The Best Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Ever!
The best homemade chocolate chip cookie recipe is right here! This is the recipe I used for all my markets and online sales, the one that sold out every single weekend. I always made them fresh in the morning because nothing beats an ooey-gooey chocolate chip cookie with crispy edges and a melt-in-your-mouth center. It’s no wonder this cookie became a fan favorite for so many reasons!
I teased on my Instagram yesterday that I was going to share this recipe, and one of my friends messaged me saying, “Are you really going to share this secret recipe?!” It made me laugh because I had printed the recipe for her a while back and jokingly told her that if she shared it with anyone, I’d… well, you know! Now, she makes them for all her family members, too. This is a THE chocolate chip cookie recipe that every family needs to have on hand. Trust me, it’s a keeper! There’s never a time when I don’t have this dough in my freezer just in case I need to bake them last minute.
A PERFECT CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE RECIPE
Everyone has their own idea of the perfect chocolate chip cookie, but for me, it checks a very specific list of boxes. A perfect cookie needs to be thick, but not overly so. It must have crispy edges without being burnt. The center should be doughy and gooey, melting in your mouth with each bite. And, of course, it must be loaded with chocolate chips, sprinkled with a touch of sea salt, and bursting with rich vanilla flavor in every bite. Now that’s perfection to me.
I can’t believe I actually hit publish. This is THE best recipe for chocolate chip cookies EVER! These are the cookies I would make fresh before the markets and sell out of in the first few hours. I love that they are thick, crispy around the edges, but have an ooey, gooey, and doughy centers that melt in your mouth.
These chocolate chip cookies are perfect year-round, and I make them for almost every holiday. I love to fill up bakery boxes wrapped in ribbon for gifts, and print the recipe to attach onto the box. (photos at the bottom of this recipe blog)
The BEST, The GO-TO, Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
I’ll be making this cookie recipe for the rest of my life, and it’s such a joy that my son loves joining in on the baking too. I know this recipe by heart, and I have a feeling he’ll know it just as well one day, making it for his friends and his own family. It’s such a special tradition that I hope he’ll carry on! I get messages on Instagram all the time about how this recipe has become their “go-to” “THE chocolate chip recipe” and how much people love it. It’s simple, yet creates the most DELICIOUS chocolate chip cookie.
A few notes to make this chocolate chip cookie recipe amazing
Recipe Notes:
- Chill the Dough: For the best texture and flavor, refrigerate the dough for at least 5 hours or overnight. This helps the dough firm up and prevents the cookies from spreading too much while baking.
- Cookie Size: For perfectly sized cookies, use a scale to measure 85 to 105 grams of dough, and roll them into the perfect ball. This ensures even baking and a nice thick cookie. After they have chilled for an hour, I’ll take them out and roll the dough and put the dough balls in the refrigerator for the next day.
- Baking Time: Keep an eye on the cookies as they bake. They should have golden brown edges, but the center should still look a little soft. They’ll continue to cook slightly on the baking sheet once removed from the oven.
- Flavor Variations: Feel free to add your favorite mix-ins, like nuts, dried fruit, or even a sprinkle of sea salt on top before baking for an extra flavor boost!
Chocolate chip cookies don’t need any fancy or unusual ingredients, they just need the perfect balance of simple, real ingredients. Here’s what goes into these perfect chocolate chip cookies:
Chocolate Chip Cookie Ingredients:
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Sea salt
- Unsalted butter
- Brown sugar
- Granulated sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips or chocolate chunks
Can I make these chocolate chip cookies, gluten-free?
Absolutely! Swap out the all-purpose flour for 1:1 all-purpose gluten-free flour. I used to make these gluten-free all the time for markets. One of my best friends makes them gluten-free weekly. Hers come out perfectly.
How to Make Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies:
- Mix Wet Ingredients: Cream together butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla. (I add one egg at a time, mixing 30 seconds in between)
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and sea salt.
- Add Chocolate Chips: Toss chocolate chips into the dry ingredients to coat them.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, being careful not to overmix.
- Chill the Dough: Refrigerate the dough for at least 5 hours or overnight for the best results.
- Bake: Roll into balls (I like to do this the night before to prevent dough from warming), place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and bake at 350 degrees until edges are slightly golden.
Baking chilled cookie dough is what keeps the cookies nice and thick, gooey in the middle, and crispy around the edges. The butter won’t melt as fast, and the baking powder keeps them puffed up. 
Let the cookies cool: Allow the cookies to cool for about 10 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring them to a cooling rack.
How to Store Chocolate Chip Cookies:
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week (even though they are ALWAYS better in the first 24 hours of baking them).
- For longer storage, freeze the cookies in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Simply thaw at room temperature before enjoying!
These cookies are always better fresh! If you’re making them for a party or special occasion, I recommend baking them about two to four hours in advance for the best flavor and texture.
If you’re keeping them for your household, store them in the freezer and reheat as needed, or keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. Enjoy them warm for that fresh-baked experience!
The Best Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 Cups All Purpose Flour
- 3 Tsps Baking Powder
- 1 Tsp Sea Salt
- 1 Cup Unsalted Butter, Cut into Cubes Cut into Cubes
- 1 Cup Brown Sugar, Packed
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 2 Large Eggs
- 3 Tsps Vanilla
- 3 Cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips or chocolate chunks
Instructions
- Prepare the Wet Ingredients: Using an electric mixer, beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy (about 2–3 minutes).
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Reduce the mixer speed to low and blend in the eggs and vanilla extract until just combined.
- Combine the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and sea salt. Toss the chocolate chips in the dry ingredients to coat them evenly.
- Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing slowly. Be careful not to overmix the dough.
- Chill the Dough: Transfer the cookie dough to a ziplock bag or airtight container and refrigerate for at least 5 hours, or overnight for best results. Alternatively, after one hour of chilling, portion the dough into 105g balls, then place them back in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
- Prepare to Bake: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the chilled cookie dough balls at least 2 ½ inches apart on the sheet.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake the cookies for 20–22 minutes. Be careful not to overbake, they'll continue to set on the baking sheet as they cool.
Notes
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Storage Tips:
- The cookie dough can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
- For longer storage, freeze the dough for up to 3 months. To freeze, portion the dough into balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Once frozen, transfer the dough balls to a freezer-safe bag or container.
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Baking from Frozen:
If baking from frozen, allow them to sit on baking sheet 10 minutes before placing into the oven.
Here are some other popular desserts you may love:
Chewy Frosted Orange Ginger Molasses Cookies
Cranberry Orange Almond Cake with Mascarpone Buttercream
Grandpa’s Gumdrop Cookies | Christmas Cookie Tradition
Pumpkin Spice Crinkle Cookies
Gingerbread Oatmeal Cookies with Chai Latte Buttercream Filling
Soft & Chewy Frosted Gingerbread Cookies
Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe | Chewy, Gooey, and Crispy!
Lemon Poppy Linzer Cookies with Raspberry Filling
I am so so so so excited that this recipe is finally up on my blog for you to try!
PLEASE come back and give this recipe a rating and comment on how it worked out for you! 🙂
Questions for you!
- What does a perfect chocolate chip cookie look like for you?
- Dark chocolate or semi sweet chocolate?
The way I used to drive so far on the weekends to get these cookies at your markets Taralynn! I can’t wait to try them out myself. Thank you for sharing! I miss seeing you!
Awww! I miss being out in the community seeing everyone! I hope you love this recipe:)
These were so good! I’m a beginner baker and these came out perfect. They were a hit at Christmas.
Oh perfect!!:)