With so many recipes available, you may be wondering if it’s possible to make a foolproof batch of chocolate chip cookies. The short answer is yes, you absolutely can. Even though it seems we all prefer different qualities of thickness and texture, the ultimate chocolate chip cookie recipe is a crowd-pleaser thanks to the light crispiness on the outside and chewiness on the inside. As the baker, you’ll be delighted, too, once you get expert results from a recipe that calls for such simple ingredients.

Before we delve into the process of making them, we’ll include some tips to help you get started and take your cookies to the next level.

Tips on making chocolate chip cookies

1. If you’re new to baking chocolate chip cookies, find the perfect recipe before experimenting with ingredients to achieve another texture. If you’re looking for one that’s straightforward and offers everything a cookie lover could dream of, look no further with this recipe.

2. Baking cookies on the middle rack of your oven, one sheet at a time, is essential to achieving an evenly baked cookie.

3. Read your recipe entirely before starting to make sure everything you need is on hand, both ingredients and equipment.

4. Take time to measure your ingredients using the right tools; if you are newer to baking, you’ll get faster with experience. Be patient.

5. When it comes to measuring flour, fluff your flour by shaking or stirring it first, fill your measuring cup until it’s heaping, and sweep the excess evenly off the top.

6. Add the ingredients in the order the recipe calls for to ensure proper mixing.

7. If you don’t want to chill your dough, a one-inch ice cream scoop or meat baller will help make consistent cookies when dropping the dough.

8. Make sure to keep them in the oven for the recommended time until they’re looking a little golden yet still somewhat soft. Leave the cookies on the hot sheet for a couple of minutes to continue baking, avoiding over-baking in the oven.

How to make the ultimate chocolate chip cookies recipe

This recipe makes 48 cookies. It will take approximately 15 minutes to prepare and an estimated 90 minutes altogether from start to finish.

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Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 cup butter, softened

• 3/4 cup granulated sugar

• 3/4 cup brown sugar

• 1 egg

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

• 1 cup of coarsely chopped nuts (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.

2. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt until they’re blended. Set the mixture aside.

3. In a large bowl, stir the softened butter, sugars, and vanilla with a spoon until they’re well incorporated, scraping the sides as needed. Stirring for one minute should get the job done. If you’d prefer, you can use an electric stand or hand mixer at medium speed.

4. Add the egg and beat the mixture until it’s creamy and consistent and you no longer see streams of the egg.

5. Gradually add the flour until it’s blended just enough. You’ll know when the flour is no longer powdery and visible.

6. Add and stir the chocolate chips and nuts if you’ve decided to include them.

7. Scoop tablespoons of the dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet two inches apart. Alternatively, you can cover and chill the dough for one hour in the fridge and roll it into tablespoon-sized balls. Let the dough sit out for 10 minutes to soften while the oven preheats.

8. Once the dough is on your sheet, bake for 8-10 minutes. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them sit for two minutes on the hot sheet. At this point, you can carefully add some extra chocolate chips to the top of your cookies, giving them a gentle poke to keep them in place. This step is mainly cosmetic but will help your guests and your Instagram followers alike distinguish them from other cookies.

9. After letting them sit for two minutes, transfer them to a cooling rack.

10. Let them cool completely for 30 minutes before serving. When storing, an airtight container at room temperature works best and should keep your cookies fresh for up to two weeks. If they last that long, that is.

Nutrition Information

Per one cookie:

• Calories: 120, calories from fat: 60

• Total fat: 6 grams

• Saturated fat: 3 ½ grams

• Trans fat: 0 grams

• Cholesterol: 15 milligrams

• Sodium: 85 milligrams

• Potassium: 40 milligrams

• Total carbohydrate: 16 grams

• Dietary fiber: 0 grams

• Sugars: 10 grams

• Protein: 1 gram

Chocolate chip cookie variations

The possibilities are endless when it comes to changing up this recipe. Keep in mind that you can swap the chocolate chips and nuts in this recipe with similar ingredients. Just be sure to use the same amount. For example, the two cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips are exchangeable with one cup of dark chocolate chips and one cup of white chocolate chips. If adding nuts, use any type in the same one-cup amount listed here.

Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies

To add a hint of nuttiness to this recipe, replace 1/2 cup of the softened butter with 1/2 cup of peanut butter. For extra peanutty goodness, consider a mixture of chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, and peanuts.

Chocolate chip cookies without brown sugar

If you’ve realized you’re missing brown sugar, you can replace the 3/4 cup amount called for in this recipe with an additional 3/4 of granulated sugar. Brown sugar gives chocolate chip cookies a hint of caramel flavor and increases the overall moisture. Still, the result of using only granulated sugar will be an equally delicious cookie that rises higher with some additional crunch.

Double chocolate chip cookies

For chocolate lovers, if you want a double chocolate variation of the ultimate chocolate chip cookie, swap out 1/4 cup of the flour for four tablespoons of cocoa. Stir the cocoa into the butter and sugar mixture before adding the flour. For added firmness, include an extra egg.

Sea salt chocolate chip cookies

A quick way to add sophistication to your chocolate chip cookies is to exchange the salt in this recipe with sea salt and add a light sprinkling to the top right after removing them from the oven.

Chocolate chip cookie FAQs

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What makes chocolate chip cookies flatten?

Flat cookies can happen if there’s not enough flour in the dough. When measuring your flour, double-check your quantities. Also, if you’re baking in batches, using a hot baking sheet can cause cookies to flatten. To avoid this, use more than one sheet or allow it to cool completely in between batches.

What does adding an extra egg do to cookies?

Adding an extra egg makes chocolate chip cookies even chewier.

Why are my chocolate chip cookies so hard?

Too much flour is often the culprit behind hard cookies, so make sure to measure carefully. Another way to avoid tough cookies is to mix the flour until it’s just incorporated and not over-mixed.

Is it better to use butter or shortening for chocolate chip cookies?

Butter makes cookies flatter, crispier, and more flavorful. Shortening makes cookies taller and softer with no added flavor and has the benefit of being dairy-free.

Happy baking

These cookies will be a hit at your next gathering. Made as it’s written, they’re the best chocolate chip cookies and an excellent foundation for you to add some personal touches.

Recipe adapted from Betty Crocker