These soft chewy chocolate chip cookies are so amazing! You won’t want to eat just one.
It is time to make the “King” of the cookie. This classic homemade chewy chocolate chip cookies recipe is my favorite cookie recipe to make and eat and I really do think they are some of the best chocolate chip cookies I have ever had.
Looking for something to make to bring to the neighbors or family members? Make these!
Time to impress your friends and family with these amazing cookies. If I can do it, you can do it. Let’s get baking! 🙂
For more cookie recipes click here.
Step 1: Gather all the ingredients
In order to make these fantastic chewy chocolate chip cookies you will need:
- Flour – I always use All-Purpose flour (plain flour).
- Butter – I generally use unsalted butter, but you can use salted butter. If you do, just reduce the salt that is added. Butter gives the cookies texture, and flavor, and helps with the structure.
- Brown sugar – The brown sugar contains molasses which helps add moisture to the cookie. In turn, making the cookie chewier.
- White granulated sugar – is an essential ingredient for making the perfect cookie.
- Eggs – The eggs will add structure to the cookies as well as a bit of leavening and essential moisture.
- Vanilla extract – this will add lots of flavors and enhance the flavor in the other ingredients.
- Salt – Use a good table salt.
- Baking soda – is the main leavening agent for the cookies.
- Chocolate chips – chocolate chips are the key ingredient in chocolate chip cookies. You can use all kinds of different chocolate chips if you like.
- Nuts – If you want to add another texture, you can add chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts.
Tools/Equipment
- Silicone Baking Mat or parchment paper
- Whisk or Sifter
- Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer
- Spoons or ice cream scoop
- Spatula
- Mixing bowls
Step 2: How to make soft chewy chocolate chip cookies
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. (177 C).
Then cream together the softened butter with the white and brown sugars with a hand mixer or stand mixer. Don’t have a mixer? That is okay, you can use a wooden spoon.
TIP: If your butter is not quite soft enough, go ahead and put it in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds or place it in the oven for a little bit.
Scrape the sides of the bowl afterward to make sure everything gets mixed in.
Next, add the eggs and vanilla extract to the chewy chocolate chip cookie dough and mix until combined. Again, scrape the sides of the bowl as needed.
NOTE: While you can leave the vanilla extract out, I don’t recommend it. The vanilla adds so much flavor as well as enhances the flavor of the other ingredients.
In a separate medium bowl whisk or sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda.
Then add it about a third at a time mixing it into the main bowl. Before adding the last bit of flour, add your chocolate chips, the star of the dish. You can use whatever kind of chocolate chips that you want, I usually add semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips.
NOTE: If you would like to add chopped nuts, you can add them at this point.
And there you go the chewy chocolate chip cookies dough is ready. The cookie dough will be nice and thick.
Step 3: Bake those soft chewy chocolate chip cookies
Time to clean those beaters. I just use my spatula to push the dough away from the beaters.
When I was a young kid and would make cookies with my mom, cleaning the beaters was my favorite part, because she always gave me a taste. However, she never gave me quite as much as I would have liked. I don’t recommend eating raw cookie dough, even though I did all the time as a kid and still do on occasion, haha.
You may bake the cookie dough now, or chill it for about 30 minutes. I don’t usually have the patience to chill the dough first. If you run into an issue with them spreading really thin and flat, try chilling the dough first, it should help.
Now take a spoon or small cup or ice cream scoop, and get about 2 tablespoons worth of dough, depending on the size of the cookie that you want, and then place on your cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or an Artisan Mat (Silicone Baking Mat).
I absolutely love my baking mats, it lasts a super long time, is very easy to clean, and helps to prevent the cookies from burning on the bottom. Parchment paper will work great too. Read my silicone baking mat review here if you want.
Bake the cookies in the oven at 350 degrees F for 10 to 16 minutes depending on the size of the cookie, start with 10 minutes and go from there.
Bake them until you see the edges getting brown. For soft chewy chocolate chip cookies bake them for a little less time than you think.
It’s always a good idea when trying out a new cookie recipe to do a trial bake with three or four cookies, so you can get the time down.
Step 4: Finished chocolate chip cookies
Once the cookies come out of the oven, you will notice a little browning around the edges and a bit on the tops. Let the cookies sit on your cookie sheet for about 3 more minutes, then transfer to a cookie rack to cool completely.
Serve them warm, or cool if you like. Notice the bottom of the cookie, nice brown color. 🙂 Enjoy those cookies with your friends and family!
How long do soft chewy chocolate chip cookies last?
If stored in an airtight container or zip lock bag, the cookies will last a few weeks at room temperature. After a few days, they won’t be as soft, but they will still be super yummy.
Can I freeze the leftover chocolate chip cookie dough?
Yep, you sure can! What I recommend is to form all the chewy chocolate chip cookie dough into cookie shapes and then place them on a pan, they can be close together. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze it for a few hours.
