chocolate chip cookies

Craving something sweet and comforting? Look no further than classic chocolate chip cookies, the beloved American treat that has warmed hearts for generations.

Crispy on the edges, chewy in the center, and bursting with gooey chocolate chips—there’s nothing quite like a homemade cookie straight from the oven.

Ingredients List

Creating the perfect batch of chocolate chip cookies is all about selecting the right combination of ingredients. Here’s everything you’ll need to bring these sweet bites to life:

Cookie Dough Ingredients

• 2 and 1/4 cups (281g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch*
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup (170g or 12 Tbsp) unsalted butter, melted and cooled for 5 minutes
• 3/4 cup (150g) packed light or dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
• 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 and 1/4 cups (225g) semi-sweet chocolate chips or chocolate chunks

*Cornstarch helps keep the cookies soft and chewy, giving them that bakery-style center.

Required Kitchen Tools

Having the right kitchen tools can transform the baking experience from frustrating to fun. Here’s what you’ll need to whip up the perfect batch of chocolate chip cookies:

1. Mixing Bowls: Large and medium bowls are essential for preparing and combining your wet and dry ingredients separately.
2. Whisk: Useful for blending the sugars, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
3. Spatula or Large Spoon: Needed to combine the wet and dry ingredients into a thick, cohesive dough.
4. Cookie Scoop: Helps measure and portion the dough equally for even baking.
5. Parchment Paper or Silicone Baking Mats: These prevent cookies from sticking and encourage even browning.
6. Baking Sheets: Flat baking trays are necessary for laying out the cookie dough balls before baking.
7. Cooling Rack: Allows your cookies to cool evenly and prevents soggy bottoms.

These simple tools help guarantee a smooth process and picture-perfect cookies every time.

Dough Preparation

Making chocolate chip cookies from scratch is a satisfying process that starts with mixing and folding. Here’s how to prepare the dough for the best texture and flavor.

Mixing the Ingredients

Begin by whisking your dry ingredients—flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt—together in a large mixing bowl. Set this aside.

In a separate medium bowl, combine your melted and slightly cooled butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Whisk until the mixture is smooth and no sugar lumps remain. Add in the egg and the egg yolk, one at a time, whisking until well combined. Stir in the vanilla extract to infuse the dough with a rich, sweet aroma.

Now, carefully pour your wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Using a spatula or large spoon, fold the mixture together until a thick and shiny dough forms. It should be soft, slightly sticky, and very dense.

Adding the Chocolate Chips

Once the dough has formed, gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks. The dough may still be slightly slick from the melted butter, so take your time distributing the chips evenly. Don’t worry if some chips seem loose—they’ll integrate well when the dough chills and sets.

Chilling the Dough

One of the biggest secrets to extra chewy, thick cookies lies in one key step: chilling the dough.

Transfer the cookie dough to an airtight container or cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours, and ideally overnight. This resting period allows the butter to firm up and the flour to absorb all the liquid, which helps prevent the cookies from overspreading in the oven.

If you’re in a rush, two hours is sufficient. However, a longer chill time means richer flavor and improved texture in every bite.

Shaping and Baking the Cookies

After your dough has had time to chill and develop deeper flavor, it’s time to shape and bake the cookies to golden perfection.

Preparing for Baking

Start by preheating your oven to 325°F (163°C). Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to allow the cookies to bake evenly and release easily.

If your dough has been chilling for longer than 2 hours, let it sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes so it becomes easier to scoop and shape.

Shaping the Cookie Dough Balls

Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon measuring spoon, scoop about:

• 3 scant tablespoons of dough (approx. 2 oz or 60g) for extra-large cookies
• 2 heaping tablespoons (approx. 1.75 oz or 50g) for medium-large cookies

Roll the dough into balls, and here’s a pro baking tip: Use your fingers to form the dough ball so it’s slightly taller than it is wide, almost like a little tower. This helps the cookies bake up thicker and chewier in the center with perfectly crisp edges.

Place each dough mound about 3 inches apart on the baking sheet to give them room to spread.

Baking Time

Bake the cookies for 13–14 minutes, or until the edges are just lightly browned. The centers will still look very soft—that’s exactly what you want. They’ll continue baking on the sheet and set as they cool.

Remove the cookies from the oven and leave them on the baking sheet for another 10 minutes. Then, transfer them to a wire cooling rack to finish cooling completely.

Optional Finishing Touch: While the cookies are still warm, press a few extra chocolate chips into the tops of each cookie. Not only does this make them more chocolatey—it also looks bakery-fancy!

Serving and Decoration

Freshly baked chocolate chip cookies are best enjoyed warm, when the centers are still gooey and the chocolate is irresistibly melty.

Suggested Toppings and Enhancements

While traditional chocolate chip cookies need little improvement, here are a few ideas to make them even more special:

• Sea Salt Flakes: Sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt on top of each cookie right after baking for a sweet-salty contrast.
• Double Chocolate: Drizzle melted dark or white chocolate over the cooled cookies for a decadent touch.
• Nuts or Toffee Bits: Mix chopped walnuts, pecans, or toffee pieces into part of the dough for added flavor and crunch.
• Ice Cream Sandwiches: Use two cookies to sandwich a scoop of your favorite ice cream for a delicious homemade dessert.

Customize to your preference—you can make these cookies simple or sophisticated!

Storage Instructions

Chocolate chip cookies store beautifully, and with the right technique, you can enjoy them for days after baking.

Keeping Cookies Fresh

Place your cooled cookies in an airtight container and store at room temperature. They will remain soft and fresh for up to 1 week. To keep them extra moist, place a slice of bread in the container with the cookies—the bread will absorb excess air and help them stay chewy.

Freezing Cookie Dough or Baked Cookies

For long-term storage or future cookie cravings, you can freeze:

• Cookie Dough: Scoop dough into balls and lay them on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. Bake straight from frozen by adding 1–2 minutes to your usual bake time.
• Baked Cookies: Let the cookies cool completely, then store in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or warm them in a 300°F (150°C) oven for 5–7 minutes to bring them back to life.

Conclusion

Mastering a classic like chocolate chip cookies opens the door to endless baking joy.

With the perfect blend of ingredients, a little patience during the chilling process, and attention to shaping and baking, you’ll end up with cookies that are soft in the center, crisp on the edges, and full of rich, melty chocolate.