Chocolate Chip Cookies are a classic for a reason. They are the perfectly chewey, chocolatey, ooey gooey, answer to those intense sweet tooth cravings.
The classic dessert, the quintessential before bed snack, lovingly dunked in a big glass of cold milk. Nothing beats a good batch of freshly baked cookies coming out of the oven. Full of just melted chocolate chips, a perfectly golden brown exterior and the loveliest chew you’ve ever encountered in a cookie, this cookie recipe is one of the all time best.
The smell of freshly baked cookies just fills your home with the most mouth watering aroma ever. I’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth and there’s one thing that really satisfies that craving in a pinch and that is chocolate chip cookies. Chewy, soft, and filled with just barely melted chocolate chips, these cookies are just stellar.
I’ve baked my share of cookies in my lifetime, but out of all the cookie recipes I have ever shared with you, these cookies are my favorite. Allow me toot my own horn for a second and tell you that these cookies really are the best. It’s a full proof recipe, that results in the best cookies over and over and over again.
The Key To That Perfect Texture
I always tell you to not over mix certain doughs. The same is true here. You just want to mix until everything is combined and the dough comes together. Over mixing will result in dry, crumbly and hard cookies.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Sugar – We’re using brown sugar and white granulated sugar today. Both are needed for a cookie with depth and perfect sweetness.
- Butter – The butter in the ingredients picture is not melted, because it quickly solidifies, so I didn’t melt it until I made the cookies, but please use melted butter.
- Eggs – Our binder for this recipe. If you’d like to go egg free you can substitute this for 1/4 cup of unsweetened apple sauce.
- Vanilla – The secret weapon flavor booster in most baked goods. Extract will work just fine.
- Baking soda and baking powder – The leavening agent in our chocolate chip cookies to make them tender.
- Salt – All baked goods need salt, it helps balance the sweetness and ensure our flavors shine.
- Chocolate chips – I used semi sweet for this recipe but feel free to use whichever chocolate chips you like, chocolate chunks even! Don’t be shy, add your favorite mix-ins, nuts, m&m’s, peanut butter chips, sky’s the limit.
- Flour – I used all purpose for this recipe. You can substitute gluten free flour at a ratio of 1:1 if you’re gluten free.
How To Make Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Combine the dry ingredients: Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl and set aside.
- Make cookie dough: Using a mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the melted butter and sugars until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Reduce speed and mix in the eggs, then add vanilla. Slowly add dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. To keep from over mixing, use a spatula instead of your mixer.
- Bake the cookies: Fold in chocolate chips by hand. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375°F. If dough is chilled, remove dough from refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature. Drop spoonfuls ( 2 – 3 tablespoons) of dough onto baking sheet. Bake for 10 – 12 minutes.
- Cool on a wire rack.
Some Tips And Tricks
- Always use butter and not margarine.
- Do not ever grease your cookie sheets. I always line them with parchment paper or a silpat and this way there’s no cleaning required afterwards.
- Use a medium cookie scoop to form your cookies perfectly.
- Make sure you DO NOT over bake your cookies. Keep in mind that they will continue to bake once you take them out of the oven.
- Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, this solidifies the fats in the dough, keeping them from spreading too much when baking.
- If you find that the dough is too sticky, add a little bit more flour. You should be able to form it into a ball with your hands but they should still be easy to handle.
- Feel free to add toffee bits as well as chocolate, have some fun with this recipe!
Why This Cookie Recipe Works
- It’s quick! You can whip up these cookies with relative ease and find yourself enjoying them in no time.
- No fail, no fuss, works every single time!
- Fool-proof! It’s a recipe I’ve been making over the years many many times.
- They are perfectly tender with just the right amount of chew.
Storing Leftover Cookies
Be sure to store these in an airtight container at room temperature and your chocolate chip cookies will last for 2 – 3 weeks! This will ensure you keep the cookies soft and will prevent them from turning hard. If you don’t have an airtight container, add a slice of bread which will keep them soft. It works the same way as you do with brown sugar.
Can You Freeze Them?
Chocolate chip cookies are perfect for freezing. You can either wrap them individually or place them together in an airtight container. They will last in the freezer for 3 months, just warm them back up in the oven and enjoy.
