The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

These amazing chocolate chip cookies are simply the BEST! They are slightly crisp around the edges with a gooey soft center complete with delicious chocolate chips. Full disclosure: this is my lovely Mom’s recipe. She is an incredibly talented baker and this recipe is pure perfection! I always double the recipe because these cookies do not last long around here!

If you do end up storing these cookies, they are excellent candidates for the freezer. After cooling completely, store in an airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months (see detailed instructions below).

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Ingredients

Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients that make up this delicious cookie.

Butter

I prefer to use salted butter in most of my recipes but if you are using unsalted, you may need to increase the amount of salt in the recipe a little.

Sugars

We use both brown sugar and granulated in this cookie. Each plays a different role with regard to both flavor and texture. Granulated sugar, when creamed with butter, aerates the dough creating a light, puffy cookie. Meanwhile, brown sugar contains molasses which helps to make the cookie soft and chewy.

Eggs

Eggs give your cookie structure and serve as a binder.

Vanilla Extract

Vanilla extract acts as a flavor enhancer. I always use pure vanilla extract in my baking. It really elevates the quality of your baked goods.

Flour

I use King Arthur flour for all of my baking needs. (Not an affiliate – just really like their flour!) This specific all-purpose flour has a higher protein percentage (11.7%) than most other brands. A higher protein percentage equates to a stronger flour. All-purpose flour serves a wide variety of baking needs from cakes to pies to some breads.

Baking Soda

Baking soda helps to leaven the cookie by releasing carbon dioxide. This is a chemical reaction that occurs when the baking soda mixes with brown sugar. Brown sugar is acidic and it reacts with the sodium bicarbonate producing the carbon dioxide which results in a thick, puffy cookie.

Salt

Salt acts to enhance the flavor of the cookie, balancing the sweetness.

Chocolate Chips

Chocolate chips provide the chocolate!

HOW TO MAKE The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

We have detailed instructions in the recipe that follows but this is a brief overview of how to make these yummy cookies.

In a large bowl, beat softened butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla together. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Drop by rounded tablespoon onto parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes or until light brown. Remove from the oven and let cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes before fully cooling on wire rack.

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Variations

Some days you just feel like adding in something a little extra to your chocolate chip cookies. There are so many different options and combinations available. Here are a few of our favorites:

• Different chips – Try experimenting with chocolate chunks, dark chocolate chips, white chocolate, peanut butter…or use a combination!
• Walnuts – Chopped walnuts make an excellent addition to this cookie. The nuttiness and extra crunch add a whole new dimension.
• Crunchy cereal – Crispy cereal makes an interesting add-in with extra sweetness and texture.
• Sprinkles – Sprinkles are always a fun addition!
• M&Ms – M&Ms are easy to toss in and add some nice color.
• Reese’s Pieces – Adding peanut butter candy pieces to chocolate chip cookies is always a great idea.
• Snack food – Pretzels, potato chips, and popcorn are all excellent options to add variety to your cookies. Be sure to chop them up into pieces before adding them to the dough.

Can I Freeze the Cookie Dough?

Absolutely! This cookie dough is superb for freezing. It requires a little effort up front but will be super convenient when you are ready to bake them.

1. Roll the dough into balls and chill in the refrigerator for about 1 hour or until solid.
2. Place the solid balls in a labeled freezer bag (label with cookie name, date made, baking instructions, etc).
3. Freeze up to 3 months.
4. When ready to use, bake them straight from the freezer. Simply add a minute or two to the baking time.

How do I freeze Baked Cookies?

I love having baked cookies in my freezer for when company stops by or I need a last minute gift. These baked cookies freeze really well and also thaw quickly.

1. Let cookies cool completely.
2. Place cookies in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until solid.
3. Once frozen, stack in an airtight container or freezer bag (be sure to label with cookie name, date baked, etc).
4. Freeze up to 3 months.
5. When ready to eat, thaw either overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature on the counter.

Tips

• Measure correctly – I highly recommend using a kitchen scale when baking. Because baking measurements need to be exact, using a scale helps to measure as precisely as possible. It quite honestly was a complete game changer for me when I first started using one! I would be lost without it now.
• Room temperature is important! When certain ingredients (eggs, cream cheese, butter, etc.) are listed as room temperature, there are scientific reasons behind this. At room temperature, these ingredients blend together better and result in a smoother batter. Ultimately, you will end up with a better final product!
• To soften butter quickly, slice into small pieces and let sit on the counter while you gather the rest of your ingredients. Room temperature butter may be cooler than you think. You will know it is ready when you press your finger into it, it leaves an indent but does not sink into the butter.

My Preferred Tools

You may already have many of these items in your kitchen. I recommend the following for this recipe:

• Kitchen Scale – precisely measure ingredients
• Baker’s Half Sheet – to bake cookies
• Stand Mixer – to mix dough
• Cooling Racks – to cool cookies and dishwasher friendly!!
• Cookie Scoop – to drop cookies on cookie sheet

5 from 1 reviews

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

November 5, 2023

Servings: 4 dozen (varies depending on size)

Prep: 20 min

Cook: 11 min

Difficulty: Easy

Print This

These are the best chocolate chip cookies! They are slightly crisp around the edges with a gooey soft center complete with delicious chocolate chips.

By: The Kelly Kitchen

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups (3 sticks) butter, softened
• 1 cup (198 g) granulated sugar
• 1 cup (213 g) packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs, room temp
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 ½ cups (438 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 3 ½-4 cups chocolate chips

Directions

• Step 1 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Step 2 In a large bowl, beat softened butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla together.
• Step 3 In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
• Step 4 Drop by rounded tablespoon onto parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes or until light brown. Remove from oven and let cool on cookie sheet for a few minutes before fully cooling on wire rack.
• Step 5 Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week, in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer up to 3 months.

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