These classic chocolate chip cookies are made with a simple cookie dough and filled with delicious chocolate chips! You can modify these cookies in so many ways from adding chopped nuts, dried fruit and seeds to keep things exciting. The texture of these cookies are crispy on the outside with a soft chewy inside - so good you'll keep coming back for more.
Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies
Everyone loves cookies from cinnamon applesauce cookies to our double chocolate chip cookies. If you are looking for a simple classic chocolate chip cookie recipe without a lot of effort, these cookies are an easy addition to your cookie recipes.
This cookie is a more classic style - a little crispy, a little chewy. It's what we remember growing up as kids. This recipe uses extra chocolate chips for more sweetness. These are so perfectly warm and fresh out of the oven. Serve with a glass of milk and it'll bring you right back to your childhood!
Recipe Ingredients
This cookie classic requires simple baking staples from your pantry and refrigerator. You can scroll down to the recipe card to see the full measurements. Here's an overview of what you'll need:
FLOUR - This recipe uses all-purpose flour.
SUGAR - This recipe uses two types of sugar, light brown sugar and white granulated sugar. If using dark brown sugar, it will change the color of the cookies slightly.
BUTTER - Soften unsalted butter to room temperature for a few hours before making these cookies.
CHOCOLATE CHIPS - Semi-sweet chocolate chips will work great. You'll need almost a full bag, 1 ½ cups worth.
ETC. - You'll also need baking soda, baking powder, a bit of salt, eggs and vanilla extract.
Pro Tip: Soften the butter in advance by leaving it on the counter for an hour or so. Some people swear by the glass bowl method - boil water and pour it into a glass bowl. Pour out the water then place the bowl on top of the unwrapped butter let it sit for a few minutes and it should soften the butter.
Variations
It's easy to change things up with this recipe. If using one of these below, use fewer chocolate chips. Here are a few ideas:
CHOPPED NUTS - Chopped walnuts, pecans or slivered almonds can be added to the batter. Add fewer chocolate chips and use nuts in replacement.
WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIPS - Use white chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet.
SEEDS - Add unshelled pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds with fewer chocolate chips.
SPRINKLES - A favorite with kids! I prefer to sprinkle a few on top of each cookie just before baking.
How To Make Chocolate Chip Cookies
These cookies are quick to assemble. It's recommended that you chill them for 15 minutes before dropping the dough onto the baking sheet. Here's a quick overview with the full instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post:
- DRY INGREDIENTS - Add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together. Set aside.
- WET INGREDIENTS - Cream the softened butter, brown sugar, and white sugar with an electric mixer.
- TOGETHER - Add half of the dry ingredients to wet ingredients and blend with electric mixer. Repeat with the other half until everything is just combined. Do not overmix in this step. Gently fold in the chocolate chips, just enough to mix together.
- CHILL - Place the cookie dough in the fridge to chill for 15 minutes.
- BAKE - Use a cookie scoop or spoon to drop the dough onto a baking sheet, leaving 2" between each cookie for room to spread. Bake for 8-10 minutes at 350°F. Remove and let sit on the baking sheet for 5 more minutes. Then add to a rack to cool completely.
Pro Tip: Do not overmix the batter. This will overmix the gluten in the flour creating a chewier cookie. These cookies are meant to be soft inside with a crunchy outside.
Best Way To Store These Cookies
This recipe will make about 30 cookies, give or take. They can be stored at room temperature, chilled or frozen:
COUNTER - Store the cookies in an airtight container, or plastic bag for up to 5 days on the counter at room temperature.
REFRIGERATE - Cookies can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 7 days.
FREEZE - Leftover cookies can be frozen for maximum freshness. This is my favorite method for storing as it keeps the cookies lasting longer. It's easy to grab one from the freezer and let it thaw for 10 minutes before enjoying.
Tips For Perfect Cookies
- Use softened butter - This is an important step in baking cookies. Softened butter mixed with sugar creates small air pockets and won't melt immediately in the oven which would result in flatter cookies.
- Chill the dough 15 minutes - This also helps to prevent the butter from melting too quickly. This helps cookies to hold their shape and flavor.
- Do not overmix the dough - Overmixing the dough can cause gluten to produce dense cookies. Just mix enough for the cookies to be combined.
- Bake one batch at a time - It's easier to get evenly baked cookies, otherwise you have to rotate pans halfway through. Cookies only take 8-10 minutes to bake so I prefer to do one batch at a time.
- Use a cookie scoop - If you like the shape of my cookies, it's because I used a cookie scoop! This will create a shape similar to an ice cream scoop that gets dropped onto the baking sheet. As it bakes, the cookies flatten with a little mound on top.
Common Questions
This is probably from overmixing the batter. When the gluten from flour gets overmixed it can create a dense texture.
The butter was probably too soft or melted. Use room-temperature butter and be sure to chill the dough before baking to help keep the consistency. You can also try using a cookie scoop to get that perfect cookie shape.
Using less sugar can result in less spreading while the cookie bakes. The cookies can also be drier and more crumbly.
Nope. This will cause the cookies to spread too thin. If you did accidentally use melted butter, be sure to refrigerate the cookie dough before adding cookies to your baking sheet.
I don't recommend it. This chills the fat in the cookies (eggs, butter and milk) which helps to produce the best shape, texture and taste of these cookies.
Nothing beats a classic chocolate chip cookie with a side of cold milk! These cookies use simple ingredients from your pantry and refrigerator to create a cookie that everyone will love.
More Cookie Recipes
- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Banana Cranberry Breakfast Cookies
- White Chocolate Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies
- Cinnamon Applesauce Cookies
- Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 1½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter - room temperature
- ½ cup light brown sugar - firmly packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups semi sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar with an electric mixer.
- Add in the egg and vanilla extract and thoroughly mix.
- Add half of the dry flour ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Add the other half and mix until just combined. Note: do not overmix here.
- Gently fold in the chocolate chips with a spatula.
- Form into a ball and place in the fridge to chill for 15 minutes.
- Use a cookie scoop or 1 tablespoon measuring spoon to drop the batter onto baking sheets, leaving 2" between each cookie.Bake for 8-10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cookies sit on the baking sheet an additional 5 minutes.
- Use a spatula to transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before storing in an airtight container.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Info
The nutritional information provided is an estimate and is per serving.
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