Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Thick, soft, chewy, and fully loaded with chocolate chips, this easy recipe turns an everyday treat into the indulgence of a lifetime. Everyone will be smitten with these meltingly tender Chocolate Chip Cookies!

If you’re looking for more classic cookie recipes that the whole family will love, try these soft molasses cookies, these cut out sugar cookies, or these chewy oatmeal raisin cookies!

Why You’ll Love These Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

It’s hard to adequately express the utter amazingness of these chewy chocolate chip cookies. To make things easier, I put together a list that highlights some of my top favorite elements.

  • Perfect texture. If you love thick, super chewy, pillowy soft cookies, these ones are going to turn your whole world upside down. It’ll be love at first bite!
  • Simple ingredients and instructions. This recipe is made with kitchen staples and requires just half an hour of prep work. No need to chill the dough or let it rest!
  • Adaptable. I usually just pack these cookies with chocolate and leave it at that, but it’s really easy to add other mix-ins of your choice, too!
  • Easy to store. These chocolate chip cookies stay soft and chewy for days and maintain this texture even when they’re cool.
Vanilla extract, eggs, brown sugar, granulated sugar and the rest of the ingredients on a marble countertop.

Recipe Ingredients

Enough said! Let’s get started on the greatest homemade cookies of all time. Check out the recipe card toward the end of this post for the amount associated with each ingredient.

  • All-purpose flour – Use a food scale to measure your flour for guaranteed accuracy.
  • Cornstarch – I like to use some cornstarch in these cookies. It helps to prevent them from spreading too much while they rise in the oven.
  • Baking soda & baking powder – You’ll need both to achieve just the right rise and texture.
  • Salt – To complement the richness of the chocolate chips and ensure a soft, moist result.
  • Unsalted butter – Bring this to room temperature before you use it.
  • Light brown sugar & granulated sugar – Unlike the flour, the light brown sugar should be packed tightly into the measuring cup.
  • Large eggs – I threw in an extra one to add even more moisture and mass to these cookies.
  • Vanilla extract – Choose a high-quality extract to achieve the best flavor.
  • Semisweet chocolate chips – Or any other chocolate chips of your choice.
A stack of four chocolate chip cookies on a white countertop with more cookies in the background.

How to Make Thick & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

This recipe is likely just as easy as the one included on the packaging of your chocolate chips – only the results are far superior! Here’s how it’s done:

  • Prep the baking sheets. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set the prepared pans aside.
  • Mix the dry ingredients. Combine the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium-sized bowl and set the mixture aside.
  • Cream the butter and sugars. Cream the butter and sugars together in a large mixer bowl on medium speed until the mixture is light in color and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. You should be able to see the change in color happen and know it’s ready.
  • Add the eggs. Add the eggs one at a time and mix well after each addition.
  • Pour in the vanilla. Stir in the vanilla extract and mix until well combined once more.
  • Combine the wet & dry ingredients. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until mostly combined. Do not over-mix the batter.
  • Mix in the chocolate chips. Add the chocolate chips and use a silicone spatula to fold everything together into a uniform cookie dough. The dough will be thick and a little sticky.
  • Shape the dough into balls. Use a 1/4 cup measuring scoop to scoop out the cookie dough and drop it onto the prepared baking sheet. Use your fingers or a spatula to shape the cookies and make them a bit round. They should be about the same size as the measuring scoop – thick and tall.
  • Bake the cookies. Bake the cookies for 11-12 minutes. They will spread a bit and the centers will look soft, but done. Remove them just as the edges begin to turn golden. Don’t over-bake the cookies.
  • Let them cool. Remove your chewy chocolate chip cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheets for 4-5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling. You can enjoy them while they’re still a bit warm if you’d like.
Homemade chocolate chip cookies lined up on a kitchen countertop with some loose chocolate chips.
A bunch of thick and chewy chocolate chip cookies on a marble surface with a small bowl of chocolate chips.

Tips for Success

Bring a batch of these cookies to any event and you’ll leave with a bunch of new friends. These tips will help you make sure every cookie comes out absolutely flawless!

  • Measure the flour carefully. Never fill a measuring cup with flour by scooping it directly out of the bag. Instead, fluff up the flour and spoon it into the cup little by little, then level it off at the top with a butter knife. This prevents over-packing, promoting an accurate measurement. Of course, using a food scale is the best way to achieve accuracy.
  • Don’t over-mix the dough. If you over-mix your dough, the cookies won’t come out as soft and chewy. Stop stirring it as soon as the wet and dry ingredients are mostly combined. After that, fold in the chocolate chips gently.
  • Make them pretty. I like to press a few extra chocolate chips onto the tops of my dough balls before I bake them to enhance the aesthetic of the finished cookies. You could even sprinkle on some flaky sea salt for an extra special touch.
  • How can I tell when my cookies are done? Once the edges of your cookies start to turn golden brown, they’re ready to be removed from the oven. The centers will be soft, but they shouldn’t look doughy.
A soft and chewy chocolate chip cookie on a marble kitchen countertop with a big bite taken out of it to reveal a bunch of melty chocolate chips in the center.

