Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

Crisp tops and edges, soft chewy centers and loaded with lots of chocolate chips, these are the perfect chocolate chip cookies!!!

After lots of experimenting I’ve created the PERFECT chocolate chip cookies. Whether you go flourless, eggless, or add in oatmeal, any of these chocolate chip cookie recipes are sure to please!

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies served on a white plate

I had one particular cookie recipe that I often made, but I always thought it could use a little something here and there to make it better. It had so much potential! So over the course of about 6 months I altered ingredients, quantities and methods to see if I could come up with the perfect chocolate chip cookie.

Guess what? I did! 

So what did I change and why are these cookies so perfect? Good question!

  • The first problem I had was that the cookies always had greasy bottoms. No matter how long I chilled the dough or if I used parchment, they just kept leaving a puddle behind. I added more flour which helped solve that problem.
  • To prevent extra moisture and to ensure that these cookies would be thick and chewy, I also added some cornstarch.
  • I scaled down the salt a bit and upped the vanilla extract, because I can never say no to more flavor!
  • I tossed in a mixture of both semisweet and bittersweet Ghirardelli chocolate chips and called it good. And oh where they good!!!
  • My final “experiment” was with chill time. While the cookies that chilled had a slightly puffier texture to them, the non-chilled cookies were just as good. Which means… the dough does NOT need to be chilled! Hooray!!! Of course if you want to chill it that’s totally fine.
  • As a finishing (and very personal) touch, I sprinkled a bit of sea salt on top of them before sticking them in the oven. I love that sweet and salty combo. Plus, salt brings out the flavor of the chocolate and the cookies themselves.

There’s nothing better than a warm chocolate chip cookie! Especially one that is baked to perfection 🙂 Next time you’re looking for a quick and delicious chocolate chip cookie recipe, I hope you’ll give this one a try… it’s simply the BEST!

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies lined up on a cutting board

How to make perfect chocolate chip cookies

PREP. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or baking mats, set aside.

MELT. Place butter in a microwave safe bowl and heat for 30-45 seconds (full strength) or until it’s almost completely melted but has a few soft pieces left.

DRY INGREDIENTS. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt.

WET INGREDIENTS. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer), beat together butter, sugars and vanilla for 1 minute. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing in between additions.

COMBINE + CHILL. Turn mixing speed to low and gradually add in the dry ingredients. Beat until just combined or until a soft dough forms. Fold in the chocolate chips with a spatula. Now you can either bake the dough straight away, chill for 3 hours and bake, store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze it.

SCOOP. To bake the cookies, use a standard size cookie scoop (approximately 1.5 tbsp.) to form balls of dough. Place onto the prepared sheets, leaving at least 2 inches in between. Sprinkle with sea salt if desired.

BAKE. Place in the oven and bake for 11-13 minutes, rotating the sheet half way through the baking process. Remove from oven when cookies are golden brown in color around the edges. Let cookies cool on pan for 3-4 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips + Storing info

These Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies are sure to become a new staple in your home – their crisp edges and chewy centers are irresistible! Here are a few tips when baking them:

  • If you are using salted butter, reduce the amount of salt added in the recipe to ¾ tsp.
  • For variety add some chopped walnuts or pecans in place of some of the chocolate chips before baking.
  • Use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat instead of spraying your baking sheet with cooking spray to avoid cookies with greasy bottoms.
  • Avoid overmixing your dough and make sure that your baking soda hasn’t expired to achieve cookies with the perfect texture.
  • Press a few extra chocolate chips on top of your cookies when they are fresh out of the oven for an extra pretty presentation.
  • If baking cookie dough that has been frozen, no need to thaw first, just add an extra minute or so onto your baking time.

STORE cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-5 days.

FREEZE cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies on silpat mats

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Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Crisp tops and edges, soft chewy centers and loaded with lots of chocolate chips, these are the perfect chocolate chip cookies!!!
4.82 from 11 votes
Pin Rate
Course: Cookies, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 17 minutes
Servings: 36 cookies
Calories: 160kcal
Author: Andrea
Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 ¼ tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cornstarch
  • 1 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar - packed
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cups chocolate chips (semi, bittersweet or both)
  • sea salt for sprinkling (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or baking mats, set aside.
  • Place butter in a microwave safe bowl and heat for 30-45 seconds (full strength) or until it's almost completely melted but has a few soft pieces left.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer (or a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer), beat together butter, sugars and vanilla for 1 minute. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing in between additions. Turn mixing speed to low and gradually add in the dry ingredients. Beat until just combined or until a soft dough forms. Fold in the chocolate chips with a spatula. Now you can either bake the dough straight away, chill for 3 hours and bake, store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze it.
  • To bake the cookies, use a standard size cookie scoop (approximately 1.5 tbsp.) to form balls of dough. Place onto the prepared sheets, leaving at least 2 inches in between. Sprinkle with sea salt if desired.
  • Place in the oven and bake for 11-13 minutes, rotating the sheet half way through the baking process. Remove from oven when cookies are golden brown in color around the edges. Let cookies cool on pan for 3-4 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

NOTES

-I prefer using a mix of semisweet chocolate chips and bittersweet chocolate chips. Ghirardelli is my brand of choice.
-Cookie dough can be wrapped or placed in an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or can be portioned and frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 160kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 127mg | Potassium: 23mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 171IU | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg

Recipe source: adapted from The Back In The Day Bakery Cookbook

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About the Author

Andrea

Hi I'm Andrea!

Hotelier turned Food Blogger to help make your life simple, one recipe at a time.

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Comments:

  1. 5 stars
    They definitely are the perfect cookie! I have made many over the years and you get a 5 from me. I will save this one and it will be “my favorite chocolate chip recipe” thank you so much for sharing.