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This is literally the only chocolate chip cookie recipe you will ever use! Every bite is soft, chewy, and with the perfect balance of crumb and chocolate. Get ready for the best ever chocolate chip cookies!
Soft and yummy chocolate chip cookies
This is it! You’ve found it! This is the ultimate chocolate chip cookie recipe. Follow this recipe exactly as it’s written, and you’ll never go back to any other recipe again.
The sea salt flakes make the chocolate chips and chocolate chunks richer, deeper, and earthier.
I took all the guesswork out of making the ultimate chocolate chip cookies. You won’t have to wonder why your cookies are too flat or too round or too crispy, or too soft. Nope! These cookies turn out exactly how you want them to every single time.
Save this recipe because you’ll definitely come back for it. Even though the cookies can last a week in a cookie jar, you won’t be able to stop eating them.
These soft, fluffy cookies melt in your mouth. They will remind you of the best homemade cookies from your childhood.
Ingredients needed
This easy chocolate chip cookie recipe is made with all the same cookie ingredients you would expect. Here’s a bit more about what I used:
- All-Purpose Flour: You’ll use 2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour. If you need the cookies to be gluten-free, use your favorite 1:1 gluten-free flour.
- Baking Soda: This gives the cookies a bit of rise and prevents them from being too dense. Use 1/2 a teaspoon.
- Baking Powder: Using this with the baking soda gives the cookies the perfect amount of rise, too; use 1/2 a teaspoon.
- Salt: About one teaspoon of salt will enhance all the other flavors in this cookie dough.
- Butter: Softened, unsalted butter moistens the cookies. Use a whole cup of butter!
- White Sugar: Use 3/4 a cup of granulated white sugar to sweeten the cookies.
- Brown Sugar: Use the same amount – 3/4 a cup – of brown sugar to give the cookies a deeper, caramelized flavor.
- Vanilla: Enhance the rich flavors of the cookies with two teaspoons of vanilla.
- Eggs: You need eggs to bind and emulsify everything. Use two large eggs.
- Dark Chocolate Bars: This is the secret ingredient that makes these cookies unbelievably delicious. Chop up two chocolate bars.
- Chocolate Chips: Of course, you need chocolate chips for chocolate chip cookies! Use 12 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- Flaky Sea Salt: The sea salt on top of the cookies brings out all the different flavors in them.
Kitchen tools required
Here’s a bit more information about what I used to make these tasty homemade cookies.
Gather the following items before you begin:
- Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper
- Non-Stick Spray
- Whisk
- Mixing Bowls
- Hand Mixer
- Spatula
- Cookie Scoop
- Cooling Rack
For measuring, you will need 1 cup, 3/4 cup, 1/4 cup, 1 teaspoon, and 1/2 teaspoon.
How to make the best ever chocolate chip cookies
Making homemade chocolate chip cookies is the easiest things ever to make! Here’s how to make them, step-by-step.
Mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Set the dry ingredients aside.
In a large bowl, beat together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar using a hand mixer or stand mixer. Alternatively, you could use a hand whisk.
Then, add vanilla and beat it until it is smooth and creamy.
Add in eggs one at a time, blending until all are combined.
Next, slowly add in the flour mixture until all flour is blended into the dough. Use a spatula to continue mixing.
Add in chopped-up chocolate bars and chocolate chips. Stir until well combined.
After it is all mixed, chill the dough for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Preheat the oven to 375F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or nonstick spray.
When you’re ready to bake the cookies, use a cookie scoop, to scoop the cookies onto the baking sheets. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until slightly golden.
Let the cookies cool for 5 minutes on sheets, then move them to a cooling rack. Sprinkle the cookies with some flakey salt.
Recipe Tips
Below are some common homemade chocolate chip cookie questions. Don’t see the answer you’re looking for? Leave a comment at the bottom of this post!
What is the secret to chewy cookies?
In order to make your cookies delightfully chewy, you need to be patient and let the cookie dough rest in the refrigerator. Let it set in there for at least an hour. During this time, some of the moisture from the dough will evaporate, which increases the sugar content in the dough and keeps the baked cookies chewy.
What will happen if I add an extra egg?
All the fat in the eggs are stored in the egg yolk. If you use an extra egg, you are adding more fat to the cookies, so they will be even chewier and less crispier. If you use one egg (instead of two) the cookie will have more crumbs in them.
Should I use butter or shortening in chocolate chip cookies?
I prefer to bake with real, creamy butter. It will give the cookies a crispier exterior and a rich, buttery flavor. Also, real butter is so much better for you than shortening. is.
Some people think that shortening helps cookies hold their shape as they cook and they might spread out less, but my cookies turned out perfectly with the butter.
How do you keep cookies moist and chewy?
Underbake the cookies, pulling them out before they become too crispy. Then, store the cookies with a slice of bread. The bread in the cookie jar or container will soak up the moisture from the cookies, preventing them from drying out.
Storing leftovers
These cookies can be stored at room temperature. Keep them in an airtight container for up to one week.
You can also freeze them too. They will stay fresh in the freezer for up to six months.
If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!
Here are some of my favorite cookie recipes you should make next. Enjoy!
