This isn’t just a recipe; it’s an experience. My tried-and-true Go-To Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe delivers perfection every single time, resulting in the most delightfully soft, chewy, and utterly milk-dunking worthy cookies you’ll ever bake!

Contents

The Ultimate Foolproof Classic Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Is there anything more comforting than a warm, soft chocolate chip cookie, fresh from the oven, paired with a tall glass of super cold milk? It’s pure, unadulterated bliss – a timeless treat that evokes nostalgia and brings instant joy. This particular recipe isn’t just my favorite; it’s become my go-to, a trusted companion in my kitchen that I’ve practically committed to memory. Its consistent success has earned it a permanent spot in my baking repertoire, and I’m thrilled to share its secrets with you.

What makes this recipe truly special is its incredible versatility. While it shines brightly as a classic, it also serves as a fantastic foundation for culinary creativity. Feel free to unleash your inner baker and customize it to your heart’s content! Imagine adding a handful of chopped pecans or walnuts for an earthy crunch, or swapping out classic chocolate chips for dark chocolate chunks, white chocolate chips, or even a mix of peanut butter chips and milk chocolate for an irresistible flavor combination. The possibilities are endless, making it easy to tailor these cookies to any craving or occasion.

A perfectly baked classic chocolate chip cookie being dunked into a refreshing glass of cold milk, highlighting its soft texture and melted chocolate. — The irresistible sight of a fresh chocolate chip cookie, ready for a milk dunk.

Essential Tips for Baking the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Achieving that perfect, soft, and chewy chocolate chip cookie texture isn’t just about following the recipe; it’s also about understanding a few key baking principles. These expert tips will elevate your cookie game and ensure consistently delicious results every time you bake.

Chill the Dough for Superior Texture: While not strictly mandatory if you’re in a hurry, I highly recommend chilling your cookie dough for at least 30 minutes, or even overnight. This step is a game-changer! Chilled dough spreads less in the oven, leading to thicker, chewier cookies with a richer flavor profile. The fats solidify, preventing rapid spreading, and the flavors have more time to meld. If you have the patience, an overnight chill can truly make a noticeable difference in the final cookie.
Enhance Visual Appeal with Extra Chocolate Chips: For a bakery-worthy appearance, once you’ve scooped your cookie dough onto the baking sheet, gently press two or three extra chocolate chips onto the top of each mound. As the cookies bake and spread, these additional chips will melt beautifully on the surface, creating those enticing pools of chocolate that make every bite look as good as it tastes. It’s a simple trick that significantly boosts the visual appeal of your finished cookies.
Ensure Fresh Leavening Agents: This might seem minor, but it’s crucial! Baking powder and baking soda are responsible for the cookie’s rise and texture. If they’re expired or stale, your cookies can come out flat, dense, or unevenly baked. Always check the expiration dates on your baking powder and baking soda. A quick freshness test: baking soda should fizz vigorously when mixed with vinegar, and baking powder should bubble when mixed with hot water. Freshness guarantees fluffy, well-risen cookies.
Bake One Tray at a Time for Even Results: Resist the urge to cram multiple baking sheets into your oven simultaneously. Unless you have a professional convection oven, baking more than one tray at a time often leads to uneven heat distribution. Cookies on different racks might bake at varying rates, resulting in some being undercooked and others over-browned. For perfectly golden, uniformly baked cookies, place one tray on the middle rack of your oven and bake until done. If you must bake multiple trays, rotate them halfway through the baking time.
The Importance of Room Temperature Ingredients: For optimal creaming of butter and sugar, and for smooth incorporation of eggs, ensure your butter and eggs are at room temperature. Softened butter creams easily with sugar, creating tiny air pockets that contribute to a lighter, softer cookie. Cold ingredients can cause the batter to curdle and affect the final texture.
Do Not Overmix the Flour: Once you add the flour, mix until just combined. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which can lead to tough, dense cookies instead of soft and tender ones. A few streaks of flour remaining are perfectly fine; they’ll disappear during the gentle folding of the chocolate chips.

A stack of golden brown, soft chocolate chip cookies, showcasing their perfect texture and generous chocolate distribution, ready to be enjoyed. — A tower of the best chocolate chip cookies, a testament to a perfect recipe.

Ingredients You’ll Need for These Irresistible Cookies

Gathering your ingredients before you start baking (mise en place!) will make the process smooth and enjoyable. Here’s what you’ll need for this classic chocolate chip cookie recipe:

Unsalted Butter: Cold and cut into cubes for optimal creaming. Using unsalted butter gives you control over the overall saltiness of the cookies.
Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and contributes to the crisp edges of the cookies.
Light Brown Sugar: Essential for that signature chewy texture and adds a lovely molasses flavor. Pack it firmly into your measuring cup.
Large Eggs: Act as a binder, provide moisture, and contribute to the cookie’s structure. Ensure they are at room temperature.
Vanilla Extract: A crucial flavor enhancer that complements the chocolate beautifully. Use good quality pure vanilla for the best results.
All-Purpose Flour: The structural backbone of the cookies. Make sure to measure it correctly (spoon and level method) to avoid dense cookies.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and brings out the flavors of the chocolate and butter.
Baking Powder: Provides an initial lift, contributing to a softer, cake-like texture.
Baking Soda: Reacts with the brown sugar (an acid) to create spread and chewiness. This is where fresh leavening agents really matter.
Chocolate Chips or Chunks: The star of the show! Feel free to use your favorite type – semi-sweet, milk, dark, or a combination.

A flat lay photograph showcasing all the essential ingredients for making chocolate chip cookies: unsalted butter, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, large eggs, vanilla extract, all-purpose flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and a generous pile of chocolate chips. — All the delicious components, ready to be transformed into incredible cookies.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Irresistible Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies

Follow these simple steps to bake the perfect batch of soft and chewy classic chocolate chip cookies. Precision and patience are your best friends in the kitchen!

Instructions

Prepare Your Oven and Baking Sheets: Begin by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line several large cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. This crucial step prevents sticking and ensures even baking and easy cleanup.
Cream Butter and Sugars: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the cold, cubed unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar. Cream these together on medium speed until the mixture is light in color and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. This process incorporates air, which is vital for the cookies’ texture.

Cubed unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar in a large mixing bowl, ready to be creamed together for the cookie dough. — The foundation: butter and sugars awaiting transformation.

Incorporate Eggs and Vanilla: Add the large eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition until fully incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is evenly mixed. Then, stir in the vanilla extract. Continue to beat until the mixture is smooth and cohesive.

Two large eggs and a splash of vanilla extract added to the creamed butter and sugar mixture in an electric stand mixer, being beaten until fully incorporated. — Adding the wet ingredients to create a rich base.

Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients in the mixer, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; stop as soon as you no longer see streaks of dry flour.
Fold in Chocolate Chips: Remove the bowl from the mixer and gently fold in the chocolate chips (or chunks) using a spatula. This gentle action prevents the dough from becoming tough and ensures the chocolate is evenly distributed throughout.

A hand gently folding a generous amount of chocolate chips into the freshly prepared cookie dough batter using a spatula, ensuring even distribution. — The joyful moment of incorporating all those delicious chocolate chips.

Scoop and Chill Dough (Recommended): Using a spring-release cookie scoop (about 1.5-2 tablespoons per cookie) for consistent sizing, drop mounds of dough onto your prepared cookie sheets, leaving ample space between each cookie (they will spread). If time allows, cover the cookie sheet and chill the scooped dough for at least 30 minutes. This chilling step, as mentioned in our tips, helps prevent spreading and enhances flavor. Optional but recommended: Gently press 2-3 extra chocolate chips on top of each dough ball for a prettier finished cookie.

Neatly rolled chocolate chip cookie dough balls arranged on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, spaced apart for optimal baking. — Perfectly portioned dough, ready for the oven.

Bake to Perfection: Place one cookie sheet at a time into the preheated oven. Bake for approximately 10-12 minutes. Baking time can vary depending on your oven and how gooey you prefer the interior of your cookies. Look for edges that are lightly golden brown, but the centers should still appear soft and slightly underbaked. This ensures a wonderfully chewy and soft interior. My oven typically takes about 11 minutes when the rack is in the middle position. Avoid overbaking, as this is the secret to soft cookies!
Important Note on Batches: Between batches, it’s wise to return the bowl of remaining cookie dough to the refrigerator. Keeping the dough cool helps maintain its consistency and prevents the butter from melting prematurely, which can lead to flat cookies. Always bake only one sheet pan at a time for the most consistent results.
Cool and Store: Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This allows them to firm up without breaking. Store any cookies you don’t immediately devour in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days to maintain their freshness and softness.

Freshly baked chocolate chip cookies cooling on a wire rack, showcasing their golden brown edges and soft centers, ready to be enjoyed or stored. — The sweet reward: perfect cookies cooling, almost ready to be enjoyed.

Get Creative: Delicious Chocolate Chip Cookie Variations

While this classic recipe is perfect as is, it’s also a fantastic canvas for your imagination. Here are a few ideas to inspire your next batch:

Nutty Delights: Fold in 1 cup of chopped walnuts, pecans, or even macadamia nuts with the chocolate chips for added texture and flavor.
Chocolate Lover’s Dream: Use a blend of different chocolate chips – milk, dark, semi-sweet, or white chocolate for a multifaceted chocolate experience.
Candy Mix-ins: Add 1 cup of M&M’s, chopped toffee bits, or even crushed pretzels for a sweet and salty twist.
Spiced Cookies: Incorporate ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon or a pinch of nutmeg for a warm, spiced variation, especially delightful during the holidays.
Peanut Butter Swirl: For a peanut butter chocolate chip cookie, reduce the butter slightly (by about ¼ cup) and add ½ cup of creamy peanut butter to the butter and sugar mixture.

Craving More Delicious Cookie & Dessert Recipes?

If you’ve loved these classic chocolate chip cookies, you’ll be thrilled to explore more delectable treats from our kitchen:

Tollhouse Cookie Pie: All the goodness of chocolate chip cookies in a comforting pie form.
Chocolate Chip Cookie in a Mug: A quick and easy single-serving dessert for those instant cravings.
Lazy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars: When you want chocolate chip cookies with minimal fuss, these bars are your answer.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Dip (+Video): A safe-to-eat cookie dough dip, perfect for parties or a sweet snack.
Cinnamon Roll Cookies: The comforting flavors of cinnamon rolls, reimagined as a chewy cookie.
Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Cookies: An extra soft and rich chocolate chip cookie variation.
Sprinkle Cookies: Fun and festive, these cookies are a joy to bake and eat.
Potato Chip Cookies: An unexpected but incredibly delicious sweet and salty combination.

A classic chocolate chip cookie being carefully dunked into a tall glass of fresh milk, highlighting its soft texture and the simple pleasure of this pairing.

Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is my Go-To Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. It comes out perfect every single time and makes the best, soft, milk-dunking cookie!

★★★★★ 5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe
Pin Recipe
Rate This Recipe

Prep Time:
10 minutes

Cook Time:
30 minutes

Total Time:
40 minutes

Servings:
36 cookies

Author:
Brandie Skibinski

Ingredients

2 sticks (one cup) unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 ¾ cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon table salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
2 ½ cups chocolate chips or chunks

Video

Notes on Storage & Freshness

These cookies are truly at their peak when enjoyed on the day they are made, especially when still warm from the oven! The melted chocolate and soft texture are incomparable.
For any leftover cookies, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They will remain soft and delicious for 3-4 days.
To revive cookies that have lost a bit of their freshness after a couple of days, simply pop one in the microwave for 3-5 seconds. This will warm the chocolate and soften the cookie, making it taste freshly baked again.
Freezing Baked Cookies: Once completely cooled, baked cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container, separating layers with parchment paper. Thaw at room temperature or gently reheat in the microwave.
Freezing Dough: You can also freeze portions of the raw cookie dough. Scoop dough balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer to a freezer-safe bag. When ready to bake, place frozen dough balls on a prepared baking sheet and bake as directed, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time if needed, without thawing.

Course:
Dessert

Cuisine:
American

Nutrition Information (Estimate per cookie)

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used, and exact serving sizes.

Did you make this recipe?
Share your culinary creations on Instagram @thecountrycook and mention us using #thecountrycook! We love seeing your delicious results.

This recipe was originally published in January 2011 and has been updated and republished in March 2020 to ensure it continues to be the best resource for your homemade chocolate chip cookie journey.