I Asked ChatGPT To Tell Me The 5 Best Cookies — Here’s What It Said
If you’ve been on the Internet in the past year, you’ve probably heard of ChatGPT. Maybe you’ve even played around with it yourself. It’s a large language model-based chatbot that was released on November 30, 2022 — doesn’t it feel like it’s been around for much longer than that? — and people can use it to accomplish some pretty cool things. Of course, being a generative AI tool, it’s also kind of scary and might take away many of our jobs and a lot of our creativity. BUT we are not here to question the merits of our robot overlords, we’re merely here to run a dumb experiment.
The very first question I asked ChatGPT was, “What’s the best song to run through a brick wall to?” As a kid who grew up playing basketball and also regularly chatted with football players, I always found the term “running through a brick wall” to be very funny. Like someone is so amped up that they would literally Kool-Aid Man through a structure. ChatGPT spit out some answers for me, and I recall nodding my head vaguely at the selections. The only one I remember was “Break Stuff” by Limp Bizkit, which, if the name doesn’t give it away, definitely fits the bill of all that angst.
I wrote about the 5 best cookies several years ago (pre-pandemic, whoa!), and…well, I think I’d probably change some of those cookies that I had on my list. Maybe once we hit the five-year mark of when I wrote it, I can do a five-year update on the five best cookies. That’s a mouthful, just like five cookies would be.
In the meantime, let’s take a look at what ChatGPT has ranked as its five best cookies. I’ll put its responses in italics and my commentary in regular font.
The “best” kinds of cookies can be a matter of personal preference, but here are five classic and beloved cookie varieties that many people enjoy:
Okay, already the chatbot is providing a caveat. I want ChatGPT to tell me the 5 best cookies. I don’t want it to waffle like a politician during a debate.
1. Chocolate Chip Cookies: Chocolate chip cookies are arguably the most iconic and universally loved cookies. They feature a perfect blend of sweet, chewy dough and melty chocolate chips. There are endless variations, from traditional to gourmet with various types of chocolate and additions like nuts or sea salt.
I did have this one on my original list, and I still have to agree with ChatGPT here. There’s a reason chocolate chip is a classic. When you get a batch fresh out of the oven and have that perfect gooey split where the chocolate chips are just melting…goodness, it could make even the meanest person’s mouth water. Chocolate chip cookies that are a couple of days old remain quite tasty, which is a key bonus.
2. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies: Oatmeal raisin cookies combine the wholesome goodness of oats with the sweet and chewy goodness of raisins. They often have a warm, comforting flavor with a hint of cinnamon.
As a kid, I hated oatmeal raisin cookies. I don’t mind them as much as an adult, but they should not be among your top five cookies for the simple reason that they sometimes look too much like chocolate chip cookies. To the untrained eye, that’s a surprise you never want to experience.
3. Snickerdoodles: Snickerdoodles are sugar cookies with a twist. They are rolled in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar before baking, giving them a delightful crunch on the outside and a soft, buttery center.
I like cinnamon, and I like sugar, so you would think I’d always like snickerdoodles. But I find these to be among the most inconsistent of any cookie. When you have a good Snickerdoodle, it can hold its own against most cookie opponents. But far too often, you get something that’s rock hard (not to be confused with a Hard Rock Cafe), and you’re just disappointed.
4. Peanut Butter Cookies: Peanut butter cookies are rich and nutty, with a slightly crumbly texture. They often feature the classic crisscross pattern on top and a distinct peanut butter flavor.
I’m distressed that ChatGPT didn’t tell us we could make that classic crisscross pattern on top by using the tines of forks. At least somebody around here is trying to educate readers. Also, peanut butter cookies feature “a distinct peanut butter flavor?” Color me shocked!
5. Macarons: While not a traditional cookie, macarons are delicate and luxurious. These meringue-based cookies come in a variety of flavors and feature a soft, chewy interior with a slightly crunchy outer shell. They are often filled with delicious ganache, buttercream, or jam.
If we were going by appearance alone, macarons would be a top three cookie. They look gorgeous. I love it when there’s a display of them, and you get, like…12 different macarons like you’re looking at a cookie sandwich rainbow. The problem is that macarons do not taste good. They’re often fairly dry, and perhaps I just have ordered from the wrong bakeries a dozen times in my life, but macarons seem to be among the most residue-heavy cookies out there, getting stuck to my teeth with regularity. Beyond that, macarons are often confused with macaroons, which typically don’t taste good either. The latter has coconut, usually a key giveaway if you’re ever confused about what you’re eating. Also they look completely different.
Of course, there are many other fantastic cookie varieties out there, including gingerbread, shortbread, snickerdoodles, and more. Ultimately, the “best” cookies depend on individual taste and preferences. Whether you prefer classic favorites or are open to trying new and exotic cookie creations, there’s a wide world of delicious cookies to explore and enjoy.
Excuse me, ChatGPT, you included snickerdoodles on your top five list, and now you’re trying to tell me it’s one of the “many other fantastic cookie varieties” out there? I don’t like how you’ve hedged your bets with this “there’s no such thing as best” response, but I do appreciate you inspiring us to go out there and try new cookies.
In fact, I encourage you to do that, too. Before the end of the month, eat a new cookie that you’ve never tried before. That can be a new flavor or supporting a local bakery. Go forth. I believe in you!
Want to ask a ridiculous food question to ChatGPT? Give it a whirl here.