Once frozen they can be moved off the pan and into a freezer bag and stored in the freezer that way. As opposed to just freezer the leftover dough as one big ball. Then when you want to bake some you have individual cookies all ready to be baked.
Why did my chewy chocolate chip cookies turn out cakey?
One reason your cookies may have turned out cakey is you might have added too much flour. When measuring the flour, loosely scoop the flour and then level the top of it. Be careful not to pack the flour in. You can always try adding 1/4 cup less flour and see if that helps.
You also may have added a bit too much baking soda. Don’t add a heaping teaspoon of baking soda, make sure it is only 1 tsp. Or slightly under even. You may also add an additional 2 tablespoons of butter which will help. Don’t use baking powder for this recipe only use baking soda.
Why did my chewy chocolate chip cookies turn out flat?
The most common reason for chocolate chip cookies going flat is the butter was melted or much too soft. First, try chilling the cookie dough for 1 to 2 hours and see if that helps. Also, avoid putting the cookie dough on a warm or hot cooking sheet. Another reason is you may have not added enough flour.
Try adding a few tablespoons of flour to the cookie dough. It is always a good idea to try baking 2 or 3 cookies first to see how they turn out. Then if needed you can adjust the chewy chocolate chip cookie dough.
What if I don’t have brown sugar, can I use all white granulated sugar in the cookies?
Yes, you can use all white granulated sugar if you like. The cookies will turn out a bit differently and not be quite as chewy. Brown sugar has more moisture content than white granulated sugar and lends to the chewiness of a cookie.
You can try adding a tablespoon or two of molasses along with the white granulated sugar if you have it, and that will help.
Here are a few other recipes you may like:
Soft Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Equipment
- Silicone Baking Mat
- Whisk or Sifter
- Hand Mixer or Stand Mixer
- spoon
- Spatula
- Mixing Bowls
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour 300g
- 1 cup of unsalted softened butter 225 g
- 1 cup of packed brown sugar 200 g
- 1/2 cup of white granulated sugar 100 g
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp. of vanilla extract 10ml
- 1/2 tsp. of salt 2 g
- 1 tsp. of baking soda 5 g
- 1 package semi-sweet chocolate chips or milk chocolate about 2 cups or 350g
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. (177 C). Cream together the softened butter with the white and brown sugars in a large bowl using a hand mixer or stand mixer. Scrape the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Now add the vanilla extract and the eggs and mix until combined, then scrape the bowl again.
- In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Then we add the flour about a third to a fourth of it at a time to the dough, mixing in between, and scraping the sides as needed.
- Next, add the chocolate chips and nuts if you want nuts. Add the remaining bit of flour and mix again until combined. The dough is dough. Clean the beaters. No need to chill the dough, but you can at this point.
- Take two spoons or ice cream scoop, and get about 2 tablespoons worth of dough, depending on the size of the cookie that you want, and then place on your cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Bake for 10 to 16 minutes depending on the size of the cookie, start with 10 minutes and go from there. You will bake them until you see the edges getting brown.
- Let the cookies sit on your cookie sheet for about 3 more minutes, then transfer to a cookie rack to cool completely. Serve them warm, or cool if you like. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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I love these cookies I just made a them for a second time.
Awesome, Natalie! I am so glad you like them and keep making them. 🙂
I brought out a batch of cookies from the oven and it’s been 15 min and they still haven’t st in the center when I let them cool? Is this a long process or do they need longer in the oven.
Hello, it sounds like they need a bit longer in the oven. Or you can certainly eat them like that, especially with ice cream…yummy! haha
Can i use light brown sugar, I suck at baking and i want to be sure i don’t mess this up.
Yep, I always use light brown sugar. 🙂 🙂 Let me know how they turn out!
Best cookies you’ll ever make
Thank you so much, David! Such a nice compliment. 🙂 🙂 So happy you like them.
Just made these. I’ve been looking for ages for a proper delicious cookie recipe and came across this today. Honestly the NICEST cookies I’ve ever had. Would 100% recommend trying them. Thanks again for the great recipe!!??
So glad you made them and like them, Laura!! 🙂 🙂
This is the ONE! Best cookie recipe I’ve ever used and will continue to .
Thanks Matt
So happy to hear that, Tasmiah! 🙂 🙂 You are so very welcome. 🙂
If you like “soft” choc chip cookie. This recipe is the best one ?
Thank you, Julie!! So glad you like them. 🙂 🙂
OMG! I highly recommend this recipe. After many years trying to make chocolate chip cookies. I FINALLY MASTERED IT WITH THIS RECIPE. THANK YOU!
So happy you made them and liked them, Stephanie! You are so very welcome. 🙂 🙂
These are absolutely amazing! My family finished them in literally 3 days! Amazing Recipe! Must make!
