The year was 2017 — right before Easter. Heavily pregnant and unable to do much, I thought up a feature idea surrounding Peeps. Namely, which Peep flavor, out of the varieties released back then, was worthy of top placement in your Easter basket? I enlisted the help of my husband, and we managed to have one of the most fun afternoons in quite some time. Sure, the sugar got to us — and sure, I haven’t been able to eat more than one Peep at a time since — but like the very best of food, it bonded us together. So imagine my excitement when a similar assignment pops up. This time, it’s a ranking of the best Oreo flavors. Since Oreos have gotten super experimental these days, it was a task worth taking on.
Oreos were first introduced to the world in 1912 — 106 years ago. Back then, flavors weren’t experimental. In fact, it was just your basic chocolate sandwich cookie with a creamy inside. But the formula worked, and with time, Oreo became one of the most popular cookie brands in the United States.
It’s so popular that Oreos pretty much dominate the cookie aisle at the grocery store. I picked up the varieties I could for an official ranking, and made sure to combine scores with my husband (so you’re getting not just one perspective, but two). We ranked these on a scale of one to 20, with 20 being the most delicious.
Here’s an official ranking of the best Oreo cookie flavors out there today.
10. Strawberry Shortcake Oreo
Surprising, right? Both my husband and I had high hopes for the Strawberry Shortcake Oreo, simply because it was advertised as mimicking the famous Good Humor popsicle. It was the first cookie we tried, and while it was good, it just fell short to the rest. It smells a lot like the popsicle when you open the package, but the actual taste isn’t a total match, which is why it ties with Birthday Cake at a 9. Even so, it’ll still get eaten at a party — trust me.
9. Birthday Cake Oreo
Happy birthday! You might want to break out a box of Birthday Cake Oreos to celebrate the big event — especially if you chose not to make a cake. These Oreos are very, very sweet — and while their Funfetti filling is festive, it more or less tastes like an Oreo with amped up sugar. My husband’s first reaction was, “It tastes like clowns.” That’s not a bad thing if you’ve got a sweet tooth. This one scored a respectable 9.
8. Cinnamon Bun Oreo
If you want to make a dessert even more special, you might be prone to add a dash or two of cinnamon. And that’s likely what Oreo was thinking when unveiling the delicious cinnamon bun Oreo. The cookie utilizes a vanilla cracker, with insides that are — without a doubt — cinnamon flavored. The only reason why this one might have scored lower is because, unlike some of the other selections, this one wasn’t too surprising. Still, it’s a solid choice and dangerous to keep in your pantry. It ranked in at 11.5.
7. Red Velvet Oreo
Fancy, right? When you think of red velvet cake, you think of an exquisite event. But, it must be said — both my husband and I aren’t totally fond of red velvet. Ice cream cake, on the other hand…
Still, there’s something quite charming about a red velvet Oreo. Even the color of the cookie has red hues, making it special. And with a cream cheese filling, it really is like no other Oreo out there. Its final score was a 12 out of 20.
6. Cherry Cola Oreo
Another limited-edition flavor, this was the one I was most anxious to try. It’s a daring combination, and the Oreo itself was, weirdly enough, very pretty. The only problem? I didn’t read the package before biting in. “It’s a little gritty,” I said with surprise, before realizing that was its purpose. Aside from being multicolored, the filling includes popping candy. This one took the 6th spot with a score of 15.5.
5. Standard Oreo
Seriously. Everyone’s had an Oreo before, and they need no explanation. There’s a reason why the brand has been so successful. If you’re looking for a good cookie to buy for a party this summer, the original Oreo is still a good bet.
4. Kettlecorn Oreo
I had my doubts about this one, since simply put, I’m not a huge kettlecorn fan. And when you open the package, you get smacked in the face with a kettlecorn aroma. I figured Oreo wasn’t screwing around with this one, which is a limited-time flavor.
But I was shocked. The cookies themselves — which were vanilla on the outside, not chocolate — didn’t necessarily taste like kettlecorn, but something else familiar to summertime celebrations. No matter what, it was really good. It gained a combined score of 17, propelling it into the top 4.
3. Double Stuf Oreo
The Double Stuf was pretty much the cookie that we dreamed about as children. Everyone knew the filling was the best part, so being able to get more of it made it seem like we, as kids, were being listened to. It’s definitely a classic, and the cookie that was always in the pantry at my husband’s home growing up.
Sure, it doesn’t have many frills these days, in comparison to the other contenders, but it’ll always be a classic. This one also gets a 19, securing its spot in the top 3.
2. Mint Creme Oreo
The Mint Creme Oreo came in second place, with a score of 19. If you’re fond of Thin Mints, you’ll dig the Mint Creme. It pretty much tastes exactly like the popular Girl Scout cookie, but with the addition of more chocolate. (So perhaps this one’s more like a “Thick Mint”?)
This is a good cookie to have as a dessert, since that mint will leave you feeling pretty refreshed. This cookie scored a 19.
1. Peanut Butter Creme
This should be a no-brainer, right? Peanut butter and chocolate are a winning combo. This cookie gets it right. Like, this is a “hard not to eat the whole package in one sitting” flavor profile. “It gets you where you want to be with a flavor Oreo,” my husband stated. I had to agree. If Reese’s — who dominates the chocolate and peanut butter market — ever made a cookie, it’d be tough for them to compete with this Oreo.
Out of a possible score of 20 (with 10 being the highest ranking per individual), Peanut Butter Creme scores an impressive 19.5.
All in all, every Oreo that was tried had its quirks and positive attributes. The problem is, there’s just so many varieties out there — with even more to come. Nabisco is quite innovative when it comes to new flavors. While none of them will be severe disappointments, some of them will prove to be a little bit more addictive than the others.
