The BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe with a secret little ingredient. They are crispy, chewy, buttery, and amazing! Learn the tips for the perfect chocolate chip cookies every time!
Looking for more delicious cookie recipes? I think you’ll love my chewy sugar cookies, easy peanut butter cookies, no-bake cookies, and delicious brownie cookies. Yum!
If you love, love, love chocolate chip cookies, then I can’t wait for you to give this quick and easy recipe a try! These cookies are an updated version of that classic chocolate chip cookie recipe that we all know and love. But these are even more chocolatey and slightly elevated in their decadence! The sprinkle of sea salt and the two kinds of chocolate chips in this chocolate chip cookie recipe create a cookie that everyone loves!
And I don’t know about you, but I think we could all use a warm chocolate chip cookie right about now.
What Ingredients Do You Need for the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies?
Butter
You can use either salted or unsalted butter in this recipe, whichever you have. I generally keep salted butter and use that in my baking.
If you prefer to use unsalted butter, I do recommend that you include the optional sprinkle of salt on the top of the cookies. That sprinkle adds so much.
Make sure your butter is softened, as it will mix in the cookie dough much more easily and thoroughly. You do not want to use melted or butter that is too soft, as it will cause you to have flat cookies.
Resource: How to Soften Butter
Sugar
You use a combination of granulated white sugar and brown sugar in this cookie recipe. The brown sugar contains molasses which adds a depth of flavor to the cookies and makes them even more delicious.
Eggs
You’ll use standard large eggs in this recipe. I like to allow my eggs to reach room temperature for all of my baking, including cookies, but it isn’t as important for cookies as it is for baking cakes and cheesecakes. The room-temperature egg will cream together more easily and produce fluffier baked goods. Cold eggs from the refrigerator will still work in this recipe but will not cream together as easily.
Vanilla Extract
A good vanilla extract makes a huge difference in baking. You can either make your own from whole vanilla beans and liquor, or you can be sure to purchase the highest quality vanilla extract you can. There are a few brands at different price points that work well, such as Nielson-Massey, Rodelle, and McCormick Organic.
Resource: How to Make Vanilla Extract
Flour
This recipe uses all-purpose flour. Note that if you need to make these cookies gluten-free, I would recommend using Cup 4 Cup gluten-free flour blend in place of the all-purpose flour. It will slightly change the finished texture of the cookie but is delicious when you need to make sure that your cookies are gluten-free.
Salt
I use kosher salt in this recipe, specifically Diamond Crystal kosher salt brand, which has less sodium than some other brands. If you would like to use regular table salt, fine sea salt, or even another brand of kosher salt, I recommend that you simply use half of the salt listed in the recipe.
For the topping, I also love to add a pinch of flaky sea salt to the tops of my cookies while they are still warm. 🙂
Baking Soda
Baking soda is part of the leavening in these chewy chocolate chip cookies. Make sure that the baking soda is fresh.
Cornstarch
Cornstarch is used in baked goods to help “soften” the flour. While I already use a soft winter wheat flour, adding cornstarch lightens the flour even more. It helps cookies have a softer, chewy texture. If you remember, cornstarch is added to all-purpose flour to make a quick, homemade cake flour substitute. While the ratios are different from those used in this cookie recipe, you can see the purpose of the cornstarch. It also helps the cookies not to spread as much when baking.
Chocolate Chips
What is the best type of chocolate for chocolate chip cookies? Well, the answer is… the ones that you prefer! 🙂 But I have found that using a blend of two types of premium baking chocolate does make for the best chocolate chip cookie!
I love to use a blend of 1 cup each of Ghiradelli dark chocolate chips and semi-sweet chocolate chips. If you prefer sweeter chocolate, a blend of semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips is great. I have found that using all milk chocolate can be a bit overwhelming.
If you want chocolate chunks in your cookie, I recommend using a blend of premium chocolate bars that you rough chop into chunks.
Do You Need to Chill Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough for the Best Cookies?
That is a matter of personal preference. And time.
Here’s what I’ve found.
- Unchilled cookie dough will spread a little bit but will still be delicious.
- Chilled cookie dough prevents the cookies from spreading as they bake. The butter becomes firm again within the cookie dough as the dough is chilled. Scooping the dough onto the baking sheet and refrigerating for as little as 20 – 30 minutes helps prevent the cookies from spreading a great deal and ensures you will not have flat cookies.
