This classic chocolate chip cookie recipe uses melted butter, brown sugar, and semi-sweet chocolate chips for the perfect chewy texture with golden edges.
Whenever I bake Chocolate chip cookies I absolutely love the smell of chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven. There's some hidden comfort in that. It’s that irresistible mix of warm vanilla, buttery dough, and melting chocolate that fills the air and instantly makes a house feel like home.
Chocolate chip cookie recipe isn’t just a sweet treat they’re comfort just like I said it before, it's nostalgia, and joy baked into every bite. Whether you grew up dunking them in a cold glass of milk (just like me) or sneaking spoonful of dough straight from the bowl (like my kids do!), these cookies have a way of bringing people together.
This chocolate chip cookies' recipe is all about creating perfectly chewy cookies with crisp golden edges, gooey centers, and pockets of rich chocolate chips. Even if you’ve baked chocolate chip cookies a hundred times before, this recipe will remind you why they’ll always remain the ultimate classic.
Chocolate chip cookies have a fascinating history. The recipe was born in the 1930s when Ruth Wakefield, she is the owner of the Toll House Inn in Massachusetts, added chopped chocolate bars into her cookie dough. It was an experiment. She expected the chocolate to melt completely, creating chocolate-flavored cookies. Instead, the chunks held their shape, giving us the world’s first chocolate chip cookie. That little experiment turned into one of the most iconic desserts of all time.
Today, chocolate chip cookies have countless variations from thin and crispy to thick and cakey, from bakery-style jumbo versions to miniature bite-sized ones. Yet, at the heart of it all, it’s still that same comforting mix of butter, sugar, flour, and chocolate.
When I think of chocolate chip cookies, I’m instantly transported to my childhood kitchen. My mom would pull out the big mixing bowl, and I’d perch on a chair, eager to “help.” Helping usually meant sneaking chocolate chips from the bag when she wasn’t looking or begging to lick the beaters after the dough was mixed.
The best part wasn’t even the cookies themselves it was the ritual. When those warm cookies finally came out, we’d all gather around the counter, impatiently blowing on them just enough to take that very first bite. That sweet comforting smell takes me back that time whenever I bake these cookies. To this day, chocolate chip cookies still feel like home to me, and I hope this recipe brings a little of that feeling into your kitchen too.
Let's dig into the recipe now!
Jump to:
Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Ingredients (Makes ~24 cookies):
Each ingredient in Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe plays it's own role in bringing out that perfect texture and flavor. Here’s why every ingredient matters:
All-Purpose Flour – The backbone of the cookie, giving structure and chewiness. Too much flour makes cookies dry; too little makes them spread too thin.
Unsalted Butter – Provides richness and creates that signature chewy yet slightly crisp texture. Browning the butter adds a nutty depth, but even softened butter brings warmth and flavor.
Brown Sugar – Adds moisture, chewiness, and a subtle molasses flavor that balances the sweetness. Light brown sugar gives a milder taste, while dark brown adds deeper caramel notes.
Granulated Sugar – Helps the cookies spread and gives them crisp edges. The perfect balance of white and brown sugar creates the ideal texture.
Eggs – Bind everything together and add richness. They also help the cookies puff slightly in the oven.
Vanilla Extract – Enhances all the flavors, making the chocolate taste even more indulgent.
Baking Soda – The leavening agent that helps the cookies rise just enough for a soft center.
Salt – Balances sweetness and makes the chocolate shine. A tiny pinch goes a long way.
Chocolate Chips (or Chunks) – The star of the show. Semi-sweet chips are the classic choice, but you can mix in milk, dark, or even white chocolate for variety.
If you love this chocolate chip cookie recipe, you’ll also enjoy our tiramisu recipe.
See recipe card for quantities.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Instructions
Step 1: In a bowl, add melted butter + sugar and mix it well. Add egg and vanilla, mix until well combined.
Step 2: In another bowl, mix flour and baking powder.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Stir until a soft dough forms.
Fold in chocolate chips and chocolate chunks.
Step 3: Scoop 12 small balls and place them on the tray (leave space between each).
Step 4: Bake for 9–11 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Centers may look soft, that's okay!
Hint: For extra depth of flavor, chill your dough for at least 30 minutes (or up to 24 hours) before baking. This step allows the flour to hydrate, the butter to firm up, and the sugars to blend, resulting in thicker, chewier, bakery-style cookies. If you can be patient, it’s worth it.
Looking for more easy desserts? Try our Are You Kidding Me Cake Recipe.
Reasons to Adore Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
There are countless reasons why Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe never go out of style, but here’s why you’ll fall in love with this recipe in particular:
- Perfect Texture Balance – Crisp on the edges, chewy in the middle, soft when warm, and sturdy enough to dunk in milk.
- Customizable – You can switch chocolates, add nuts, or even swirl in caramel or peanut butter.
- Quick and Easy to bake – No fancy tools, no complicated steps. Just mix, scoop, and bake.
- Comfort Food – These cookies have the power to lift moods and bring smiles. They’re the ultimate crowd-pleaser.
- Make-Ahead Friendly – The dough freezes beautifully, so you can bake fresh cookies anytime.
