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    Home » Recipes » Cookies

    Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Published: Dec 5, 2019 · Modified: Mar 24, 2023 by Heather · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 1528 words. · About 8 minutes to read this article.

    Jump to Recipe
    Ultimate Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies by The Toasty Kitchen
    Ultimate chocolate chip cookies recipe.
    Ultimate chocolate chip cookies recipe.
    Ultimate chocolate chip cookies recipe.

    Chewy chocolate chip cookies are my go-to recipe for a classic chocolate chip cookie. These cookies are chewy, soft, sweet, and filled to the brim with chocolate chips and chocolate chunks.

    Chocolate chip cookies on a marble counter top.

    If you're looking for a soft and chewy chocolate chip cookie, look no further. You'll love this recipe for chewy chocolate chip cookies because they turn out perfectly every time.

    These cookies are soft in the middle, chewy, and filled with chocolate chips and chocolate chunks. The best part is that they're made from scratch and only require simple ingredients. The only "secret" is in following the recipe!

    Make a batch of chewy chocolate chip cookies for any occasion - they're perfect year round! They make a great addition to your holiday cookie tray or as a sweet after-dinner treat.

    Ingredients and substitutions

    Ingredients for chocolate chip cookies.
    • Unsalted butter - The butter and salt listed in the recipe can be substituted with salted butter if needed.
    • Sugars - We're using a combination of granulated sugar and brown sugar in this recipe for optimal texture and flavor. Granulated sugar helps aerate the butter when creaming the two together, which helps lift your cookies as they bake. Brown sugar adds a caramelized, molasses flavor and chewy texture to your cookies.
    • Eggs - Room temperature eggs incorporate seamlessly into the dough and add moisture and structure.
    • Vanilla extract - Enhances the flavor of your cookies.
    • All-purpose flour - Adds structure to your cookies and balances the wet ingredients in the recipe. I haven't tested this recipe with other types of flours, so I can't say for sure how your cookies would turn out with substitutions. To avoid wasting ingredients, I highly suggest searching for a recipe that has been developed with the type of flour you'd like to use.
    • Leavening - You'll need baking soda for this recipe - it cannot be substituted with baking powder, the two are not interchangeable.
    • Cornstarch - It may seem like an unusual ingredient, but it's here for a reason. Adding cornstarch to cookies creates a more tender and chewy chocolate chip cookie.
    • Salt - Enhances the flavor of your cookies and balances the sweetness without making your cookies "salty".
    • Chocolate chips and chunks - Chocolate chips and chocolate chunks can be substituted with your favorite baking chips, like butterscotch, peanut butter, or white chocolate chips. For a classic chocolate chip cookie, I like the combination of chips and chunks.

    What does cornstarch do in cookies?

    Cornstarch makes a wonderful addition to this cookie recipe for several reasons.

    First, cornstarch helps thicken the dough, resulting in a cookie that spreads less in the oven. This helps keep the cookies thick and chewy, rather than thin and crispy.

    Second, cornstarch helps soften the proteins in the flour, resulting in a chewier, softer cookie.

    Mixing wet ingredients for cookie dough.

    What makes these cookies chewy?

    There are several steps and ingredients that help make these cookies soft and chewy.

    • Brown sugar - Adding more brown sugar than granulated sugar adds extra moisture to your cookies, as well as a caramelized, molasses flavor and a chewier texture. Don't skip the brown sugar or substitute with granulated sugar if you'd like a chewy cookie.
    • Cornstarch makes a thicker cookie that spreads less in the oven, and also helps soften the flour proteins in your dough, resulting in a softer, chewier cookie.
    • Resting your dough helps your cookies turn out chewier. While your dough rests in the refrigerator (which is a low humidity space), some of the water is evaporating out. This results in a chewier cookie that spreads less in the oven. If you have the time, allowing your dough rest for up to three days results in a chewier cookie than resting for one hour.
    • Parchment paper or a silicone baking mat helps your cookies spread less while baking and prevents the bottoms from getting crispy (like they would on a greased baking pan). Darker baking sheets generally bake your cookies faster on the bottom, resulting in dark, crispy edges and undercooked centers. I recommend using a light baking sheet with parchment for evenly baked cookies.
    • To keep your cookies soft for longer, allow them to cool completely before storing. When storing, add a slice of bread. The cookies will maintain their moisture, while the bread slice dries out (science!). Replace the bread as needed to keep your cookies soft for a few extra days.

