These soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies are a classic homemade cookie recipe made with simple pantry ingredients. They bake with golden edges, soft centers, and plenty of chocolate in every bite. If you're looking for an easy chocolate chip cookie recipe that doesn't require chilling the dough, this one comes together quickly and bakes perfectly every time.
If you enjoy classic cookies, try these Thick Chocolate Chip Cookies or these Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies.
Try these Thick Chocolate Chip Cookies; they're deliciously thick and chewy! Give this DoubleTree Chocolate Chip Cookies Copycat Recipe a try if you enjoy cookies with ground oatmeal. They produce an incredibly chewy cookie.
Jump to:
- Why These Chocolate Chip Cookies Work
- Ingredients In This Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
- How to Make Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Tips for Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies
- How to Store Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Why Are My Chocolate Chip Cookies Flat?
- Can you Freeze Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough?
- How to Freeze Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies?
- RELATED
- 📖 Recipe
Why These Chocolate Chip Cookies Work
This chocolate chip cookie recipe uses simple pantry ingredients and a classic method that produces soft, chewy cookies every time.
Brown sugar adds moisture to the dough, which helps create a soft center while the edges bake up lightly golden. The balance of butter, sugar, and flour keeps the cookies from spreading too much in the oven.
Plenty of chocolate chips make sure every bite is filled with chocolate. The dough also comes together quickly, so you can have warm, homemade chocolate chip cookies ready in no time.
Ingredients In This Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
- Unsalted butter, softened
- Light brown sugar, packed
- Granulated sugar
- Egg
- Vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour - spooned & leveled
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Semisweet chocolate chips
How to Make Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Preheat the oven and prep the cookie sheets - Preheat the oven to 350°F and line the cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Cream together the butter and sugars - Using an electric mixer, beat together softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth and creamy.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla - Add in egg and vanilla and mix until combined.
- Combine the dry ingredients - Combine the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl.
- Combine the wet and dry ingredients -Slowly beat the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and combine until the dry ingredients are moistened.
- Stir in the semisweet chocolate chips - Gently stir in the chocolate chips.
- Scoop the cookie dough - Scoop the cookie dough by 1 and a half tablespoonsful or use a #40 cookie scoop for easy scooping and measuring.
- Place the cookie dough on the prepared cookie sheets with two inches between each cookie.
- Bake - Bake the cookies one cookie sheet at a time for 10-11 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
- Allow the cookies to cool for five minutes before transferring the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store the chocolate chip cookies in an airtight container.
Tips for Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies
- A cookie scoop is useful when making uniform-sized cookies and scooping the cookies into the correct proportions.
- Line your baking sheet with parchment paper so the cookies don't stick and the bottoms bake evenly.
- Use room temperature butter so the dough mixes smoothly. This helps the cookies bake evenly and gives them a soft texture.
- Spoon and level the all-purpose flour before adding it to your ingredients. This will reduce extra flour in baked goods which can account for up to 50% more flour than what's needed!
What Is the Spoon and Level Method for Flour?
The spoon and level method for flour reduces the amount of flour that is used in the recipe. To use this method properly, give the flour a stir with the spoon and then spoon the flour into the dry measuring cup.
Use the edge of the spoon or the back of a butter knife to level off the top of the flour and remove the excess flour that sits on top of the measuring cup.
Why is the spoon and level method important?
When pouring flour into a measuring cup or using the measuring cup to scoop the flour, you can end up with roughly ⅛ cup of flour than what is actually needed for a recipe. This can change the texture of baked goods and of course, alter the outcome of the recipe.
How to Store Chocolate Chip Cookies
Store baked chocolate chip cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
If you want to keep them longer, the cookies can also be frozen. Place them in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 2 months.
To enjoy, let the cookies thaw at room temperature or warm them slightly in the microwave for a few seconds.
Why Are My Chocolate Chip Cookies Flat?
Flat chocolate chip cookies usually happen when the dough has too much butter or not enough flour. If the dough is too soft, the cookies will spread too much in the oven.