So glad you made them and like them!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
So I have literally watched I would say 17 different videos on how to make chewy chocolate cookies and every time they have been a disaster so decided as my last attempt to try this one going by the good reviews and omg it did not disappoint they taste AMAZING and the perfect consistency that I LOVE thank you soo much I will defo be hooked now and currently going to see what other receipts you have AMAZING work honestly can’t say better about this and anyone who knows me knows how fussy I am with my cookies much love from Ireland ??
Thank you so much, Annamarie! Glad you didn’t give up and decided to give this recipe a try. 🙂 🙂
These cookies are soooo amazing!! I love them, thank you for this recipe. Although I do have a question, is there any way to save the batter and freeze it, what if I just want to make half the batter and but the half in the freezer? Do you have any recommendations?
Yep you can definitely freeze the leftover cookie dough. What I suggest and do often is form all of the cookies, but save the ones you want to freeze, place them in a single layer laying flat in a freezer bag. after they freeze you can move the bag and they can touch. Then when you want to eat some take them out of the freezer and heat up the oven and then bake them. 🙂
Sooo good! my family said it was their favorite dessert from now on! I didn’t change anything in the recipe. I left it in a container for like 3 days and it was still amazing! Thank you!
So awesome, Chloe! Glad you made them and liked them. 🙂 🙂
These cookies are easy to make and even easier to eat. Lol!
True soft and chewy. Not sure how long they stay chewy because they are gone too fast. Great job!!
Thank you so very much, Tom!! So glad you made them and liked them! 🙂
these are the. best. cookies. perfectly soft, you can make huge ones or little ones. i made 0 alterations to the recipe and it turned out fantastic. i wish i could attest on whether or not they keep well, but that’s something we never found out! absolutely delicious.
Thank you so much, Cass! So glad you made them and like them. 🙂 🙂 Okay just as an experiment. The next time you make them safe two or three and place them in a ziplock bag and place them in the pantry then give them a try 3 or 4 days later and see how you like them. 🙂
I made these last night. These cookies were so soft and delicious! My family was fighting over them. My favorite cookies and the recipe is so simple! All the other ones I’ve tried required extra complicated steps and they never came out right or soft and chewy like the title said they would be. But these cookies by Matt are everything the title says! Thank you so much for these ❤️
Thank you so much, Madison! I am so glad you made them and that your family likes them! 🙂 🙂 You are welcome. 🙂
This recipe is so awesome I make them all the time and there delicious! ?
Thanks, Kayla! 🙂 I am so glad you make them all the time! 🙂
I’ve tried so many chocolate chip cookie recipes (other YouTube bakers, Buzzfeed’s Tasty, the BA kitchen, and so many others) and they all claimed to have a chewy cookie or required way too many extra steps, like Browning butter, using extra egg yolks and getting rid of the egg whites, which annoyed me. And their videos even showed a chewy cookie, and I never understood why my cookies would come out cakey. I really thought it was something I did wrong. Maybe an ingredient wasn’t the right one? But then I tried THIS recipe. And I can honestly say it’s the best recipe I’ve come across. It’s exactly the type of chewy I look for, crispy on the edges, and not at all cakey. I was just about to give up on finding a recipe and just stick with the regular Toll House recipe. BUT LOOK NO FURTHER. I CAN ATTEST, THIS IS *THE* RECIPE FOR CHEWY COOKIES. Be sure to chill the dough, be sure to space them out at least 2 inches, be sure to let them cool completely (don’t be like me, I waited like 40 seconds to eat the first cookie. No regrets, but that really burned). And I think if you use a good butter (what’s good butter? I don’t know, high fat I guess?), it wouldn’t spread as much as it would using a 63% vegetable oil spread type of butter (ya know what I mean, the “I can’t believe it’s not butter”– it’s not butter, guys. It says it right there.) Just follow everything he says. Literally everything. And I promise you, your cookies will look like his. Mine did. I cried on the inside. And then ate 5 cookies. Totally worth the trials and errors to get here. Thanks for sharing, Matt!
Thank you so much, Diana! I am so happy you had success and like the recipe. 🙂 Yes! No substitute for real butter. haha. 🙂 🙂
Hi!
Seeing all the reviews, I can’t wait to try this one 🙂
I have one question though as it’s the first time I’ll bake cookies : if I want to just do a dozen, will it alter the end result if I half the recipe?
Thank you !
Hi there! Yes, you can totally half the recipe. 🙂 Not it won’t alter the end result. 🙂 Let me know how they turn out and if you run into any issues. 🙂
Perfection
Thank you so much, Trina!! 🙂
These cookies were absolutely perfect! My dad is such a huge chocolate chip cookie critic, and he absolutely loved these. Thanks so much! Happy baking.
So glad you made them and liked them, Juliette! 🙂 🙂 You are very welcome, and happy baking to you as well!