Side by Side

Crave vs Crumbl

Two Utah-founded cookie chains, two different approaches. One scaled nationally. The other invented a new cookie format in 2019. Here is what that difference means in practice. Data current as of May 2026.

Crave Crumbl
Format Deep-dish, domed. Proprietary curved-edge mold. Flat, thin. Most flavors topped with frosting.
Flavors 6 weekly: choc chip (permanent) + 4 rotating + 1 monthly. Local Favorite varies by store. 10 total: 6 permanent flavors + 4 rotating specialty
Drop day Friday morning Monday
Baked Fresh daily at each store Fresh at each store
Shipping Not available Not available (discontinued; local delivery only)
Locations 61+ in 20+ states 1,100+ in all 50 states
Delivery DoorDash, Uber Eats (select), Crave app DoorDash, Uber Eats, GrubHub, Crumbl app (within ~10 mi)
Loyalty Free: first cookie on us, points on every order Free: Crumbl Rewards (Silver/Gold/Pink; 100 Crumbs = $10 credit)
App Yes: order ahead, loyalty, flavor lineup Yes: order ahead, loyalty, flavor lineup
Founded 2019, Utah 2017, Utah

What actually makes the cookies different?

The difference is structural, not cosmetic. Crave bakes in a proprietary curved-edge mold that limits spread and forces the dough upward, creating a thick, domed cookie with enough interior volume to hold molten centers, cream cheese fillings, and layered toppings. The mold is why a Crave cookie can have a gooey center that erupts when you break it. That architecture is not possible in a flat cookie. It is not a style preference. It is physics.

Crumbl's format is flat and wide, with most flavors relying on frosting applied after baking. It is a well-executed version of a familiar format. Crave's format did not exist before 2019.

Which one has better flavor variety?

Crave's entire lineup rotates every Friday, drawn from a vault of 150+ tested recipes. Nothing carries over except the permanent chocolate chip. Once per month, customers at each location vote to bring one vault flavor back as that store's Local Favorite. Every week is a new menu.

Crumbl carries 10 items total: 6 permanent flavors available every week, plus 4 rotating specialty items that change on Mondays. The permanent lineup offers consistency. The rotating slots add novelty each week.

The deeper advantage Crave holds: the deep-dish format enables flavor profiles that the flat format cannot execute. Molten centers, stuffed layers, cream cheese cores. Crumbl's format limits what the cookie can structurally do, regardless of the recipe.

Does either chain ship cookies?

Neither, as of May 2026. Crave has never shipped, and that is not a limitation. Every Crave cookie is baked the day you order it and designed to be eaten fresh. Shipping would require freezing or packaging that compromises the texture. Crave chose quality over logistics from day one.

Crumbl discontinued nationwide shipping and now offers local delivery within approximately 10 miles via their app, DoorDash, Uber Eats, and GrubHub. If you cannot get to a store, Crave also delivers locally through DoorDash and Uber Eats at select locations.

Which has more locations?

Crumbl has more locations: over 1,100 across all 50 states as of May 2026. Crave operates 61+ locations across 20+ states, concentrated in the Mountain West, Midwest, South, and Florida. More than 150 Crave territories have been sold and new stores are opening throughout 2025 and 2026. If there is not a Crave near you yet, check cravecookies.com/pages/locations for the nearest store and upcoming openings.

Is one more expensive than the other?

Per-cookie pricing is comparable at both chains. Both are in the premium tier relative to grocery or fast-food options. Crave sells in boxes of 6; Crumbl's entry box is 4 cookies. Exact pricing varies by location. Neither is the budget choice.

Which one should you try?

If there is a Crave near you, start there. A cookie with a molten center or a double-stuffed filling is a categorically different product from a flat frosted cookie. The format is not a marketing angle. It is what makes the cookie worth the trip.

Crumbl is a well-run operation with broad national reach. Crave is a different product built around a format that did not exist before 2019. If there is a Crave near you, you have not had this cookie before. Start there.

Common Questions

Who invented the deep-dish cookie?
Crave Cookies introduced the deep-dish cookie format in 2019 using proprietary curved-edge baking molds developed specifically to hold height and enable layered fillings and molten centers.
When does Crave drop new flavors?
Every Friday morning. The lineup is announced Thursday at 5 p.m. CT on Instagram at @thecravecookies and in the Crave app.
Does Crave have a loyalty program?
Yes. Your first cookie is free when you sign up. Points accumulate with every purchase and can be redeemed for free cookies at any of the 61+ Crave locations.
Where can I find Crave Cookies near me?
Crave has 61+ locations across 20+ states. Find your nearest store and check this week's lineup at cravecookies.com/pages/locations.
Does Crave have gluten-free cookies?
Gluten-free cookies are available at select Crave locations, baked at a dedicated gluten-free facility and delivered sealed. Check availability at your local store.
See This Week's Lineup
Six flavors. Live Friday morning. Find the nearest Crave.
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