WINNER: These are the best cookies in Atlanta, AJC readers say

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is committed to continuing our normal features, where appropriate, during the coronavirus outbreak. For full coverage of the outbreak in Atlanta, please check our Coronavirus News Section. We have decided to continue Best of Atlanta voting for the time being, despite social distancing. We encourage our readers to support local businesses after the authorities loosen the social distancing rules — along with supporting those businesses that offer delivery or pickup during the outbreak.

They come thin and crispy or thick and chewy, and can contain chocolate, nuts, raisins or just sugar.

Cookies are a universal treat, and families around the world will be making them soon as Christmas gifts and to leave for Santa.

Although Americans consume about 7 billion cookies each year, it’s estimated Santa will eat 336,150,386 just on Christmas Eve.

The Jolly Ol’ Elf doesn’t care if your cookies are homemade or bought from one of Atlanta’s cookie connoisseurs, so you might consider picking up some treats from one of these five bakeries, which you picked as the Best of Atlanta.

Fifth place went to Piece of Cake, which has several locations throughout metro Atlanta. Although best known for cakes, their cookies — strawberry shortcake and lemon shortbread — “have been making waves in Atlanta,” their website states. Piece of Cake will deliver your treats nationwide.

Coming in fourth was Insomnia Cookies, which also has several locations in metro Atlanta. You can order anywhere from two (with a glass of milk) to 100 cookies to be delivered. Insomnia has 10 flavors, including a gluten-free chocolate chunk.

Third place went to Alpine Bakery & Trattoria with Woodstock and Alpharetta locations. Alpine has 22 varieties of cookies — from butter cookies to biscotti to lace florentines — that you can pick up at the bakery or have delivered.

Finishing in second place this year was Tiff’s Treats, which has many locations in metro Atlanta where you can pick up an order or have it delivered nationwide. Tiff’s even has take and bake cookie kits so you can make cookies when you crave them.

This year’s title of best cookie in metro Atlanta went to Ali’s Cookies, with several locations in metro Atlanta.

You can order treats for yourself or have them delivered nationwide. Health care workers care packages and college care packages are also available.

“We use no preservatives, and, our cookies are certified kosher and are under supervision by the AKC (Atlanta Kosher Commission). With recipes that have been handed down, and have been perfected since 1981, our cookies are the best cookies available anywhere!”

Apparently, AJC readers agree.