National Cookie Day 2024: Comprehensive Guide to Free Cookies and Deals

National Cookie Day is celebrated annually on December 4, offering consumers across the United States an opportunity to enjoy complimentary cookies and special promotions from various bakeries, convenience stores, and food chains. The event typically involves a range of offers, including free in-store cookies, app-based rewards, and delivery service partnerships. Participating brands often structure these promotions to encourage app downloads, loyalty program sign-ups, and increased order volumes through third-party delivery platforms. The following guide details specific offers available during the 2024 National Cookie Day celebrations, eligibility requirements, and redemption methods based on official reports and brand announcements.

Major Chain Promotions

Several national chains participated in National Cookie Day 2024, offering distinct deals through various channels such as mobile applications, in-store visits, and delivery services.

Insomnia Cookies

Insomnia Cookies, a bakery chain specializing in late-night delivery, offered a significant promotion for National Cookie Day on December 4, 2024. The offer was available to members of the Insomnia Rewards loyalty program. Eligible participants could receive one free Classic cookie and a $1 Deluxe cookie. This promotion was valid for both in-store and online orders, specifically for in-app pick-up or delivery orders. No purchase was necessary to redeem this offer. Additionally, the chain introduced two limited-time Classic cookie flavors—Strawberry Cheesecake Filled and Red Velvet Cookies 'N Cream—available through December 15, 2024, while supplies lasted.

In a separate promotion occurring in August 2025 for National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, Insomnia Cookies offered a free Chocolate Chunk Cookie with any purchase from August 1 to August 4.

Subway

Subway provided multiple avenues for consumers to obtain free cookies during the National Cookie Day period in December 2024. The primary method involved partnerships with major third-party delivery services: DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub.

DoorDash: Customers could receive a free Subway Footlong Cookie with an order of $20 or more on December 4, and December 6–8. DashPass members were granted early access to a similar deal, requiring a minimum order of $15 from December 2 through December 5.
Uber Eats: Orders of $20 or more qualified for a free Double Chocolate Peppermint Footlong Cookie from December 2 through December 8. UberOne members could lower the order threshold to $15 for the same free item.
Grubhub: Grubhub+ members could secure a free Footlong Cookie with any order of $15 or more from December 4 through December 10.

In addition to delivery offers, Subway launched a "Cookie Club" promotion for its MVP Rewards loyalty program members. The chain announced plans to give 10,000 customers the opportunity to win one free cookie daily for the remainder of the year. Winning members received a free cookie coupon via email from December 9 through December 31.

Circle K

Circle K convenience stores offered a free cookie on National Cookie Day, December 4, 2024. To redeem this offer, customers were required to present a coupon located within the Circle K app. This offer was valid only at select locations and applied specifically to Fresh Food Fast cookies. The promotion was limited to one coupon per customer and did not require a purchase.

Milk Bar

Milk Bar, a bakery founded by Christina Tosi, participated in National Cookie Day 2024 through a specific in-store giveaway. In collaboration with McCormick, the brand created a limited-edition Candy Cane Pretzel Bark Cookie. On December 4, the first 100 customers at specific locations—the New York City flagship, Williamsburg location, Los Angeles flagship, and Washington, D.C., location—received one free limited-edition cookie. The giveaway began at 10:00 a.m. local time and was limited to one cookie per person, while supplies lasted. For those who missed the freebie, the cookies were available for purchase at $3.25 through December 31.

Chip City Cookies

Chip City Cookies offered a free cookie to anyone who downloaded and utilized the mobile app during the National Cookie Day period. Specific terms regarding minimum purchase or exact dates were not detailed in the source material, though the offer was confirmed for the December 4 celebration.

