Given equal surface area to volume ratios, which cools faster? Let's say you have two cylinders one flatter and one longer, both having equal surface area and both having equal volume. Which will arrive at the surrounding temperature first? Assume that the method of cooling doesn't benefit either shape. 
The dimensions are r = 1.20214, h = 5.944 and r = 2.13946, h = 1.877
This provides two cylinders with same volumes and surface areas. Quite interesting. Also the ratio of surface area to volume is 54/27 or exactly 2. Just for funzies. 
For any volume and surface area there are always two cylinders that will fit that volume-surface area combo. 
Reason why:
I simply just wanted to figure out how long I should leave my soda in the freezer and how I would calculate that. Then I got sidetracked thinking about this question. 
 A: If we can assume that there is no significant loss of energy due to radiation (which I'm not sure we can):
I think that aside from surface area you need to take into account the rate at which heat diffuses to the surface of the object. 
The heat flux given by Fourier's law of thermal conduction:
$$q=-k\frac{dT}{dx}$$
where q is the heat flux density and k is the conductivity of the material. 
The derivative on the RHS is a measure of the local difference in temperature, i.e. the difference between the surface of the object and the outside air (assuming that there is air or some other material to 'accept' the heat energy). 
My point is that the surface temperature is not necessarily equal for both objects, since heat must be conducted from the internals of the object to the surface, and therefore the heat flux density is not equal. 
You must solve the 3D heat equation for each object with the appropriate boundary conditions. 
A: In the squat lumpy piece, heat has to move further to reach a surface and be conducted away. In the long skinny one you can think of the the material all being closer to the surface, no more than 0.6 away from a surface, and it will cool faster.
