Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Name: Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 11 min
Total time: 56 min
Ingredients: 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon sea salt; 1 cup unsalted butter (melted); 3/4 cup brown sugar (packed); 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 1 large egg; 1 large egg yolk; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 cups chocolate chips

Last week, my daughter walked into the kitchen and caught me eating cookie dough straight from the bowl. Again. There's something magical about the smell of butter, vanilla, and chocolate that turns grown adults into sneaky teenagers. These Chocolate Chip Cookies are thick, chewy, and disappear faster than I can bake them. Tonight, you'll discover the secret to bakery-style cookies that'll have your family begging for the recipe.

That magical moment when you bite into the perfect cookie and warm, gooey chocolate melts in your mouth - pure comfort food bliss that transforms simple pantry ingredients into irresistible thick, chewy cookies

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Stack of thick, gooey chocolate chip cookies with melted chocolate oozing out, showing perfect chewy texture with chocolate chunks visible throughout

Why You'll Love This Recipe

These chocolate chip cookies solve every baking frustration you've ever had. No weird ingredients, no chilling overnight, no cookies that spread into flat pancakes. My husband actually stopped buying store-bought cookies after trying these because they're that much better. The secret is using melted butter and an extra egg yolk for those perfectly thick, gooey centers. Plus, they stay soft for days, which means you can finally make cookies that don't turn into hockey pucks by tomorrow morning.

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Why You'll Love This Recipe
What You'll Need
How to Make Chocolate Chip Cookies
Aliana's Kitchen Wisdom
Storage & Reheating Tips
Easy Swaps & Variations
What to Serve With Chocolate Chip Cookies
FAQs About Chocolate Chip Cookies
More Sweet Treats You'll Love
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Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies
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What You'll Need

These are the kind of ingredients that live in your pantry year-round, which is exactly why this recipe works so well for spontaneous cookie cravings. Nothing fancy, just simple staples that create pure magic together.

Main Ingredients

All-purpose flour
Baking soda
Brown sugar and granulated sugar
Melted butter
An egg + an egg yolk
Vanilla extract
Chocolate chips
Sea salt

Optional Extras

Feel free to toss in some chopped walnuts, extra chocolate chips, or even a sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top if you're feeling fancy.

This chocolate chip cookies recipe is super easy — full steps are in the recipe card.

Organized flat lay of chocolate chip cookie ingredients including flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, chocolate chips, eggs, vanilla extract, and baking soda arranged in bowls on marble surface

How to Make Chocolate Chip Cookies

Start by making the cookie dough In a large bowl, whisk together your melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract, mixing until everything's well combined. This creates the perfect base for thick cookies.

Mixing flour into cookie dough in a glass bowl with chocolate chips nearby

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Pour the dry mixture into your wet ingredients and stir gently. Don't overmix or your cookies will be tough.

Hands using white spatula to mix thick chocolate chip cookie dough in glass bowl, with chocolate chips scattered throughout and wooden bowl of chocolate chips visible in background

Use a spatula to mix until mostly combined Fold in the chocolate chips using a spatula, mixing just until the dough comes together. Some flour streaks are totally fine, my mom always said stop mixing when you think you need two more stirs.

Next, chill the dough Pop the bowl in the fridge for 30 minutes. This prevents spreading and gives you those perfectly thick cookies everyone craves.

Why do my chocolate chip cookies spread too much? Usually it's because the butter was too warm or the dough wasn't chilled long enough. Room temperature butter works best for mixing, then always chill before baking.

Then, shape the cookies Scoop dough into golf ball sized portions and place on parchment lined baking sheets, leaving space between each cookie.

Finally, bake the cookies Bake at 350°F for 9-11 minutes until edges are set but centers still look slightly underbaked. They'll finish cooking on the hot pan.

Perfect thick chocolate chip cookies with golden brown edges and melted chocolate chunks cooling on copper wire rack with spatula, showing ideal bakery-style texture

Aliana's Kitchen Wisdom

Here's the game changer that took me way too many burnt batches to figure out: pull those soft Chocolate Chip Cookies from the oven when they still look slightly underdone in the centers.