Other Participating Brands

Several other brands offered promotions on or around National Cookie Day:

Great American Cookies: This chain offered a "buy one, get one free" deal on cookie slices.
Jimmy John's: Rewards members were eligible for a free cookie.
Gregory's Coffee: The brand offered a $1 chocolate chip cookie via its app.
Potbelly: Customers could receive a free cookie with an entree purchase by using the code "COOKIE."
Cinnabon: The offer involved buying one Cinnabon and receiving an 8oz Fair Life milk.
Whole Foods: A 50% discount was available at the store's cookie bar.

Delivery Service Partnerships and Membership Requirements

A significant portion of National Cookie Day deals relied on partnerships with food delivery platforms. These offers often included tiered benefits based on membership status within the delivery app.

DoorDash

DoorDash facilitated free cookie offers primarily for Subway orders. Standard users needed to meet a $20 order minimum for a free Footlong Cookie on specific dates (December 4, 6–8). DashPass subscribers, who pay a monthly or annual fee, received enhanced benefits, including a lower $15 order minimum and early access to the promotion (December 2–5).

Uber Eats

Uber Eats also partnered with Subway for National Cookie Day. Standard users required a $20 order minimum to receive a free Double Chocolate Peppermint Footlong Cookie (December 2–8). UberOne members, who pay a subscription fee, could access the free cookie with a reduced $15 order minimum during the same period.

Grubhub

Grubhub+ members received the most favorable terms for National Cookie Day offers. Members could obtain a free Footlong Cookie with a $15 order minimum at Subway from December 4 through December 10. Standard Grubhub users typically require higher order minimums for similar free item promotions, though specific terms for non-members were not fully detailed for this specific event.

Limited-Time and Regional Offers

Certain promotions were restricted by geography, supply, or specific dates.

Milk Bar: The free cookie giveaway was limited to four specific retail locations (NYC, Williamsburg, LA, DC) and was available only to the first 100 customers.
Circle K: The app-based coupon was valid only at select participating convenience store locations.
Subway Cookie Club: The daily sweepstakes was limited to 10,000 participants who joined the program via SubwayCookieClub.com.

National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day Deals

In addition to the December 4th event, specific deals were observed for National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day in August. These offers highlight a secondary peak in promotional activity for cookie products.

Insomnia Cookies: As noted, offered a free Chocolate Chunk Cookie with any purchase from August 1–4.
Sweet Addison’s: Offered 15% off sitewide with the code SWEET15 through the weekend.
Tate's Bake Shop: Offered 30% off all chocolate chip products on tatesbakeshop.com using the code COOKIES30.
DoubleTree by Hilton: In a widely recognized annual tradition, DoubleTree by Hilton offered a free "complimentary signature, warm chocolate chip cookie" (or an allergy-friendly version) to anyone who visited one of their 400 U.S. hotels on August 4.
Cookies & Dreams: Sold chocolate chip cookies for $2 in-store and online on August 4, with no codes or purchase minimums required.

Loyalty Programs and App Usage

A recurring theme across National Cookie Day offers was the requirement to utilize brand-specific mobile applications or loyalty programs. Brands such as Insomnia Cookies, Chip City, Circle K, and Potbelly utilized app-based redemption methods to drive digital engagement. Similarly, delivery services like DoorDash and Uber Eats leveraged the event to promote their subscription services (DashPass, UberOne, Grubhub+), offering superior deal terms to paying members. Consumers seeking to maximize value during these promotional periods are generally required to download relevant apps and register for rewards programs prior to the event.

Conclusion

National Cookie Day 2024 provided a diverse array of free cookie opportunities and discounts across the United States. The most accessible offers generally required participation in loyalty programs or the use of specific mobile applications. Delivery service partnerships played a central role in the distribution of offers from major chains like Subway, with subscription members receiving the most favorable terms. While many brands offered free cookies with no purchase required, others utilized the event to drive sales through "buy one, get one" deals or minimum order requirements. Consumers interested in participating in future National Cookie Day events should monitor brand announcements in late November and ensure they have the necessary apps and loyalty accounts installed prior to the event date.