    Cookie baking tips and tricks

    Adding chocolate chips to a cookie dough and rolling into balls.
    • Room temperature ingredients give your dough a consistent, creamy, and even texture. When beaten, the eggs and butter form an emulsion, which traps air in the dough, which bakes up into a soft and fluffy cookie.
    • Do not substitute or omit ingredients. Baking is an exact science. Each ingredient serves a purpose in this recipe. Halving the butter or sugar, for example, will result in a dry cookie. Adding extra flour will result in a dry cookie. Adding extra wet ingredients that aren't listed, like applesauce or sour cream, will result in a wet dough that spreads more in the oven and may turn out cakey instead of chewy.
    • Properly measuring flour is a common issue in baking. If you have issues with your cookies not spreading, turning out extra thick, or having a bland flavor, you probably measured too much flour into your cookie dough.
    • To properly measure flour, I highly recommend using a kitchen scale. This way, your ingredients are 100% accurate every time. If you don't have a kitchen scale, use the spoon and level method. Gently stir your flour, then use a spoon to add flour to your measuring cup. Last, level off the top with a knife. By scooping flour directly from a container with your measuring cup, you’re compacting the flour into the cup. This adds up to 25% extra flour to your dough.
    • If you'd like to see more, I did a test on measuring flour for my post: tips for baking cookies - check it out!
    • Using parchment paper helps prevent your cookies from spreading too much while baking. A greased baking pan guarantees your cookies spread more than they should, so I always suggest parchment paper (or a reusable baking mat) instead.

    Cookie storage

    A cookie cut in half to reveal melted chocolate chips.

    Your cookies will keep for up to 5-7 days in a tightly sealed container at room temperature.

    If you plan on keeping your cookies for more than 1 or 2 days, I recommend adding a slice of bread to the cookie container.

    Believe it or not, a slice of bread will help keep your cookies soft for longer! The cookies grab moisture from the bread, keeping them soft. Your bread slice will dry out and get stale, while your cookies stay soft. Feel free to replace the bread as needed.

    Baked cookies can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Simply place on the counter top to thaw for about 30 minutes.

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    📖 Recipe

    Chocolate chip cookies on a marble counter top.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 2 reviews

    Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Chewy chocolate chip cookies are my go-to recipe for a classic chocolate chip cookie. They are chewy, soft, sweet, and filled to the brim with chocolate chips and chocolate chunks.
    Prep Time1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time10 minutes minutes
    Total Time1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes
    Servings: 36 cookies
    Calories: 165kcal
    Author: Heather

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
    • ¾ cup (160 g) brown sugar
    • ½ cup (99 g) granulated sugar
    • 2 large eggs, room temperature
    • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 2 ½ cups (300 g) all purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 ½ teaspoons cornstarch
    • ¾ teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup (170 g) chocolate chunks
    • 1 cup (170 g) chocolate chips

    Instructions

    • In a large bowl, add butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, cream together until light and fluffy, about a minute. Add eggs and vanilla extract. Beat until fluffy, about a minute.
    • In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt.
    • Gradually stir dry ingredients into butter mixture until just combined (do not overmix). Add chocolate chips and chocolate chunks, stirring until just incorporated.
    • Cover bowl or wrap dough in wax paper. Chill for at least one hour (or up to 3 days) in the refrigerator. Refrigerating helps the flavors meld, creates a chewier texture, and make a firm dough that's easy to roll into balls.
    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper (do not grease your baking sheet, this causes the cookies to spread more in the oven). Set aside.
    • If your dough has been in the refrigerator for more than an hour, allow to set on the countertop for 10 minutes to soften slightly. Scoop dough using a medium cookie scoop or shape by hand into 1.5 inch balls.
    • Place cookie dough balls 2 inches apart onto prepared baking sheet. Bake for about 9-12 minutes, or until lightly browned around edges and across the tops. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

    Equipment Recommendations

    • Nicewell Digital Kitchen Scale
    • Pyrex Glass Mixing Bowls
    • Nordic Ware Half Baking Sheet
    • Reynolds Parchment Paper

    Notes

    • Cookies will keep for 5-7 days in a sealed container. To help keep cookies fresh, place a slice of bread in the container with the cookies. Replace the bread slice as needed.
    • Raw cookie dough will keep in the refrigerator for 3 days. Cookie dough balls (and baked cookies) freeze well, up to 3 months in a sealed plastic container or freezer bag. Allow frozen balls to thaw for up to 10 minutes on the baking sheet before baking, or add 1-2 minutes to the baking time.
    • Be sure to check out my 10 tips for baking cookies, based on reader comments and questions!

    Nutrition Estimate

    Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 165kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 24mg | Sodium: 88mg | Potassium: 48mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 184IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American

    More Cookie Recipes

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      Strawberry Shortbread Cookies
    • 10 tips for baking cookies.
      10 Tips for Baking Cookies
    • A stack of soft sugar cookies, one with a bite missing.
      Soft Sugar Cookies
    • Heart shaped chocolate chip cookies on a red plate.
      Heart Shaped Chocolate Chip Cookies

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    1. Richie Davis

      May 23, 2023 at 4:27 pm

      Have you tried making a cookie cake with this recipe?

      Reply
      • Heather

        May 23, 2023 at 4:40 pm

        I have not tested this particular recipe as a cookie cake, but I do have a skillet cookie recipe that's made in a 10 inch round pan:
        https://thetoastykitchen.com/cast-iron-skillet-cookie/

        Reply

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    Heather of The Toasty Kitchen

    Hi, I'm Heather of The Toasty Kitchen. I love cooking with real, unfussy ingredients, and I want to help you make homemade meals with ease.

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