Perfectly Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
These perfectly chewy chocolate chip cookies feature a delightful balance of crispy edges and chewy centers, made with simple pantry ingredients and a secret chilling step for thick, flavorful cookies.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 42 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ¼ cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (200 g) packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups (270 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Optional: ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- In another bowl, beat the softened butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until fluffy and pale, about 3-4 minutes.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Fold in the chocolate chips and optional nuts if using.
- Cover and refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes.
- Use a tablespoon or ice cream scoop to drop rounded balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, until edges are golden but centers still look slightly soft.
- Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Use softened butter, not melted, to trap air and create a soft interior with crisp edges. Chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes prevents spreading and deepens flavor. Avoid overmixing once flour is added to prevent tough cookies. Pull cookies from oven when centers are slightly underdone for perfect chewiness. For gluten-free, substitute flour with a 1:1 gluten-free blend. For vegan, use dairy-free butter and flax eggs.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 14
- Sodium: 120
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 2
Keywords: chocolate chip cookies, chewy cookies, homemade cookies, easy cookie recipe, classic cookies, baking, dessert