Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

When it comes to defining the “perfect” chocolate chip cookie, I’ve found that everyone has their preferred type of recipe and many factors (elevation, humidity, personal preference) can influence that definition. These Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies are definitely one of my favorites! I recommend scooping them large so they have time to develop their signature buttery-crisp edges and retain their soft centers.

Ingredients Needed

This is just a preview of ingredients and method, keep scrolling for full printable recipe.

  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking soda
  • Salt
  • Butter – Always use real butter if you can. One thing that’s unique about this recipe is that we’re using melted butter. Melted butter coats the flour more thoroughly than creamed, softened butter, limiting gluten development and resulting in a denser, chewier cookie.
  • Brown sugar – Light or dark.
  • Granulated sugar
  • Eggs –You’ll need one whole egg and one egg yolk. The extra egg yolk adds fat without extra liquid, creating richer flavor and the soft, chewy texture these cookies are known for.
  • Vanilla extract
  • Chocolate chips – Semi-sweet or bittersweet.

How to Make Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

  1. We’re starting with some melted butter. I recommend melting slowly at half power until all the pieces are almost melted and let residual heat finish melting it.  It should be just warm to the touch, not hot.
  2. That gets mixed up with typical cookie dough ingredients: all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, vanilla, a whole egg, and and egg yolk.
  3. Fold in some chocolate chips and you’re good to go!
  4. Transfer the dough to a parchment lined baking sheet. I prefer the texture of these cookies best when scooped large, in a ball of about 3 tablespoons of dough.  A scooper works great!  Don’t flatten them down after placing them on the baking sheet.
  5. I’ve learned you can under-bake them by quite a bit because they set up well and get more crisp around the edges as they cool.  So don’t wait for them to get browned, just set.  Once they come out of the oven, let them cool for a few minutes and then transfer to a baking rack. Enjoy!
Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to refrigerate the dough?

You don’t need to, unless your butter was too warm. However, if you find your cookies are spreading flat in the oven, refrigerating the dough for 30 minutes before baking can help!

Can I make this dough ahead of time.

Yep! Feel free to prep the dough up to 48 hours before baking. For ease of baking later, scoop the dough into balls and refrigerate in single layers, with each layer separated by a sheet of parchment, in an airtight container. This will make it easy to transfer portioned dough onto your cookie sheet when ready to bake.

Can I freeze this cookie dough?

Yes. Portion dough into balls and freeze on a cookie sheet. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag and freeze up to 3 months. Bake directly from frozen at 325°F for 14-16 minutes, or until edges are set and centers look slightly under baked.

Can I add other things to this cookie dough?

Yep. Feel free to add nuts or change up the flavor of baking chips. You can also add citrus zest, spices, or whatever you’d like!

Can I make these cookies gluten-free?

We’ve had readers report great success using a good quality 1:1 gluten-free flour blend!

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

5 from 106 votes
This cookie is a perfectly chewy, bakery style chocolate chip cookie– crisp on the outside and soft in the center.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings20 cookies

Ingredients

  • 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 12 tablespoon butter 1½ sticks melted and cooled until warm*
  • 1 cup brown sugar light or dark
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  • *You want your butter melted, but not hot.  It’s best when it has a milky look, not clear yellow.  Your dough will be quite loose if you use hot melted butter and you’ll need to wait for it to harden a bit before scooping your dough.  I recommend melting slowly at half power until all the pieces are almost melted and let residual heat finish melting it.  It should be just warm to the touch, not hot.
  • Heat oven to 350℉. Adjust oven rack to middle position. Mix flour, salt, and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside.
  • Beat butter and sugars until thoroughly blended. Mix in egg, yolk, and vanilla. Add dry ingredients; mix until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
  • Scoop into balls (see Notes below for alternate scoop method) and bake until outer edges start to harden yet centers are still soft and puffy.  Baking time will depend on the size of your cookies.  I think the texture of these cookies are best when scooped large, about 3 tablespoons of dough, each, which will bake for 9-12 minutes.  Cool cookies on cookie sheets. Serve or store in airtight container.

Notes

  • Store fully cooked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature and enjoy with days for best results.
  • Freeze cookies in single layers, with each layer separated by parchment, in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw desired number of cookies at room temperature.
  • Alternate scoop method: This recipe as written from ATK suggests rolling 1/4 cup dough into a ball and then breaking it in half, placing the broken side facing up on the cookie sheet.  The craggly texture of the top creates a nice shape and texture to the baked cookie.  That being said, I almost always just use an extra large cookie scoop and skip the breaking part because it’s quick and easy and they still turn out amazing. 
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie, Calories: 241kcal, Carbohydrates: 34g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 36mg, Sodium: 146mg, Potassium: 73mg, Fiber: 0.3g, Sugar: 23g, Vitamin A: 235IU, Calcium: 25mg, Iron: 1mg
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: Baked Goods
Keyword: Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Calories: 241kcal
Author: Sara Wells, slightly adapted from ATK
Cost: $7
Did You Make This Recipe?Snap a picture, and hashtag it #ourbestbites. We love to see your creations on our Instagram @ourbestbites!

 

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Meet The Author

Sara Wells

Sara Wells co-founded Our Best Bites in 2008. She is the author of three Bestselling Cook Books, Best Bites: 150 Family Favorite RecipesSavoring the Seasons with Our Best Bites, and 400 Calories or Less from Our Best Bites. Sara’s work has been featured in many local and national news outlets and publications such as Parenting MagazineBetter Homes & GardensFine CookingThe Rachel Ray Show and the New York Times.

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Questions & Reviews

  1. I heard from Gabe’s that you have great recipes. I am trying to make Starbuckish almond toffee bars do you have any tips? Do you love them too and already have a toffee bar creation, could I be so lucky?

  2. 5 stars
    I made these cookies and didn’t tell my family it was a new recipe and my husband commented that these were the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever made, needless to say there weren’t any leftover for the next day 🙁 Thanks for the recipe!!

  3. 5 stars
    Mmmm. These are perfect. PERFECT.

    I didn’t use all the batter that night so I just tried them today after it was refrigerated and they are still perfect. Even after a few hours in an air-tight dish, still soft and chewy!

  4. Okay, so I just tried this recipe and my dough looks nothing like yours. It turned out very gooey looking. I think because my “warm” butter may not have been warm at all, but a little more than warm. I am putting it in the freezer to harden. Always second chances!

  5. I love using fresh eggs! I am copying and printing your recipe to use right now. Will let you know how they turn out.

  6. Those eggs are cool!!!
    Great.. I give up chocolate for Lent and you’ve got the perfect recipe for chocolate chip cookies.. just a few more weeks to go and then I’ll try them out 🙂

  7. Thanks for putting on a print recipe link. That’s awesome. It saves me from having my laptop open in the kitchen (which is a stupid thing for me to do)since I’m too lazy to just write it down.

  8. This is quit similar to my cc recipe I use but it is a whole egg rather than the yolk. I will have to try this. I also enjoy doing mine with m&m's. So yummy! You did a good job with your post. For a minute I thought I was watching Good Eats.