Chocolate Chunk Cookies: Wendy’s vs Chick-fil-A
The best chocolate chunk cookie may have the perfect balance between a crispy exterior and a soft, chewy center. Or, maybe it’s thin and crispy cookie like those made by Tate’s Bake Shop, or thick-cut from a square sheet pan.
Needless to say, taste preferences vary as widely as the hundreds, if not thousands, of brands, sizes, and varieties of chocolate chip cookies available on the market today.
No matter. We’re not here to tout the best cookie based on flavor and texture. Rather, we provide a comparison of the nutritional value and ingredients. Our aim is to deliver information to our readers to help everyone learn more about the foods they eat.
Fast food behemoths Wendy’s and Chick-fil-A offer popular chocolate chunk cookies on their dessert menus. Let’s dig in and compare these sweet treats.
Compare Nutritional Information
Nutrition Facts Summary
When comparing the nutritional value of these cookies, they are actually quite similar. However, there are some differences and the simplest way to compare the two is with a side-by-side view.
The following table summarizes the nutritional information in the chocolate chunk cookies offered at Wendy’s and Chick-fil-A.
CHOCOLATE CHUNK COOKIES
| NUTRIENT | WENDY’S | CHICK-FIL-A |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 330 | 370 |
| Fat | 16g | 17g |
| Saturated Fat | 8g | 9g |
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 20mg | 15mg |
| Sodium | 210mg | 230mg |
| Carbohydrates | 44g | 49g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1g | 3g |
| Sugars | 25g | 26g |
| Protein | 3g | 5g |
As you can see, Chick-fil-A’s version of the chocolate chunk cookie has a bit more of almost everything on the nutrition facts label. The one exception is cholesterol. Wendy’s cookie contains 5 milligrams more dietary cholesterol per serving.
Calories
Perhaps the first and most common factor people consider when thinking about what they are going to eat is the number of calories. To that end, Chick-fil-A’s cookie has 12% more calories than Wendy’s cookie.
- Chick-fil-A chocolate chunk cookie has 370 calories
- Wendy’s chocolate chunk cookie has 330 calories
That’s due to higher amounts of the macronutrients fat, carbohydrates, and protein.
While the total calories differ, the composition of macronutrients (as a percentage of total calories) in each cookie is quite similar.
In both cookies, about 53% of total calories are derived from carbohydrates. Dietary fat makes up about 44% of the 330 total calories in Wendy’s cookie and 42% of the 370 total calories in Chick-fil-A’s treat.
The following two charts illustrate this point. The total calories differ by 12%, but the amount of energy (kcalories) delivered from fat, carbs, and protein, is comparable.
Percentage of Calories by Macronutrient
Wendy’s
Chick-fil-A
Fat and Sugars
Amount of Fat is High
Both of these cookies have a high amount of total fat and saturated fat per serving. Specifically, Wendy’s cookie has 16 grams of total fat, including 8 grams of saturated fat.
The quantity of dietary fat in Chick-fil-A’s cookie is one gram higher: 17 grams of total fat, including 9 grams of saturated fat.
The cookies contain an amount of fat that reaches or exceeds the FDA-recommended daily value of 20% (based on a 2,000 calorie diet).
Percentage Daily Value
| WENDY’S | CHICK-FIL-A | |
|---|---|---|
| Fat | 20% | 27% |
| Saturated Fat | 40% | 45% |
Total Sugars
One serving of these cookies has 25 grams or more of total sugars. That is significant for a single menu item.
According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, individuals should limit calories from added sugars to no more than 10% of total calories consumed each day.
Although neither of these quick service restaurants report added sugars separately from total sugars, the list of ingredients confirm the cookies are made with a substantial amount of added sugars.
SUMMARY OF SUGARS
Check the Ingredients
Cookie Ingredients
As with nearly all of the recipes for chocolate chip cookies, these two cookies contain many of the same ingredients. That said, there are a few differences.
Wendy’s cookie is made with only ten main ingredients while Chick-fil-A uses over a dozen. Use the following table, which lists the ingredients in each cookie, to compare.
| INGREDIENT | WENDY’S | CHICK-FIL-A |
|---|---|---|
| Enriched Bleached Flour | Yes | Yes |
| Sugar | Yes | Yes |
| Semi-Sweet Chocolate | Yes | Yes |
| Palm Oil | Yes | Yes |
| Milk Chocolate | — | Yes |
| Oats | — | Yes |
| Eggs | Yes | Yes |
| Molasses | Yes | Yes |
| Butter | Yes | Yes |
| Invert Sugar | — | Yes |
| Baking Soda | Yes | Yes |
| Water | — | Yes |
| Salt | Yes | Yes |
| Natural Flavor | Yes | Yes |
| Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate | — | Yes |
| Artificial Flavor | — | Yes |
As we alluded to earlier in this guide, the cookies contain a significant amount of sugars, most of which we assume to be added sugars. By comparison, natural sugars are found organically in foods such as vegetables and fruit.
What’s notable is that in addition to sugar, which is the second ingredient in Chick-fil-A’s treat, the batter also includes invert sugar and molasses. Moreover, sugar is the first ingredient listed in both the semi-sweet chocolate and the milk chocolate.
Nutritional information and ingredients in this guide is based on information provided by Wendy’s and Chick-fil-A.
So, which chocolate chunk cookie do you choose? Will knowing that there are fewer ingredients and fewer calories in Wendy’s dessert option sway your decision, or does it all come back to taste?
Even if it’s the latter and your choice is solely dependent on flavor, we recommend taking the nutritional content of these cookies into account as you make choices about which foods to eat throughout the rest of the day.
Bon appetite!
Ingredients, allergens, and nutrition facts are based on available information as of the date this article was published and/or updated. Restaurants and food manufacturers may change their recipes without notice. Check directly with the food provider for the most accurate and up-to-date information. NutritionandIngredients.com does not provide health or wellness advice or dietary recommendations. Our aim is to research commercially processed food and publish articles for informational purposes only. Unless otherwise stated, % Daily Value is based on 2,000 calories per day, but calorie needs vary by individual. Always consult your physician for any healthcare or dietary advice.