Substitutions & Recipe Variations

This fail-proof cookie dough can be used as a base for all sorts of different creations. Try one of the irresistible flavors below!

  • S’Mores Cookies: Fold crushed graham crackers into the cookie dough and swap out 3/4 cup of the chocolate chips for mini marshmallows.
  • Cookies & Cream Cookies: Substitute 3/4 cup of the chocolate chips for white chocolate chips and exchange the other 1 cup for roughly chopped Oreo cookies.
  • Butterscotch Cookies: Use butterscotch chips instead of chocolate chips.
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies: Replace a portion of the chocolate chips with peanut butter chips and drizzle the cooled cookies with melted peanut butter. Alternatively, you can swap out all or some of the chocolate chips for chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups.
  • Salted Caramel Cookies: Reach for chopped Rolos instead of chocolate chips and top each ball of cookie dough with a sprinkle of coarse sea salt before baking.
Four cooled chocolate chip cookies stacked on top of one another.

How to Store

Once cooled, these cookies can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days. Good luck getting them to stick around for more than one!

Warm up individual cookies in the microwave for 5-10 seconds at a time before digging in, if desired.

Can I Freeze These Cookies?

Chocolate chip cookies tend to do well in the freezer, and these chewy delights are no exception. Freeze the cooled cookies in a heavy-duty freezer bag with all of the air squeezed out for up to 1 month. Alternatively, you can wrap each cookie in a tight layer of plastic wrap and freeze them in an airtight container. Thaw out frozen cookies before you enjoy them.

More Tempting Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes

You can never have too many chocolate chip cookie recipes on hand! Here are some others that you’ll love:

Watch How to Make It

Read Transcript

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A pile of three chocolate chip cookies with two cookie halves balanced on top
Recipe

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 24 minutes
  • Total Time: 49 minutes
  • Yield: 14
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Description

These chocolate chip cookies are extra thick and chewy. Every bite is absolutely packed with chocolate – they’re sure to be a hit anywhere you bring them!


Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups (325g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup (168g) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (112g) packed light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup (52g) sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 3/4 cups (296g) semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
  2. Combine the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a medium-sized bowl and set aside.
  3. Cream the butter and sugars together in a large mixer bowl on medium speed until light in color and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. You should be able to see the change in color happen and know it’s ready.
  4. Add the eggs one at a time and mix until well combined after each addition.
  5. Add the vanilla extract and mix until well combined.
  6. Add the dry ingredients and mix until mostly combined. Do not over mix.
  7. Add the chocolate chips and use a silicone spatula to fold everything together into a uniform cookie dough. Dough will be thick and a little sticky.
  8. Use a 1/4 cup measuring scoop to scoop out the cookie dough and drop onto the prepared baking sheet. Use your fingers or a spatula to shape the cookies and make them a bit round. They should be about the same size as the measuring scoop – thick and tall.
  9. Bake cookies for 11-12 minutes. The cookies will spread a bit and the centers will look soft but should look done. Remove just as the edges begin to turn golden. Don’t over bake.
  10. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on baking sheets for 4-5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
     

Notes

  • Yield: Makes 12-14 cookies.
  • To Store: Cooled cookies can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days. Warm each one in the microwave for 5-10 seconds at a time before digging in if desired.
  • To Freeze: Freeze cooled cookies in a heavy-duty freezer bag with all of the air squeezed out for up to 1 month. Alternatively, wrap each cookie in a tight layer of plastic wrap and freeze them in an airtight container. Thaw out frozen cookies before enjoying.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Cookie
  • Calories: 357
  • Sugar: 27.3 g
  • Sodium: 181.1 mg
  • Fat: 18.7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 44.9 g
  • Protein: 5.1 g
  • Cholesterol: 52.7 mg

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243 Comments
  1. Kim L

    I made them twice over the weekend. Very good. I made them slightly smaller though they were still thick. However, my cookies are darker looking than your pictures. I did not over baked them and took them out just as the edges were golden and the center not 100% cooked. Yours look so much prettier.

  2. Kara H

    This is hands down, my favorite new chocolate chip cookie recipe. Mine NEVER turn out nice and fluffy, but these are perfect!

  3. Beth

    I just made these 2 days ago and my family devoured them. These are, hands down, the best chocolate chip cookies I have found yet. I got the next butter out to soften before the last cookie was gone this morning and batch 2 has turned out equally delicious. Thank you for sharing a fabulous recipe.

  4. George

    Made one batch, they were great. Taste was great, cool texture. tripled up the recipe for my girls volleyball team and they were a disaster! Flat and without the same great texture. Double checked through all steps/ingredients/temps. All seems the same. Should have taken my time and did one batch at a time!