They'll continue cooking on the hot pan and end up perfectly chewy chocolate chip cookies instead of crispy ones.

Also, room temperature eggs mix so much better than cold ones, but if you forget to take them out early like I always do, just place them in warm water for five minutes.

My sister laughed when I told her this trick, but now she swears by it for the fluffiest gooey chocolate chip cookies every single time.

Another secret? Press a few extra chocolate chips on top of each cookie before baking for that bakery look. Trust me, these thick chocolate chip cookies will become your new obsession once you nail the timing.

Storage & Reheating Tips

Store your cooled Chocolate Chip Cookies in an airtight container for up to a week, though they never last that long in my house! For keeping soft chocolate chip cookies perfectly chewy, add a slice of bread to the container. The cookies absorb just enough moisture to stay tender. You can also freeze the baked cookies for up to three months in freezer bags.

My favorite trick? Freeze balls of cookie dough on a tray, then transfer to bags so you can bake fresh cookies anytime. Just add two extra minutes to the baking time. For reheating, wrap a cookie in a damp paper towel and microwave for 10 seconds to get that fresh-from-the-oven warmth back.

Easy Swaps & Variations

Brown butter changes everything! I discovered this by accident when I let my butter get too hot one day, and now my family refuses regular cookies. For extra rich cookies, try chopping up a chocolate bar instead of using all chips. My kids go crazy for double chocolate chip cookies when I add a few spoonfuls of cocoa powder to the dough. Half batches work perfectly when it's just me and late night cravings.

Peanut butter lovers should add two tablespoons to the wet ingredients for incredible peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. My neighbor swears by the gluten free version using cup-for-cup flour, and honestly, nobody can tell the difference. These easy chocolate chip cookies work with whatever's in your pantry, and every single variation disappears just as fast.

What to Serve With Chocolate Chip Cookies

Nothing beats warm Chocolate Chip Cookies with a cold glass of milk, but my family has strong opinions about alternatives. My daughter insists on dunking hers in hot chocolate, while my husband prefers coffee for that perfect sweet and bitter combo. Ice cream sandwiches are pure magic when you sandwich vanilla ice cream between two soft cookies.

For parties, I love setting up a little dessert station with different milk options like almond, oat, or chocolate milk. Tea drinkers swear by pairing these with chai or Earl Grey. Fresh berries add a nice tart contrast if you want something lighter, and honestly, a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side never disappoints anyone at my table.

Stack of perfect golden brown chocolate chip cookies on white plate showing ideal texture and chocolate chip distribution, ready for serving

FAQs About Chocolate Chip Cookies

What are the benefits of chocolate chip cookies?

Beyond pure happiness? They're a great source of quick energy from carbs and provide some iron from flour. Plus, dark chocolate chips contain antioxidants. But honestly, the biggest benefit is bringing families together over something sweet and homemade.

Why are chocolate chip cookies so addictive?

Chocolate chip cookies are addictive because they combine fat, sugar, and salt in just the right amounts to stimulate the brain’s pleasure centers. The chocolate triggers the release of endorphins, while ingredients like vanilla and butter bring feelings of comfort and nostalgia. For a deeper dive into the science behind cookie cravings, check out this CNN article that explains why these treats are hard to resist.

What is a healthy substitute for chocolate chips?

Cacao nibs give you chocolate flavor with less sugar, or try chopped dark chocolate with 70% cocoa. Dried fruit like cranberries or chopped dates work too. Mini chocolate chips let you use less while still getting chocolate in every bite.

How do I stop craving chocolate chip cookies?

To manage chocolate chip cookie cravings, start by eating a protein-rich snack to keep your blood sugar stable. Another trick is to brush your teeth when a craving hits—it sends a signal to your brain that eating time is over. Personally, a great hack is keeping cookie dough in the freezer and baking just one or two cookies when the urge comes. For more expert-backed strategies to curb cravings, read this helpful Scripps Health guide.

Is it bad to eat a chocolate chip cookie everyday?

One cookie as part of a balanced diet isn't harmful for most people. The key is moderation and making sure you're getting nutrients from other foods too. Life's too short not to enjoy a good cookie occasionally!