These soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies were gone quicker than it took me to blink! I had to make a second batch, then the third one - all within the same week! This recipe is a keeper! I also address common issues that you might have making cookies and tell you how to fix them, such as these: 1) The cookies spread out too much because the cookie batter is too liquidy or 2) The cookies don't flatten/spread.
This is my favorite recipe for soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies, and it takes only 15 minutes to prepare these, plus 8 minutes of baking time. Easy, simple, classic chocolate chip cookies. They are soft and chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside. If that's what you're looking for - that's the right recipe!
And, yes, that's all that is currently left of the third batch: a very pitiful single cookie:
If you love soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies, then that's exactly what this recipe delivers (just make sure not to over bake them). You'll also love the simplicity - there is no need to spend more than 15 minutes on these cookies. Just keep in mind that it only takes about 8 minutes to bake these in a preheated 350-degrees-hot oven, and, when you remove cookies from the oven, they will still look somewhat uncooked in the middle (they will look cooked and set only around the edges). That's what we want! Cookies will continue to cook while they cool on a wire rack (not on a hot baking sheet!), and, once they have cooled off completely, they will look cooked and not at all liquidy in the middle.
How to fix common issues when making soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies
There are 2 mistakes that could happen when making this type of chocolate chip cookies:
The cookies spread out too much forming one giant cookie: cookie batter is too liquidy. That will happen if you melt the butter in the microwave instead of letting the refrigerated butter sit on the counter for an hour or so to soften naturally and not become liquidy.
The cookies don't flatten/spread. That happens if you measured flour incorrectly, packing too much flour into a measuring cup. Do not overpack flour into measuring cup, fluff it up or use scale. It can also happen if you did not allow butter soften enough at room temperature and your butter is too cold. Allow the refrigerated butter soften at room temperature for an hour or so.
The recipe makes 3 dozens of cookies. You can easily half the recipe.
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.
Soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour or 270 grams all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup butter unsalted, (226 grams) room temperature (let the butter from refrigerator sit on the counter for about an hour or so)
- ½ cup sugar granulated (100 grams )
- 1 cup light-brown sugar packed (220 grams)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract pure
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (about 12 ounces)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda; set aside.
- Using electric mixer, in a separate bowl combine the butter with both sugars. (The butter should be soft at room temperature, but it should not be liquid – do not use microwave). Beat butter and sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the salt, vanilla, and eggs and continue beating on low speed. Beat until mixture is light, fluffy and very creamy, about 1 minute. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined: do not overmix. Stir in the chocolate chips.
- Form tablespoon-size balls of cookie dough and drop them on baking sheets lined with parchment paper, about 2 inches apart.
- Bake until cookies are golden and set around the edges, but still soft in the center, 8 to 10 minutes. The softer you want your cookies to be, the less amount of time you should bake, that is, no more than 8 minutes. Cookies will still look like they are not set in the middle – that’s OK. They should not be golden brown on top. Once removed from the oven, they will continue cooking for a little bit.
- Remove from oven, and let them cool on baking sheet 1 to 2 minutes. Cut cookies if they’ve merged. Transfer to a wire rack or a sheet of foil, and let cool completely.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Oh gosh I can't resist a good chocolate chip cookie! These look beautiful! I'm so guilty of microwaving butter when I'm in a rush... but you're right that they always come out better when I plan ahead and just let it come to room temp on its own!
These cookies look peeeerfect!
These cookies look absolutely amazing!
I love all kinds of different chocolate cookies..These cookies look wonderful, Julia.
I'm always looking for new awesome chocolate chip cookie recipes. I've found some good ones and some not so good ones over the years. Thanks for the tips! Mine used to always spread way too much but I've learned over the years 🙂
My kids would love to try these amazing looking cookies. Time to bake for me-) Thank you for sharing!
I think your cookies turned out perfectly! I went through a weird phase where I didn't like making cookies because I thought they took "too long." I have no idea what was wrong with me 🙂 Thankfully I don't feel that way anymore!
You're too funny! 🙂 But, I used to think the same thing - that I can't afford to spend time on making cookies from scratch! 🙂
Great tips, and fantastic looking cookie. I'll take my chocolate chips soft and chewy or quite crisp - I like both. But soft and chewy is better. 😉 Good stuff - thanks.
Classic chocolate chip cookies. Is there anything better? Your comments on butter are interesting. I never melt it in the microwave, but I might occasionally be guilty of making cookies before the butter comes to room temperature. It's hard to be patient!
I know what you mean! It's amazing, though, to see the difference in texture depending on whether the butter is "softened" or "melted" in microwave.
Your soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies are so prettylicious!!!!!!!!!! What a great everyday treat...
This is exactly how I like my cookies and now I am craving them. I momentarily thought shall I just make them now, but I am fasting tomorrow, so I had to talk myself out of it.
There is almost nothing better than a classic chocolate chip cookie. I love all those melty, gooey chocolate chips!
*sigh* I loooove chocolate chip cookies
In the great Chewy vs. Crispy debate I really believe chewy chocolate chip cookies should always prevail. These look great!
I agree!
Yes please right now ..I just finished breakfast.
I am such a cookie appreciator:)You have amazing light Julia..Do you shoot near a large window that does not have panes?
Thank you, Monique. 🙂 Yes, I do have 4 large windows to the left of where I set my camera. They provide really nice light. I also like to take photos of food with light coming from one side (left side in this case), with the other side (right side) being in the shade. If I have light come straight on the food, pictures don't come out as well.