Craving More Cookies? Try These Recipes:
Craving More? Follow Along:
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup butter unsalted, melted
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar packed light
- 2 medium eggs room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups chocolate chips or chunks
Instructions
- Combine the dry ingredients: Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl and set aside.
- Make cookie dough: Using a mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the melted butter and sugars until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Reduce speed and mix in the eggs, then add vanilla. Slowly add dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. To keep from over mixing, use a spatula instead of your mixer.
- Bake the cookies: Fold in chocolate chips by hand. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375°F. If dough is chilled, remove dough from refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature. Drop spoonfuls ( 2 – 3 tablespoons) of dough onto baking sheet. Bake for 10 – 12 minutes.
- Cool on a wire rack before serving.
Video
Tips & Notes:
- Note: the butter in the ingredients picture is not melted, because it quickly solidifies, so I didn’t melt it until I made the cookies, but please use melted butter.
- Be sure to store these in an airtight container at room temperature and your chocolate chip cookies will last for 2 – 3 weeks! This will ensure you keep the cookies soft and will prevent them from turning hard. If you don’t have an airtight container, add a slice of bread which will keep them soft. It works the same way as you do with brown sugar.
- Chocolate chip cookies are perfect for freezing. You can either wrap them individually or place them together in an airtight container. They will last in the freezer for 3 months, just warm them back up in the oven and enjoy.
- Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, this solidifies the fats in the dough, keeping them from spreading too much when baking.
- You can refrigerate cookie dough for 3 to 5 days.
Kelly says
The recipe says melted butter but the picture clearly is not?
Joanna Cismaru says
That’s right, I didn’t melt it until I added it to the cookie dough.
Nikki says
Can you freeze/refrigerate extra dough?
Really great cookies!
Nicole Beaulieu says
Yes you can! Store wrapped well with plastic wrap or in a sealable freezer bag.
Marg says
I just made these. I am not a good baker so I am impressed. They are soooo tasty. Soft and plump. Recipe is a keeper for sure . Thank you
Lee says
What can you use if you cant use butter? Coconut oil?
Joanna Cismaru says
Here are some substitutions you can use: coconut oil, olive oil, shortening, applesauce, soy margarine.
Cindy says
Hi can not wait to try these they look amazing can I use 2 large eggs?? That’s all I have in frig
Joanna Cismaru says
Yes, you should be fine. 🙂
Angie says
Can you used salted butter if that’s all you have?
Riley Samuelson says
yes of course.
Britneu says
These cookies are the best I’ve ever made. The plumpest outcome without the center caving in etc. and they taste great. I have a grooved air bake pan so I cook smaller skoops for 5 min and the larger size “palm size” batches for about 7 minutes. The pan allows for no burnt or even brown edges, leaving them gooey and delicious.
GREAT RECIPE @cravinghomecooked
Joanna Cismaru says
Thank you, so happy to hear this!
Amy Brown says
I had a go to chocolate chip cookie recipe and since I found this a month ago I haven’t gone back. Tonight we added butterscotch chips, caramel pieces and milk chocolate chips. So yummy!
Esther R says
It says to use melted butter, but all of your images look like you just used softened butter…. Please clarify? There’s quite a difference between softened and melted butter…
Joanna Cismaru says
You need to melted, the pictures show the butter before it’s been melted.
Krystal says
Is it dark or light brown sugar?
Joanna Cismaru says
I used dark but either will work.
Jennifer says
Just got done making the cookies and they are amazing Thanks for sharing
Shannon says
Loved this recipe! My cookies turned out great. I also added butterscotch morsels and walnuts.
Samantha says
These cookies are AMAZING!!! I always overcook or undercook chocolate chip cookies. This recipe it bakes up perfectly every time! It’s delicious and the only recipe I’ll use for now on.
Brittney says
In the post it says to use melted butter, but in the recipe it says room temp?
Joanna Cismaru says
Sorry about that, it’s been fixed. It should be melted butter.
Shari Nielsen says
Hi! I’m a little confused about refrigerating the dough. Nowhere does it say to do this, but it does say to remove the dough from the refrigerator.
Joanna Cismaru says
You do not need to refrigerate the dough, only if you’re not baking all the cookies at once.