Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (2024)

  • Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Baking

These homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies are the BEST! One special ingredient helps deepens the flavor and gives the chocolate chip cookies a chewier texture. Save this chocolate chip cookie recipe. It's that good.

By

Emma Christensen

Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (1)

Emma Christensen

Emma Christensen is the General Manager for Simply Recipes, the author of three books on home brewing and a graduate from The Cambridge School for Culinary Arts.

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Updated February 04, 2022

Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (2)

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Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (3)

Our 12 Favorite Cookie Recipes to Make in the FallFEATURED IN:

If you are a fan of chocolate chip cookies, you generally fall into one of two camps: thin and crispy, or thick and chewy. This particular recipe is for the latter -- thick and chewy chocolate chip cookies is what I grew up with and it remains my favorite cookie to this day. (Psssst...looking for thin and crispy cookies? Here you go.)

There were two major influences on this chewy chocolate chip cookie recipe: the Nestle Toll House back-of-the-package recipe (which I think we can all agree is pretty much The Standard as far as chocolate chip cookies go) and a recipe from Christina Tosi's cookbook Milk Bar Life.

It's thanks to Christina's chocolate chip cookie recipe that I discovered the wonders of this one special ingredient that makes all the difference.

Milk Powder!

Video: How to Make Chocolate Chip Cookies

1:33

BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies

Secret Ingredient for Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Have you ever used powdered milk in chocolate chip cookies, or any cookies for that matter?

Before coming across Christina's recipe, it had never occurred to me to use milk powder in anything except my California Emergency Earthquake Preparedness Kit. But as I learned from Christina's recipe, milk powder gives cookies a distinct chewiness as well as a subtle caramel flavor that (for me) takes a cookie from good to amazing.

You don't need much. Just two tablespoons will improve the texture, though I admit that I've gone as high as four tablespoons on occasion and been please with the results.

Milk powder, also called powdered milk, keeps forever in the pantry (which is why it's so good in emergency kits). Even once the package is opened, milk powder will keep for several months if kept in an airtight container.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (4)

Adapting the Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Aside from the milk powder, this is a pretty straightforward adaptation of the Toll House chocolate chip cookie recipe -- though I daresay I've managed to make a few improvements on the classic.

  1. I prefer an equal mix of brown sugar and regular white sugar, just like the original Nestle chocolate chip cookie recipe, but I've found that I like ever-so-slightly more flour in my cookies. This gives the cookies a sturdier structure that is both satisfying to eat and also less likely to crumble when squished into a lunchbox or shipped to a friend.
  2. I also highly recommend giving the batter at least a 30-minute chill, or up to overnight, in the fridge before scooping the cookies and baking them. This lets the dough have time to hydrate and firm up. If you're in a rush, it's fine to bake them right away, but they will spread out more and have a thinner, more delicate structure.
  3. Bake these cookies only until you see that the tops are fully puffed and the edges are starting to look toasty, then let them cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet before transferring them to a cooling rack. As they cool, the puffy dome will collapse on top of the chocolate chips inside, giving the chocolate chip cookies their signature crinkled, craggy appearance.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (5)

Want Even Chewier Cookies?

When you use a mixer to beat the butter and sugar, you also mix in a lot of air, which makes the cookies fluffier. So here's a hot tip: for extra-chewy cookies, mix your cookie dough by hand using a stiff wooden spoon or spatula. The result will be a slightly denser, more compact cookie.

5 Tips for Baking Perfect Cookies Every TimeREAD MORE:

Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie Add-Ins

If you're feeling wild, add up to 3/4 cup of any of the following:

  • Chopped nuts
  • Peanut butter chips
  • Crumbled graham crackers
  • Rice krispies or cornflakes
  • Toffee chips or other small candy

Storing & Freezing Chocolate Chip Cookies

This chocolate chip cookie recipe makes cookies that are absolutely irresistible on the day they are made: the edges are buttery and crispy, the middles are soft and chewy, and the chocolate chips are perfectly semi-melty.

They lose some of their crispness overnight, becoming softer. But I promise they are no less delicious and no less capable of satisfying your cookie cravings.

  • Store chocolate chip cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
  • Freezer instructions: Freeze individual scoops of dough on a parchment-lined baking sheet until firm. Transfer to a freezer bag, squeeze out as much air as possible, and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake straight from the freezer, adding an extra minute or two to the cooking time.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (6)

More Great Chocolate Chip Cookies to Try!