  5. Elisa

    Thank you Lindsay, I was disappointed when my cookies didn’t turn out well so now I shall try them again, and this cookie size seems the perfect choice.

  6. Elaine

    Soo I dont have cornstarch and I really want to try these, is there ANYTHING else that would work? Ive seen mention of flax seed or more flour online but not sure if that’s the right substitution.

    1. lifeloveandsugar@gmail.com

      Cornstarch really is going to be best. I’ve never tried flax seed as a replacement, and while flour typically can be a replacement for cornstarch, it won’t turn out the same in these cookies.

  7. Amy McCalip

    Thank you so much for sharing your superb chocolate chip cookie recipe! Like you, I am always looking for the perfect one. Thank you for perfecting it! I don’t have to look any further! EVERYONE , EVERYWHERE I take these LOVE THEM! They are gone fast! I have to hide some for my other coworkers so they can have some when they come in for the later shift! Sometimes I am bitchy at work, I make up with these! IT WORKS! haha
    Thanks again! You will go straight to HEAVEN with these dear!

  8. Aziza

    Hi Lindsay. I love your recipe, the cookies always come out tasting great!! But I still have the same problem; they always spread. Is there a way to fix that?

    1. lifeloveandsugar@gmail.com

      Hmm, I’m not sure why. But there are a few ways to try and fix it. One easy way is to make sure the dough is cold. Colder dough won’t spread as much. Another option is to add a little more cornstarch, depending on how much they are spreading – maybe 1/2-1 tsp. The other option is to add more flour, but that will change the consistency of the cookie and make it denser.

    1. lifeloveandsugar@gmail.com

      I’m not sure about sweet cream butter. I think it might be different depending on the country. My understanding though is that it should be fine.

  9. marie

    Hi just wanted to tell you I made these biscuits early this morning & they are to die for, thick & soft will be making these all the time now, many thanks

  10. Sandy Chartrand

    I’ve made these cookies a couple of times already and they are very good. However everyone has commented that they are “chewy”. Mine are not the least bit chewy. They are soft and doughy but not chewy even when they are cooled. Any suggestions to make them chewy?

    I put parchment paper on my cookie sheets so that I don’t have to wash the cookie sheets after. Could this be the reason they are not chewy?

    Sandy from Canada

    1. lifeloveandsugar@gmail.com

      Hi Sandy! To me, being soft and doughy is what makes them chewy, as opposed to being harder and crunchier. It sounds like they are correct.

  11. Jacki

    These look awesome, and I cant wait to try them! I’m a huge chocolate fanatic so I was wondering if you have tried putting some cocoa powder in the mix to make it a chocolate cc cookie? If so how much do you think? As far as using the unsalted butter, I have seen two different posts about adding salt but one said 1/2 tsp and the other said 1/4 tsp? Also, measuring flour I use a spoon to scoop out my flour from my canister into the measuring cup and then level off to prevent to much packing, would that technique be okay or should I just scoop my measuring cup in the canister and level off? Sorry for all the brain picking questions, I’m planning on making these to take to some new friends of ours and just want to clarify. Thanks!!

    1. lifeloveandsugar@gmail.com

      Sorry for the confusion with the salt. Some of that depends on preference. I’d use 1/4 tsp of salt. For the flour, I usually just scoop the flour right out of the canister. I haven’t made these specific cookies as a chocolate cookie, but if I were going to I’d try adding 1/2 cup of cocoa powder and reducing the flour by that much and see how that turns out.

  12. Tiffany

    No words. You are crazy awesome. Made these for the first time last night and they’re all but gone. They got the stamp of approval from three teens and two adults — just about enough to give them cult status. 🙂 I’ll be making these again ASAP. Seriously. Couldn’t have been better. Easily replaced my go-to recipe that used to get raves.

  13. Shannon

    These were the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever made. The hubby agrees with me too. He wants more and so does his friend and I just made a double batch on Sunday-it’s been 3 days!! These are so good I might never make them again! Because I want to eat nothing but these cookies. I’ve had these for breakfast two days in a row. But seriously these are fantastic and these will be my go to chocolate chip cookies from now on. Thanks!!

    1. lifeloveandsugar@gmail.com

      Yes, they should fine if you double everything. You’ll just have double the yummy cookies. 🙂

      1. Morgan

        I made them for the first time without doubling the recipe and they were PERFECT! I wanted to make them again but have more cookies so i doubled the recipe and they were not as good as the first time. So personally I would not reccommend doubling the recipe but next time I will make two separate batched of cookie dough so i can have a lot of cookies. This recipe was AMAZING and by far the best cookies i have ever made. Thank You for Sharing.

Lindsay
About Lindsay

I’m the baker, recipe developer and photographer behind Life, Love and Sugar. I love sharing trusted recipes with helpful tips to give you great results.

Scripture I’m Loving

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29