- Maple Pecan Oatmeal Cookies
- Brown Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
- Healthy White Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
- Healthy Kitchen Sink Cookies
Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa
Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
This is literally the only chocolate chip cookie recipe you will ever use! Every bite is soft, chewy, and with the perfect balance of crumb and chocolate. Get ready for the best ever chocolate chip cookies!
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 2 dark chocolate bars, chopped
- 12oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Flaky sea salt
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar using a hand mixer or stand mixer. Alternatively use a hand whisk.
- Add in vanilla and beat until totally smooth and creamy.
- Add in eggs one at a time, blending until all combined.
- Slowly add in flour mixture until all flour is blended into dough. Use a spatula to continue mixing.
- Add in chopped up chocolate bars and chocolate chips. Stir until well combined.
- Chill dough for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Preheat oven to 375F and line baking sheet with parchment paper or nonstick spray.
- Using a cookie scoop, scoop onto baking sheets. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until slightly golden.
- Let cool for 5 minutes on sheets then move to cooling rack. Sprinkle with flakey salt.
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Aimee says
Have made these a few times and they are always SO GOOD! I brought them to a party today and everyone was raving about them and they were gone so quick!! I love how this recipe takes it back to the basics and keeps it simple! Thanks Erin!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Aimee, so happy you loved them so much! 🙂
Beth says
I’m a bit confused. How much dark chocolate? What size bar?
Amy says
I made these for Christmas and received so many compliments! They really are the best chocolate chips cookies! Qa – I wanted to make my husband a cookie cake out of this recipe. I’m thinking maybe into the shape of a heart. Just not sure on the baking time etc..any tips?
Erin says
Hi Amy, so glad you loved them and about the same. Just wait to see when the center of the cookie is done and the cookies are slightly golden.
Blair says
I never leave comments but am a longtime ELW follower and made this tonight. These cookies were absolutely perfect. 10/10 and I froze some leftover dough to pop in the oven for fresh cookies next week!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Blair, so happy you loved them and thank you for your support! 🙂
Becca says
I’m always looking for a good chocolate chip cookie recipe and this is definitely one! These will be made often!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Becca, so happy you loved these!!
Erin N says
These were a hit! Everyone who has had them says they are just so good! I’m happy to report I’ll be making these again & again!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Erin, so happy everyone enjoyed them!
Chelsea says
Perfect extra chocolatey cookie!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Chelsea, so happy you loved them!!
Samantha says
I made these and they spread out so much! Idk where I went wrong 😅😭
Erin says
Hi Samantha, hmm were all your baking soda and baking powder both new/fresh? If they were old/expired that probably caused it.
Paulina says
Omg Erin!!! This cookies are AMAZING! My husband said he wanted cookies 🍪 and I remembered you posted this on Instagram, so I looked for the recipe and made them, and even by the start the cookie dough was so good!
Thank you for sharing this celestial cookies with us mortals who don’t know how to cook 👩🍳
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Paulina, so happy you loved them!!
Erin says
First time I ever made cookies & they were still soft the next day. She’s not kidding when she says “best” chocolate chip cookie ever! Making again this weekend!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Erin, so happy you loved them!!
Jess says
These were SO GOOD! I always make the Betty Crocker chocolate chip cookies from a mix. Glad I tried these instead! The salt on the top makes them 😋
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jess, so happy you loved them! 🙂
lauren says
These were the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had. I didn’t have dark chocolate with me, so I just used semi-sweet chips and they were still by far better than any other recipe I’ve made before. Making them a little underbaked is *perfect*!! Next time, I will for sure go get some dark chocolate to add to the batter 🙂
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Lauren, so glad you loved them!!
Alison Coen says
Question! When you say dark chocolate bar…does that mean 100% unsweetened bar or can it be 60% dark or does it matter?
Erin says
Hi Alison, doesn’t matter – whatever you prefer! Let me know how your cookies come out!
tara says
These cookies are rightfully named ‘Best Ever.’ I loved adding the chopped chocolate bars along with the chips. It was the right amount of dark chocolate and they were still soft and chewy. But the best part of all is the flaky sea salt!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Tara, so glad you loved them!! 🙂
Andrea G says
Another unreal recipe of Erin’s!!! I used salted butter and therefore skipped the sea salt on top of the cookies. I used the Ghiardelli semisweet bars and white chocolate chips. I did not plan ahead enough so instead of chilling overnight, I put the dough in the freezer for one hour prior to baking. They spread but only minimally – would def recommend refrigerating overnight!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Andrea, so happy you loved them so much! 🙂
Megan T says
Amazing cookie recipe- can’t wait to make more!!
Erin says
Hi Megan, so happy you loved them! 🙂
Molly says
These cookies were so good. The sea salt added the perfect touch! Will definitely repeat
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Molly, so happy you loved them! 🙂
Lynn says
Do you think these would work using one to one gf flour? If so would you change and measurements or ingredients? Thank you!
Erin says
Hi Lynn, yes, definitely give it a try! If its one-to-one it should work. Let me know how they come out! 🙂
JoAnne says
What size scoop did you use for scooping the cookie dough ?
Erin says
Hi JoAnne, I used 1.5 tbsp! Let me know how your cookies come out!
Brittany says
Can’t wait to make these cookies!
Question: where did you get that adorable little spoon in the salt?!