  • Thin and Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Brookies (Chocolate Chip Brownie Cookies)
  • Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Prep Time5 mins

Cook Time12 mins

Chilling30 mins

Total Time47 mins

Servings42 servings

Yield3 1/2 dozen

Use 2 tablespoons milk powder for a subtle chewiness; use up to 4 tablespoons for a chewier texture and more distinct flavor.

For an even chewier texture, mix the cookie dough by hand with a wooden spoon or spatula.

Adapted from Nestle Toll House.

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups (350g) all-purpose four

  • 2 to 4 tablespoonsnonfat milk powder(see Recipe Note)

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

  • 3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar

  • 3/4 cup (161g) dark brown sugar

  • 1 cup (8 ounces) unsalted butter, very soft

  • 2 large eggs

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 12 ounce bag (about 2 cups) semisweet chocolate chips

Method

  1. Mix the dry ingredients:

    In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, milk powder, salt, and baking soda and whisk to mix. Set aside.

    Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (7)

  2. Beat the sugars and the butter:

    With an electric mixer or in a stand mixer with a beater attachment, beat together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and softened butter on medium speed until combined, 30 to 60 seconds. Pick out any large pebbles of hard brown sugar that you see. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beaters.

    Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (8)

    Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (9)

  3. Mix in the eggs and vanilla:

    Add the two eggs and vanilla to the butter-sugar mixture and beat at medium speed until no clumps or streaks remain, 10 to 20 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beaters.

    Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (10)

    Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (11)

  4. Mix in the flour mixture:

    Add the flour mixture all at once. Beat on low speed just until no more dry streaks of flour are visible, 20 to 40 seconds. You may still see some flecks of milk powder -- this is fine.

    Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (12)

    Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (13)

  5. Mix in the chocolate chips:

    Add all of the chocolate chips and beat on low speed for just a few seconds until the chips are evenly incorporated.

    Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (14)

    Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (15)

  6. Chill the dough:

    Scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beater. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to three days. (Or freeze in individual scoops for up to 3 months.)

  7. Heat the oven to 375F:

    Place a rack in the middle of the oven. Line two baking sheet with silicon baking mats or parchment.

    I usually bake my cookies one sheet at a time to help them bake evenly. If you prefer, or are crunched for time, bake two sheets at a time with one sheet in the upper third of the oven and the other in the lower third of the oven.

  8. Scoop the dough:

    Use a medium cookie scoop (or a well-mounded tablespoon measure) to scoop the dough out onto one of the baking sheet. Space the cookies about 2 inches apart.

    Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (16)

  9. Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes:

    While the first batch bakes, scoop the cookies for the next batch.

    The cookies are done when they look slightly puffed in the middle and are starting to turn toasty at the edges.

  10. Cool the cookies:

    Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, or until the puffed middles collapse and the cookies have firmed a little. Transfer the cookies to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

    Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (17)

    Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (18)

    Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (19)

  11. Continue baking cookies in batches until all the cookie dough has been used.

  12. Enjoy:

    These cookies are at their best on the day they are made. Store leftovers in an airtight container; they will soften a little overnight but are still very delicious. They keep for about a week before becoming crumbly (at which point, I recommend crumbling them over ice cream!).

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
141Calories
7g Fat
19g Carbs
2g Protein

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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 42
Amount per serving
Calories141
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g9%
Saturated Fat 4g21%
Cholesterol 21mg7%
Sodium 89mg4%
Total Carbohydrate 19g7%
Dietary Fiber 1g3%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 0mg0%
Calcium 15mg1%
Iron 1mg4%
Potassium 55mg1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the my tall cookie trick? ›

My tall cookie trick.

Roll your cookie dough into tall balls instead of perfectly round spheres. Taller balls of cookie dough ensure thicker cookies.

How do you tell if a cookie is baked enough? ›

Keeping them on the sheet too long after baking can cause them to get hard or stick to the sheet. Cookies are done when they are firmly set and lightly browned. When you touch them lightly with your finger, almost no imprint will remain.

What happens to cookies with not enough flour? ›

Adding too little flour can cause cookies to be flat, greasy, and crispy. Most recipes assume you'll use all-purpose, but if you want a lighter, crumblier cookie texture, choose one with a lower protein content such as cake-and-pastry flour. Baking soda helps cookies spread outward and upward while cooking.

What can cause a cookie to be too chewy or not chewy enough? ›

The ingredients you use and how you shape your cookies both play an important role in whether your cookies turn out crispy or chewy. The type of flour and sugar you use, if your cookie dough contains eggs, and whether you use melted or softened butter all factor into the crispy-chewy equation, too.

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