which are either in the US, Canada, or the UK. You’re probably closer to a Crumbl location than an Insomnia one because Crumbl now has over 800 shops open worldwide.
The availability of each cookie chain is also influenced by whether or not delivery is a possibility. Delivery is a key component of Insomnia’s operations and is unquestionably an option. Once more, availability will depend on your location and the time of day. However, Insomnia is open every day of the week and usually delivers until three in the morning, so if you do live close to a location, the window of accessibility is very big.
Crumbl also offers delivery, though it’s through either DoorDash or Uber Eats, so whether or not you can get delivery depends on how available those services are in your area. Many Crumbl locations are also closed on Sundays and close at 10 pm (or 12 am for some late-night locations) on days that they are open, so there’s not quite as much late-night accessibility for Crumbl cookies as there is for Insomnia.
Do either cookie chains offer dietary restriction-friendly cookies?
Dessert is not a thing of the past just because you are vegan or cannot eat gluten; yet, it is frequently difficult for people with dietary limitations to locate chains that serve vegan or gluten-free desserts. Thankfully, Insomnia Cookies offers both vegan and gluten-free options, such as vegan birthday cake, chocolate chunk, and double chocolate chunk flavors, as well as a gluten-free chocolate chunk cookie. These cookies’ availability will vary, though; according to Insomnia’s FAQ, the vegan, gluten-free cookie is only offered in a few places.
Even while Insomnia offers a gluten-free cookie, its FAQ makes it clear that cross-contamination is a possibility, so people who are gluten-free should be aware of this when looking for a gluten-free treat.
On the other hand, there is a clear answer to the question of whether Crumbl sells vegan or gluten-free cookies: no. Crumbl explained in a post on X that it does not “consistently” serve diet-friendly cookies on its menu and that cross-contamination is still a possibility. As a result, Insomnia succeeds in providing at least vegan or gluten-free choices, something that Crumbl completely avoids.
Taste test: Crumbl’s semi-sweet chocolate chunk cookie vs. Insomnia’s chocolate chunk cookie
In the end, the two treats did appear to be fairly similar, even though Crumbl’s semi-sweet chocolate chunk cookie was absurdly larger than Insomnia’s chocolate chunk cookie. The sheer quantity of visible chocolate pieces in Crumbl’s chocolate chunk cookie, paired with a dash of sea salt for a little extra impact, immediately appealed to me. Even though Insomnia’s cookie didn’t appear to be quite as rich, I tasted each one with an open mind.
In the end, these two chocolate chunk cookies were very comparable, and the chocolate chunk would be the easiest cookie from each chain’s menu to compare. The sheer amount of chocolatey goodness was just too fantastic to ignore, so I did end up loving Crumbl’s cookie more this time. There were lots of bits of chocolate in Insomnia’s cookie, but not enough to make it really noteworthy. Additionally, Crumbl’s cookie was simply baked better overall, with crisp borders and a wonderful, soft interior. The inside of Insomnia’s cookie wasn’t quite as soft, and I thought it was a little dry.
In my opinion, Crumbl has mastered a better recipe overall, especially because chocolate chunk cookies are a mainstay on the menus of both cookie shops. Additionally, Crumbl’s cookie stood out because of the final garnish of flaky sea salt, which added just the proper amount of flavor contrast.
Taste test: Crumbl’s pumpkin cake cookie vs. Insomnia’s pumpkin spice latte cookie
I decided to taste two pumpkin cookies from each cookie company since I was conducting my study in the fall. It’s crucial to remember that these pumpkin cookies differ greatly from one another; Insomnia’s is a more typical cookie with a pumpkin spice foundation and vanilla chips throughout, while Crumbl’s is a cookie cake with cream cheese frosting.
After sampling each cookie, I found that I preferred Insomnia’s pumpkin spice latte cookie a little more, but I can understand how Crumbl’s pumpkin cake cookie would be more appealing to certain people. It all depends on what you’re looking for in a cookie: are you more interested in a traditional cookie or the lavish, frosted treat that Crumbl is so well-known for?
I can say that both cookies performed equally well in terms of adding a lot of pumpkin spice taste. Though a tad runny, the Crumbl cookie’s frosting was wonderful. The cookie was very cakey, so if that’s not your thing, then Insomnia is probably where you’d want to go for a seasonal treat. Despite being a pretty standard cookie, I appreciated the softness and chewiness of Insomnia’s pumpkin cookie—one that was so soft that it was basically falling apart, in fact.