- Perfect for Sharing – Whether it’s a bake sale, a school lunchbox, or a midnight snack with friends, they fit every occasion.
Substitutions and Variations
Chocolate chip cookies are endlessly adaptable. Here are some ideas:
- Butter Substitute: Use coconut oil or margarine for dairy-free cookies. This will change the taste of the cookies slihhtly but still it will taste delicious.
- Sugar Swap: Replace half the sugar with coconut sugar or maple sugar for a richer flavor.
- Flour Variations: Try whole wheat flour for a nuttier taste or gluten-free blends for a wheat-free option.
- Egg-Free: Use a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoon water) for a vegan-friendly version.
- Chocolate Twist: Swap in white chocolate, dark chocolate chunks, or even M&Ms specially for your kids they will love it!
- Add-ins: Chopped walnuts, pecans, dried cranberries, or shredded coconut can make these cookies extra special.
- For crispy cookies, reduce brown sugar and bake a little longer at 375°F.
- For chewy cookies, add an extra egg yolk and use more brown sugar.
- For double chocolate chip cookies, mix in cocoa powder and extra chocolate chunks.
- The Nestle Toll House chocolate chip cookie recipe is the classic version many home bakers love.
Find more sweet treats in our Desserts Collection.
Serving Suggestion For Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
- Classic: Serve these chocolate chip With a glass of cold milk for dipping.
- Ice Cream Sandwich: a fun suggestion; Sandwich a scoop of your favourite flavour's ice cream between two cookies and thank me later.
- Coffee Companion: Pair with a latte or cappuccino for a cozy afternoon treat.
- Warm Dessert: Serve warm with a drizzle of chocolate sauce or caramel and a dollop of whipped cream.
- Party Platter: Bake mini-sized cookies for easy sharing at gatherings.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Storage
Room Temperature: Keep cookies in a container for up to 5 days. Place a slice of bread inside the container to keep them soft.
Freezing Dough: Scoop dough into balls, freeze on a flat tray, then store in a bag for up to 3 months. Bake straight from frozen just add a minute or two to the baking time.
Freezing Baked Cookies: Allow cookies to cool completely at room temperature, then freeze in layers separated by parchment. Warm in the oven for a few minutes before serving.
More Recipes You’ll Love:
Eggless Chocolate Brownie Recipe
Pistachio Frappe Recipe
Pistachio Cream Recipe
Gulab Jamun Recipe
Top tip
If you want gooey, bakery-style cookies, pull them out of the oven when the centers still look slightly underbaked. Chocolate chip cookies will continue to cook on the hot baking sheet, settling into that perfect soft-and-chewy texture.
FAQs
Flat cookies are often caused by butter that’s too warm or dough that hasn’t been chilled. To fix this, chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking. Also, make sure your oven is fully preheated and avoid placing cookie dough on a hot baking sheet from a previous batch
Absolutely! You can make the dough up to 3 days in advance and store it in the fridge. Just let it soften slightly before scooping. For longer storage, freeze dough balls and bake them straight from frozen whenever you want fresh cookies.
Semi-sweet chocolate chips are the classic choice, but you can use dark, milk, or even a mix of all three for depth of flavor. If you prefer melty pools of chocolate instead of chips, try using chopped chocolate bars instead
The secret is balancing the sugar, butter, and flour ratio. Using a mix of brown and white sugar gives the perfect chewy texture with crisp edges, while slightly underbaking keeps the center soft.
The basic ingredients are all-purpose flour, unsalted butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, baking soda, salt, and chocolate chips.
Chocolate chip cookies are one of the easiest cookies to make. They require simple ingredients, minimal steps, and no special equipment, making them beginner-friendly.
Baking at 350°F gives evenly baked, soft and chewy cookies. Baking at 375°F produces cookies with crispier edges and a slightly chewier center. The choice depends on your texture preference.
To make chocolate chip cookies crispy, use more granulated sugar than brown sugar, melt the butter, and bake a little longer at 375°F until golden brown.
The easiest chocolate chip cookie recipe uses simple ingredients flour, butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, baking soda, salt, and chocolate chips and comes together in one bowl in under 15 minutes.
Soft chocolate chip cookies come from using more brown sugar, adding an extra egg yolk, and slightly underbaking at 350°F to keep the centers chewy.
For chewy cookies, use melted butter, more brown sugar than white sugar, and chill the dough before baking to create dense, moist, and chewy centers.
Yes, you can replace brown sugar with granulated sugar, but your cookies will be less chewy and more crisp since brown sugar adds moisture and caramel flavor.
The best chocolate chip cookies balance crispy edges with soft, gooey centers. A mix of brown and white sugar, real butter, quality chocolate chips, and chilling the dough creates bakery-style results.
A double chocolate chip cookie recipe adds cocoa powder to the dough and mixes in extra chocolate chips, creating a rich, fudgy flavor perfect for chocolate lovers.
The Nestle Toll House recipe is the original chocolate chip cookie, made with flour, butter, sugar, eggs, baking soda, salt, vanilla, and Nestlé chocolate chips for a timeless flavor.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with [this recipe]:
Leave a Reply