The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe: Soft, Chewy & Irresistible!
Introduction
There’s nothing more comforting than a warm chocolate chip cookie, fresh out of the oven, with gooey chocolate chunks and a buttery, chewy center. 🍪 Whether you love soft cookies, crispy edges, or an ultra-chewy texture, this foolproof recipe will give you the perfect balance of softness, chewiness, and melt-in-your-mouth goodness.
The best part? This recipe is beginner-friendly, requires no chilling, and can be made with basic pantry ingredients. You’ll be dunking these cookies in milk in less than 30 minutes! 🥛🍪
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
✔ Soft & Chewy – The perfect bakery-style texture.
✔ Crispy Edges, Gooey Center – The best of both worlds.
✔ No Chilling Required – Bake immediately, no waiting!
✔ One-Bowl Recipe – Fewer dishes, more cookies!
✔ Customizable – Add nuts, caramel, or sea salt for extra flavor.
Ingredients (Makes 24 Cookies)
Dry Ingredients:
🥄 2 ¼ cups (280g) all-purpose flour
🥄 1 tsp baking soda
🥄 ½ tsp salt
Wet Ingredients:
🧈 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, melted & slightly cooled
🥄 ¾ cup (150g) brown sugar (for chewiness)
🥄 ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar (for crisp edges)
🥚 2 large eggs (room temperature)
🥄 2 tsp vanilla extract
Mix-Ins:
🍫 2 cups (340g) chocolate chips (semi-sweet or dark)
🥜 Optional: ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Preheat & Prep
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
Step 3: Cream Butter & Sugars
In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth. (Melted butter gives a chewier texture!)
Step 4: Add Eggs & Vanilla
Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract.
Step 5: Combine Wet & Dry Ingredients
Gradually fold in the dry ingredients (flour mixture) using a spatula or wooden spoon. Be careful not to overmix—stop as soon as the flour is incorporated.
Step 6: Fold in Chocolate Chips
Stir in the chocolate chips and optional nuts until evenly distributed.
Step 7: Scoop & Bake
Scoop about 2 tbsp of dough per cookie onto the baking sheet, spacing them 2 inches apart. (For bakery-style cookies, roll into balls for even baking!)
Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden but the centers are still soft.
Step 8: Cool & Enjoy!
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
Serve warm with cold milk or a scoop of ice cream! 🍨
Pro Tips for the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
Use Brown Sugar for Chewiness – It adds moisture and gives that soft, chewy texture.
Melted Butter = Softer Cookies – If you prefer thicker cookies, use softened butter instead.
Don’t Overmix the Dough – Overworking the flour makes cookies dense instead of soft.
Slightly Underbake for Gooey Centers – The cookies continue baking on the hot sheet after you take them out.
Chill for Thicker Cookies – If you have time, chill the dough for 30 minutes to prevent spreading.
Upgrade the Chocolate – Use chopped chocolate bars for pools of melted chocolate instead of chips.
Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them
Cookies Spread Too Much? – Your butter may have been too hot. Let it cool slightly before mixing.
Too Hard? – You may have overbaked them. Pull them out when the edges are golden but the centers are still soft.
Too Dry? – Make sure you’re using the correct butter-to-flour ratio and not overmixing.
Chocolate Chips Don’t Melt? – Many store-bought chocolate chips hold their shape. Use high-quality baking chocolate for better melting.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Variations
Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies – Sprinkle sea salt on top before baking for a gourmet touch.
Double Chocolate Cookies – Swap ¼ cup flour for cocoa powder and use white chocolate chips!
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies – Add ½ cup peanut butter to the dough for a nutty flavor.
S’mores Cookies – Add mini marshmallows and crushed graham crackers to the dough.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies – Replace ½ cup flour with rolled oats for a heartier bite.