If you’re looking for the ultimate comfort treat, this Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe is guaranteed to win your heart! Each cookie is a bite of nostalgia with a soft, buttery crumb and pockets of gooey chocolate chips. Whether you’re baking for a family gathering, a potluck, or just a quiet night at home, these cookies deliver that classic homemade goodness and are foolproof enough for bakers of every level. Prepare yourself for serious cookie joy—the hard part will be letting them cool before grabbing one (or three).

Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

Let’s keep it simple and delicious. Each ingredient in this Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe plays a starring role—adding flavor, creating the perfect crumb, and giving your cookies that crave-worthy color and melt-in-your-mouth texture.

White Sugar: Brings sweetness and helps achieve that signature crisp edge.
Brown Sugar (packed): Adds moisture and depth of flavor, making the cookies softer and chewier.
Butter (softened): Creamy richness that gives your cookies their irresistible taste—room temperature works best for smooth mixing!
Vanilla Extract: A splash that rounds out flavors and makes the dough simply dreamy.
Egg: Binds everything together and adds a little lift for that perfect chewy bite.
All-Purpose Flour: The backbone of the cookie, creating structure while keeping things tender.
Baking Soda: Kicks off the rise and brings that lightness we love.
Salt: Just enough to make the chocolate shine and balance the sweetness.
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips or Chunks: The star of the show! Melty, gooey, and essential for every Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe.

How to Make Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Step 1: Cream the Sugars, Butter, and Vanilla

In a large mixing bowl, blend together the white sugar, brown sugar, softened butter, and vanilla extract. Let the mixer run until the mixture is extra light and fluffy—this step is key for a tender cookie with a great crumb!

Step 2: Add the Egg

Crack in the egg and blend again, making sure it’s fully incorporated. The dough should look silky and cohesive. Don’t rush—this is where your cookies get their rich, chewy texture.

Step 3: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. This ensures everything is evenly distributed. Nobody wants a salty bite or a pocket of baking soda!

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry

Add your dry ingredients to the wet mixture about half a cup at a time, gently mixing after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. The dough will come together quickly—just don’t over-mix, or you’ll lose that tender texture we’re after.

Step 5: Stir in the Chocolate Chips

Fold in those glorious semi-sweet chocolate chips (or chunks) until they’re evenly distributed. Every scoop should be packed with chocolate for that true Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe experience.

Step 6: Shape and Chill

Scoop the dough into golf-ball sized balls and arrange them on a cookie sheet. Chill the dough balls in the fridge for at least 2 hours (or up to 24—if you can wait!). This step makes your cookies thicker, chewier, and absolutely bakery-worthy.

Step 7: Bake to Perfection

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Arrange your chilled dough balls at least 2 inches apart on a parchment or silicone-lined baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, just until the edges are golden and the centers look just set. Let them rest on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool—this helps keep them soft inside and slightly crisp outside.

How to Serve Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Garnishes

Just before serving, you can sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt on top of your warm cookies for that irresistible sweet-salty combo. Drizzling a bit of warm melted chocolate or a dusting of powdered sugar can also take your presentation to the next level, making each cookie look as special as it tastes.

Side Dishes

You can never go wrong serving the Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe with a big, frosty glass of milk. Want to impress dessert lovers? Pair these cookies with bowls of ice cream—vanilla, coffee, or even chocolate chip for double the fun. They also go beautifully with fresh berries, whipped cream, or a piping hot cup of coffee.

Creative Ways to Present

Get playful! Stack a few cookies and tie them with festive string for an edible gift, or create a cookie platter with mini and standard cookies for variety. For a party, try making ice cream cookie sandwiches using this Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe—they’re always a hit and incredibly easy to assemble.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

To keep your cookies tasting fresh, store them in an airtight container on the counter for up to 4 days. A slice of bread in the container can help maintain moisture, keeping the cookies deliciously soft.

Freezing

This Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe is freezer-friendly! You can freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months—just let them cool completely before sealing in a freezer-safe bag or container. For unbaked dough, shape into balls and freeze in a single layer, then transfer to a bag. Bake straight from frozen; just add an extra minute or two to the bake time.

Reheating

Want to recreate that just-baked magic? Pop a cookie in the microwave for 10 second bursts until warm and gooey, or reheat a batch in a low oven (about 300 degrees) for a couple of minutes. Fresh out of the oven taste, anytime you crave it!

FAQs

Can I substitute the butter for margarine or oil?

While you can use margarine as a substitute, butter yields the richest flavor and texture in this Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe. Using oil will dramatically change both flavor and consistency, so butter is truly your best bet.

Why do I need to chill the cookie dough?

Chilling the dough allows the fats to solidify and the flavors to develop, which means thicker, chewier cookies and better taste. It also helps prevent spreading, giving your cookies that perfect bakery-style shape.

Can I add nuts or other mix-ins?

Absolutely! Chopped walnuts, pecans, or even toffee bits are wonderful additions. Just fold them in with the chocolate chips and keep total mix-ins to around 2 cups to maintain the dough’s structure.

How do I know when the cookies are done baking?

Bake the cookies until the edges are lightly golden while the centers are just set—they’ll firm up as they cool. Over-baking will result in a crunchier cookie, so for soft and chewy, take them out just as they start to turn golden at the edges.

Can I double this Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe?

Yes! This Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe doubles beautifully—perfect for parties or gifting. Just use a larger bowl and be patient with your mixer as the dough comes together.

Final Thoughts

If you’re ready for a cookie that captures pure homemade magic, whip up this Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe and share it with friends and family. It’s a recipe that never gets old—each batch promises warm, melty goodness and smiles all around. Happy baking!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 22 reviews

These Chocolate Chip Cookies are the perfect blend of soft and buttery with loads of chocolate chips throughout. A classic recipe that’s sure to please any cookie lover!

Author: Paula
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Yield: 24 cookies
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Cookie Dough:

¾ cups white sugar
¾ cups brown sugar, packed
1 cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
¾ tsp salt
1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, or chunks

Instructions

Blend the Wet Ingredients: In a bowl, blend together the white sugar, brown sugar, butter, and vanilla until light and fluffy. Add the egg and blend until combined.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Add Chocolate Chips: Mix the chocolate chips into the cookie dough until evenly combined.
Chill Dough: Scoop the dough into balls and refrigerate for 2 to 24 hours.
Bake: Preheat oven to 375°F. Place dough balls on a baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes until lightly golden. Cool on a wire rack.

Notes

Store baked cookies in an airtight container on the counter.
Unbaked cookie dough can be stored in the fridge for up to 7 days or frozen for up to 3 months.