Who doesn’t love the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies wafting through the house? These homemade chocolate chip cookies are soft, chewy, and just the right balance of sweet and salty. They’re made with simple ingredients, but the result is absolutely irresistible. Whether you’re baking for a family treat, a special occasion, or just because you’re craving something sweet, these cookies will quickly become your go-to recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
There’s something so nostalgic and comforting about homemade chocolate chip cookies, and this recipe brings all those good feelings to life. The dough comes together in no time, and the result is perfectly chewy cookies with crispy edges and melty chocolate chips in every bite. Plus, the dough is easy to work with, and you probably already have most of the ingredients in your pantry. Trust me, these cookies will make your house smell amazing and your tastebuds happy.
Ingredients
Here’s a sneak peek of what you’ll need (the full list will be at the end):
- Unsalted butter (softened)
- Brown sugar and granulated sugar
- Eggs
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Vanilla extract
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
For the complete ingredient list with quantities, check below.
Directions
1. Preheat the Oven
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures that the cookies bake evenly and get that perfect golden color.
2. Cream the Butter and Sugars
In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Mix for about 2-3 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy. This is key for achieving that soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
3. Add the Eggs and Vanilla
Beat in the eggs, one at a time, ensuring each one is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract for that warm, aromatic flavor that every chocolate chip cookie should have.
4. Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Be careful not to overmix—this can lead to tough cookies.
5. Fold in the Chocolate Chips
Now for the best part: folding in the chocolate chips! Use a spatula to gently stir in the semi-sweet chocolate chips until they’re evenly distributed throughout the dough.
6. Scoop and Shape the Dough
Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, scoop out dough and place it onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Space the dough balls about 2 inches apart to give them room to spread. If you like slightly larger cookies, you can make bigger dough balls, but just be mindful of the baking time.
7. Bake to Perfection
Bake the cookies in your preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers are still slightly soft. The cookies will continue to cook a bit once you take them out, so don’t worry if they look a little soft in the middle.
8. Let Cool and Enjoy
Once baked, let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a couple of minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy them warm with a glass of milk, or store them in an airtight container for later.
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Room Temperature Butter: Make sure your butter is at room temperature before you start. This helps it cream properly with the sugars, leading to a smoother dough and a softer cookie.
- Chill the Dough: If you have time, chill the dough for 30 minutes to an hour before baking. This helps the cookies maintain their shape and prevents them from spreading too much.
- Don’t Overbake: Chocolate chip cookies can go from soft to overdone quickly. Keep an eye on them as they bake and take them out when they’re just beginning to turn golden on the edges.
- Add More Chocolate: If you’re a chocolate lover, feel free to add more chocolate chips or even try different types of chocolate (milk, dark, or even white chocolate).
Recipe Variations and Possible Substitutions
- Add Nuts: If you like a little crunch, add some chopped walnuts or pecans to the dough along with the chocolate chips.
- Go Dark Chocolate: Swap the semi-sweet chocolate chips for dark chocolate chips or chunks for a more intense chocolate flavor.
- Make Them Gluten-Free: You can substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend to make these cookies gluten-free. Just make sure your baking soda is also gluten-free.
Serving and Pairing Suggestions
These homemade chocolate chip cookies are delicious on their own, but you can also pair them with a few fun sides. A glass of cold milk is always a perfect choice, but you could also serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an extra indulgent treat. If you’re feeling fancy, drizzle some caramel or melted chocolate on top for a gourmet touch.
Storage and Reheating Tips
Store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. If you want to keep them soft, place a slice of bread in the container with the cookies—this will help keep the cookies from drying out. To reheat, pop them in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds to get that fresh-baked warmth and gooey chocolate.
4 FAQs
1. Can I freeze the cookie dough?
Yes, you can! Scoop the dough into balls and freeze them on a baking sheet. Once they’re frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag. When you’re ready to bake, just pop the dough balls straight into the oven (no need to thaw) and bake for 1-2 extra minutes.
2. Can I use margarine instead of butter?
While you can use margarine in a pinch, butter is what gives these cookies their rich flavor and soft texture. I highly recommend sticking with butter for the best results.
3. Can I make these cookies without brown sugar?
If you don’t have brown sugar, you can substitute it with more granulated sugar, but keep in mind the cookies may be a little less chewy and won’t have that caramel-like flavor that brown sugar provides.
4. How can I make my cookies chewy?
For extra chewy cookies, be sure not to overbake them, as this can make them crispy. Also, using more brown sugar than granulated sugar can help with that chewy texture.
Conclusion
There’s nothing quite like a batch of warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies, and this recipe is sure to become your new favorite. It’s easy to make, customizable, and oh-so-delicious. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or just craving a homemade treat, these cookies will never disappoint. So grab your ingredients, preheat that oven, and get ready for a batch of cookies that will make your house smell amazing and your taste buds dance!
Print
Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Total Time: 25-30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These homemade chocolate chip cookies are soft, chewy, and perfectly balanced with sweetness and saltiness. Made with simple ingredients, they’ll quickly become your go-to cookie recipe for any occasion. The melt-in-your-mouth chocolate chips and the golden crispy edges make these cookies irresistible.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cream the Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, beat together softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes).
- Add the Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each one is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in vanilla extract.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Fold in the Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in the chocolate chips.
- Scoop and Shape the Dough: Scoop dough into tablespoon-sized balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Space them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are golden but the centers are soft.
- Let Cool and Enjoy: Cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!
Notes
- Ensure butter is at room temperature for easy creaming.
- For extra chewy cookies, avoid overbaking.
- Chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking can help prevent spreading too much.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg