WHAT’S HOT: Put down the Ginger Nut. Australians are no longer content with the bickies in the Arnott’s tin. We don’t want small, snappy rounds, but huge, textured mounds, filled with rivers of choc and hunks of nut. You can thank NYC bakery Levain for the giant cookie trend.

The famous chain has more than a dozen stores across the US, with endless queues for its chonky treats. The six-ounce cookies were originally developed as a post-race treat for runners, but it’s a marathon just to finish one on your own. They’ve inspired hundreds of copycat recipes, and even more videos on social media.

WHY: Why have one cookie, when you can have four? These cookie monsters are not just for the gluttonous. The giant size means you can get two distinct textures in every bite, from the crisp, golden outer layer to the gooey centre within.

HAPPY ALLEY, SYDNEY
Follow the crumbs to Happy Alley in Rockdale. Owner Ali Barakat ran a successful online baking business before opening his own cookie emporium in Sydney’s South. Surprise fillings are the calling card here. Bite into the soft, chewy dough to discover pockets of peanut butter, melted marshmallow or even a whole mochi hidden inside. The new location on Bay Street now lets you add a swirl of soft serve to the side. happyalley.com.au.

LUKE AVENUE, SYDNEY
There’s nothing cookie cutter about the selection at backstreet bakery Luke Avenue in Newtown. Forget chocolate chip – here you try banana bread in a biscuit, healthy-ish breakfast oat and even a cheesecake-inspired red velvet filled with cream cheese frosting. Smart cookies go for Snak Pack, a bickie bundle that includes 12. lukeave.com.

BROOKI, BRISBANE
Brooki Bakehouse in Brisbane sells out of its Insta-famous cookies daily. Sorry, but that’s just how the cookie crumbles. The selection includes a Levain dupe, made from roasted walnut and chocolate chips, or try the latest creation, a cinnamon scroll biscuit filled with warm spices and cream cheese frosting. brookibakehouse.com.

THICC, MELBOURNE & SYDNEY
Do you like them Thicc? This chonky cookie chain is famous for its giant 1kg cookies, which are a meal on their own. The biscuit behemoths come studded with chocolate chips and colourful funfetti sprinkles. They’re big enough to share – not that anyone ever does. An extensive vegan selection means no one misses out. Find them in cafes in Sydney & Melbourne, plus they ship Australia-wide.  biggandthicc.com.au.

THE COOKIE BOX, MELBOURNE
It’s what’s on the inside that counts, and that goes for cookies too. These big, beauties are made from the finest ingredients, then rested for 48-hours for a super gooey centre. There’s all the classic flavours – choc chip, macadamia, Nutella, as well as a super delicious Spanish-inspired churros,  stuffed with dulce de leche and rolled in in cinnamon sugar. thecookiebox.com.au.

THE COOKIE DOUGH CO, MELBOURNE
These giant cookies are over the top in both size and flavour. Get your sugar rush with the classic choc chip or go all out with pistachio & white chocolate, strawberry doughnut and Reese’s peanut butter. If you thought that was intense, wait until you see the 3kg cookie slab cakes. thecookiedoughco.com.au.

GET CHUNKY, PERTH
No round-up would be complete without the OG, Get Chunky, which launched its New York-style bickies into Perth in 2017. The peanut butter and chocolate Shikity Chunk are a slam dunk. Get two cookies and you can fill them with ice cream in the centre.  Love that undercooked taste? You can also get a cup of raw edible cookie dough to go. getchunky.com.au.

Related story: Our favourite biscuit and cookie recipes