I make these cookies often enough that I generally like to keep scoops of the cookie dough at the ready in my freezer so I can bake a small batch of fresh chocolate chip cookies for my son and his friends on a whim.
I also bake them frequently enough that I bake them immediately after mixing my cookie dough.
We love this cookie both ways. There is no wrong or right way to make them in my book! 🙂
Making and Baking the Cookies
Prep. To make these cookies, you will start by preheating your oven and lining the baking sheets with parchment paper or silicon baking mats.
Whisk dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda, and cornstarch until well combined. Make sure they are well blended so that when you add the dry ingredients to your butter mixture, they are well distributed throughout the cookie dough. Set aside.
Mix wet ingredients. In a separate large bowl, using a stand mixer or hand mixer on medium speed, cream together the softened butter and the sugars until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary to make sure that the butter and sugar are well combined. Add the eggs and vanilla to the creamed butter and sugar mixture. By adding your vanilla extract at this point in the mixing process, the vanilla extract and the butter are combined more thoroughly, which then imparts more flavor to your baked cookies, in my opinion. Mix until well combined, about 1 minute.
Add the dry to the wet. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and beat on a low speed until smooth and creamy. Be careful not to overmix here, as it will cause tough cookies.
Stir in the chocolate chips. Add your chocolate chips (or chocolate chunks) and carefully stir into your batter using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. (Note: I like to reserve a handful of chocolate chips to press into the top of the scooped cookie dough to make them even prettier!)
Scoop and Bake. Scoop your cookie dough onto the baking sheet and bake for about 8 – 10 minutes, until lightly golden brown. Sprinkle the cookies with a pinch of sea salt while they are still warm. Allow them to cool slightly on the baking sheet, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Remove them from the oven and watch them disappear.
How to Store Chocolate Chip Cookies
Baked. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3 days.
Unbaked. Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to Freeze Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Place cookie dough balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and into the freezer until frozen, about 30 minutes. Then, remove the scoops from the baking sheet and place them into a freezer-safe, airtight container.
When ready to bake one, two, or ten cookies, pull that number out and bake. You may need to add a few more minutes to the baking time since they are being baked frozen.
Favorite Mix-Ins
Swap 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips with any of these add-ins for a fun addition.
- Oats – use 1/4 cup of quick-cooking oats
- Pecans – chopped, roasted pecans
- Walnuts – chopped, roasted walnuts
- Toffee Morsels
- Butterscotch Chips
- White Chocolate Chips
- M&Ms – you may want to swap a full cup! 😉
Leftover Makeover
Okay, who am I kidding? Leftover chocolate chip cookies? Riiiigggghhhttt… But here are a couple of yummy ideas, just in case.
Ice Cream Sandwiches – completely cool your cookies and then fill them with an ice cream scoop of your favorite ice cream. I love to use my homemade vanilla ice cream. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and freeze. Serve frozen.
Chocolate Chip Doozies – a copycat of a favorite cookie store, scoop about 2 tablespoons of vanilla buttercream onto the flat side of one cookie. Top with a second cookie for a frosting-filled treat!
Toasted Marshmallow Sandwiches – rather than filling with frosting, fill with marshmallow fluff. Then, if you have a kitchen torch, carefully toast your marshmallow fluff until lightly brown. Top with the second cookie. Oh my!
Here’s my Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe. I think you’ll love them.
Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Equipment
- Cookie Scoop (Medium) large preferred
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup sugar, granulated
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 cups chocolate chips, semi-sweet, dark, or milk chocolate or 2 (1.45 ounce) chocolate bars broken into chunks
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat oven to 350º F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Whisk dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda, until well combined. Set aside.
- Mix wet ingredients. In a separate large bowl, using a stand mixer or hand mixer on medium speed, cream together the softened butter and the sugars until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary to make sure that the butter and sugar are well combined. Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the creamed butter and sugar mixture. Mix until well combined, about 1 minute.
- Mix wet and dry. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and beat on a low speed until smooth and creamy.
- Add the chocolate chips. Fold in the chocolate chips with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon.
- Chill. Cover the mixing bowl and chill the cookie dough for 20 minutes up to 4 days.