Another common cause is warm butter or warm dough. If the dough is very soft, chilling it for 20-30 minutes before baking can help the cookies hold their shape.
Cookies can also spread if the baking sheet is warm from a previous batch. Always start with a cool baking sheet so the dough doesn't melt too quickly.
Measuring flour carefully also makes a difference. Too little flour can cause the cookies to spread and become thin.
Can you Freeze Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough?
Yes, you can freeze chocolate chip cookie dough. It's easy to do and the raw cookie dough can be frozen for up to 3 months.
There are two ways to freeze cookie dough and it is really up to preference.
The cookie dough can be frozen into a log shape and sliced while frozen and baked, or, the cookie dough can be scooped into balls and frozen in freezer safe bags.
When you're ready to bake these chocolate chip cookies, either slice the desired amount of cookies off the log, preheat the oven and bake according to directions.
Or, if you prescoop your cookies, simply take the desired amount of cookies out of the bag and return the bag to the freezer. Allow the oven to preheat and bake the cookies according to the directions.
How to Freeze Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies?
You can freeze already baked chocolate chip cookies. Allow the cookies to cool completely and place them in a freezer safe container or bag with parchment paper between each layer of cookies.
Looking for more cookie ideas? Browse our Favorite Cookie Recipes collection for more homemade favorites.
TIP: When freezing cookies that have already been baked, layer the cookies between sheets of parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking together.
These soft and thick chocolate chip cookies are easy to make and perfect for everyday baking. Follow the simple steps below to make a batch at home.
RELATED
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter - softened
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour - spooned & leveled
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 11 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line the cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Using an electric mixer, beat together softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth and creamy.
- Add in egg and vanilla and mix until combined.
- Combine the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl.
- Slowly beat the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and combine until the dry ingredients are moistened.
- Gently stir in the chocolate chips.
- Scoop the cookie dough by 1 and a half tablespoonsful or use a #40 cookie scoop for easy scooping and measuring.
- Place the cookie dough on the prepared cookie sheets with two inches between each cookie.
- Bake the cookies one cookie sheet at a time for 10-11 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
- Allow the cookies to cool for five minutes before transferring the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store the chocolate chip cookies in an airtight container.
Notes
- Use room temperature butter so the dough mixes smoothly and the cookies bake evenly. • Measure the flour carefully. Too much flour can make the cookies dry and prevent them from spreading properly. The spoon and level method works well. • For thicker cookies, make sure the dough is not too warm before baking. If needed, chill the dough for about 20 minutes. • Bake the cookies until the edges are lightly golden, but the centers still look soft. They will continue to set as they cool. • Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
- This chocolate chip cookie dough can be frozen for up to 3 months if stored properly. It can be frozen in a log shape and sliced and baked or it can be pre-scooped and frozen in freezer bags.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
© Mama Needs Cake
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Dana is an experienced recipe creator who crafts easy and delicious recipes for all levels of home cooks.
Her recipes range from classic comfort foods to healthy and nutritious meals, and she is always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to bring flavor and variety to the table.
Jamie says
I’m always looking for the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe and this one sounds about right. Your cookies are so pretty! Pinning to make later!
Mary Abbott says
Those look so yummy!
Sarah Fleming says
Delicious! There is nothing better than a cold glass of milk with cookies.
Innana says
OMG this is exactly what I need right now! They look so soft and gooey. Totally saving this recipe!
Amber Battishill says
These look SO good right now! I can’t remember the last time I made chocolate chip cookies…time to change that!
Ann says
A classic chocolate chip cookie is always a delicious treat! Reading your post reminded me, I haven't made these cookies in a while!
savita says
These look so good, perfect chocolate cookie recipe to try. Loved it.
Krysten says
SO GOOD! These reminded me of McDonald's cookies! I loved them!
Amy Lui Dong says
Many cookie recipe I've come across and this one is above them, why? because it looks and taste awesome, they are crisp on the outside and moist on the inside, they are soft and have the right amount of sweetness for a cookie!