Taste test: Crumbl’s ultimate peanut butter cookie vs. Insomnia’s peanut butter chip cookie
Even while Insomnia’s peanut butter chip cookie and Crumbl’s ultimate peanut butter cookie varied somewhat, they both offered me the chance to experience extremely similar flavors from both menus. Naturally, peanuts are present in both cookies, but there aren’t any bits of peanuts in either. Crumbl’s is a peanut butter cookie with a PB drizzle on top and a peanut butter flavor throughout without any lumps. In order to express the flavor, Insomnia’s cookie uses peanut butter chips and a peanut butter-based cookie. After tasting both, I would contend that Insomnia’s execution was far superior.
Crumbl’s peanut butter cookie had an odd aftertaste and was way too dry and crumbly, which was my greatest complaint. Thanks to the chips, Insomnia’s cookie tasted like a traditional PB cookie—it was juicy and had lots of extra peanut flavor throughout. There must be some people out there who love Crumbl’s ultimate peanut butter cookie, but in my opinion, Insomnia’s peanut butter cookie was superior overall.
Taste test: Crumbl’s oatmeal chocolate chip cookie vs. Insomnia’s oatmeal chocolate walnut cookie
I was excited to test the oatmeal chocolate chip cookie from Crumbl and the oatmeal chocolate walnut cookie from Insomnia because I love oatmeal cookies in general. The oatmeal chocolate walnut was the only deluxe Insomnia cookie I had, which meant it was more costly than the rest and significantly larger—enough to feel more comparable to Crumbl’s typical cookie proportions. Of course, the two cookies aren’t exactly alike since Insomnia’s includes walnuts and Crumbl’s doesn’t, but overall, they’re pretty similar cookies.
Something that disappointed me about both cookies was the fact that neither of them really managed to accomplish that classic chewiness that one might expect from an oatmeal cookie. If one cookie chain did it slightly better, I’d say it was Insomnia, since Crumbl’s oatmeal chocolate cookie pretty much lacked chewiness altogether. It wasn’t a bad cookie, though it was honestly just a little too similar to the classic chocolate chunk to really strike me as anything special. Insomnia’s had a nice textural element thanks to the addition of walnuts, which I appreciated, but the cookie was a bit too similar to a plain chocolate chunk one. Ultimately, Insomnia’s oatmeal chocolate cookie was slightly better than Crumbl’s, though these were the weakest cookies for both chains out of everything that I sampled.
The addition of walnuts gave Insomnia’s a wonderful textural texture, which I liked, but the cookie resembled a simple chocolate chunk cookie too much. In the end, Insomnia’s oatmeal chocolate cookie was somewhat superior to Crumbl’s, even though they were the worst cookies I tried from both companies.
Which dessert spot is better Crumbl Cookies or Insomnia Cookies?
After tasting comparable cookies from both Crumbl Cookies and Insomnia Cookies and taking availability, shipping, dietary restrictions, and cost into account, Insomnia Cookies emerged victorious in the competition for the greatest dessert place.
As a fan of both chains, I found that overall, I preferred Insomnia’s cookies over Crumbl’s. I do like how Crumbl’s rotating menu and expanding dessert options keep things exciting and fresh, but Insomnia’s menu isn’t particularly noteworthy either. There’s no doubting that Insomnia offers a wider variety of cookie varieties than Crumbl, including seasonal variations. Additionally, Insomnia offers an outstanding selection of non-cookie sweets, such as brownies, ice cream, and even ice cream sandwiches, even though Crumbl has ventured into the realm of cakes and puddings.
Offering vegan and gluten-free cookies is another way that Insomnia outperforms Crumbl. Although there’s no assurance that these cookies will be offered in every store, it’s a positive step that Crumbl hasn’t taken the initiative to make. The only true advantage Crumbl has over Insomnia is that it has more locations; nevertheless, Insomnia is by no means a small-time cookie business, so if you do have a location close, it’s worth checking out.
Methodology
The choice between Crumbl Cookies and Insomnia Cookies for dessert came down to a few important considerations. Taste was obviously the most important consideration, which is why I bought four cookies from each chain. To get a fair assessment of each cookie, I made an effort to choose ones with similar flavors. Even though tasting just four cookies doesn’t provide me a comprehensive idea of all each chain has to offer, it did provide me with a useful look at what one might anticipate when looking for cookies from each.
Being the “best” dessert chain depends on a number of other variables, so when I made my final choice, I also took accessibility, delivery, how late each location is open, and other aspects into account. Although Insomnia didn’t necessarily outperform Crumbl in every one of my criteria—for instance, I preferred Crumbl’s chocolate chunk cookie over Insomnia’s—it nevertheless met enough requirements to win. Additionally, you can’t go wrong choosing Insomnia Cookies over Crumbl Cookies based just on pricing because Insomnia is ultimately less expensive than Crumbl.