- Bake. Scoop the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet with a large cookie scoop, spacing the cookie dough about 4 inches apart to allow room for the cookies to lightly spread as they bake. Bake for 12 – 14 minutes, until the edges are slightly crispy, the cookie is overall lightly golden brown, and the center is set but not overcooked. Allow them to cool slightly on the baking sheet, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Serve and / or Store. Serve the cookies while they are warm and gooey or store for late enjoyment. To store, transfer them to an airtight container and store on the counter for 3 days or in the freezer (in a freezer-safe container) for up to 3 months. To thaw, remove from the freezer and allow to thaw on the counter.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
Hi, I often toss oatmeal into recipes, as well as Saigon cinnamon…hard for people to put their finger on the flavor or texture. Right now I have a bowl of dough in fridge I stirred up last night. Chocolate chip peanut butter cookies. Take 2 recipes, reduce evenly (get to do math!) and all into the same bowl. An extra smile will come from doubling the vanilla…
Looking for a 14 inch chocolate chip cookie cake recipe, this one sounds wounderful!!!
I have been searching for the best chocolate chip cookie recipe, and this is the best I’ve found online so far! Thank you Robyn for sharing. And thank you to Nate who discovered your coconut cream pie recipe and sent me here.
Thanks Cage!
Which brown sugar did you use, or find best? Thanks! Diane
Hi Diane,
I usually use light brown sugar but you can use dark brown if you want more of a molasses taste. Enjoy! xo
Another great recipe. I have made so many things from your cookbook. For baking, I have to change ingredient amounts, as I live at 5,000 ft. above sea level. They still come out beautifully
Thanks, Anne. That’s great to hear! xo
Just made these for the second time. Big hit at work. Only my second time making cookies so I feel pretty good about it and I’m sure it’s the recipe that did it. Thank you!
I think you should be really proud of yourself, Laura. Glad my recipe was a help! Thanks! xo
The best cookie recipe!!! I have made these into lactation cookies, added 2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal, 2 tablespoons of brewer’s yeast and 4 tablespoons of water (only use 1 tablespoon of water if not using flaxseed meal). Made a batch with chocolate chips and another with white chocolate and macadamia nuts. Amazing. And a happy baby 🙂
How do you manage it?! How is it that Every Single Recipe that I have tried of yours, turns out perfect…?! I left a comment ages ago about spending most of my adult life trying to find the perfect chocolate layer cake recipe. Always alluded me. I cannot count how many I had tried and then Walla… I happen upon yours and it is Perfect. What a relief. I have left only the one comment for you as of yet but I had to sit down and take the time to let you in on your chocolate chip cookie recipe result. I’ll try to keep it short……(feel free to skip this part because it will probably be a big yawn to read, buuut)…..I have a solid brass antique heirloom door knocker that my Grandmother brought with her from Scotland when she emigrated in the ’20’s. It needed to be straightened out so that I could use it on a new door that I’m having installed, so my husband took it to a tool & die maker friend of his to fix. In return, I sent him a batch of your chocolate chip cookies. Keep in mind that this gentleman’s wife is a devout baker. She remarked that she had Never in her Life tasted a chocolate chip cookie as great as yours. I realise that I am going on farrrr too long with this comment but you Must hear what a fantastic creator and adapter of recipes that you are. Another 10 out of 10. Thank You….! Xoxo Oh and P.S., as with your chocolate layer cake, these cookies have caused much tightening of my waistband so this is a “thank you” and an, “ugh, thanks alot!” comment as well. Oh, and also (yup, I’m going on again)….What is it with these recipe sites that take off on your “Add a Pinch” name? Are they not embarrassed that they are piggy-backing of you? I just skip right by them. Why go anywhere else when you can go to the best? Okay, promise, that’s all from me. Forgive any typos
Fiona McBeath, Ontario, Canada
Thank you so much, Fiona, for you sweet words. It makes me so happy to hear how much you have enjoyed my recipes. xo
These are one of our favorite cookies! I’ve made them several times already and will bake them a lot during Christmas. I love that they have two types of chocolate – that makes them even more delicious! Thank you for this recipe.
These are the absolute BEST BEST BEST cookies EVER!!! I made these multiple time last year and the compliments and requests for more poured in! Just went shopping for fresh ingredients to start baking them for the holidays…can’t wait to start. Add a Pinch is one of my favorite cookbooks and your blog is the best. Thanks.
You just made my day, Kimberly! Thank you so much.