The Best Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are THE BEST soft chocolate chip cookies! No chilling required. Just ultra thick, soft, classic chocolate chip cookies!

Recipe by Lindsay Ostrom on October 15, 2020

Prep time: PT10M

Cook time: PT10M

Total time: PT20M

Rating

4.5 stars ( reviews)

Keywords

chocolate chip cookies, best chocolate chip cookies, soft chocolate chip cookies, easy cookie recipe, small batch cookies

Ingredients

8 tablespoons of salted butter
1/2 cup white sugar (I like to use raw cane sugar with a coarser texture)
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour (6.75 ounces)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt (but I always add a little extra)
3/4 cup chocolate chips (I use a combination of chocolate chips and chocolate chunks)

Cuisine

American

Steps

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Microwave the butter for about 40 seconds to just barely melt it. It shouldn’t be hot – but it should be almost entirely in liquid form.
Using a stand mixer or electric beaters, beat the butter with the sugars until creamy. Add the vanilla and the egg; beat on low speed until just incorporated – 10-15 seconds or so (if you beat the egg for too long, the cookies will be stiff).
Add the flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix until crumbles form. Use your hands to press the crumbles together into a dough. It should form one large ball that is easy to handle (right at the stage between “wet” dough and “dry” dough). Add the chocolate chips and incorporate with your hands.
Roll the dough into 12 large balls (or 9 for HUGELY awesome cookies) and place on a cookie sheet. Bake for 9-11 minutes until the cookies look puffy and dry and just barely golden. Warning, friends: DO NOT OVERBAKE. This advice is probably written on every cookie recipe everywhere, but this is essential for keeping the cookies soft. Take them out even if they look like they’re not done yet (see picture in the post). They’ll be pale and puffy.
Let them cool on the pan for a good 30 minutes or so (I mean, okay, eat four or five but then let the rest of them cool). They will sink down and turn into these dense, buttery, soft cookies that are the best in all the land. These should stay soft for many days if kept in an airtight container. I also like to freeze them.

Nutitrion

Calories: 250 calories
Carbohydrates: 33.4 g
Protein: 3.2 g
Fat: 12.2 g
Saturated Fat: 7.5 g
Trans Fat: 0.3 g
Cholesterol: 35.9 mg
Sodium: 169.3 mg
Sugar: 20.5 g

Reviews

Shazandwich on 2016-03-31 (5 stars):
You could calc it yourself in about 5 min
Kim on 2019-05-04 (5 stars):
I have been baking for years and could never find the "perfect" chocolate chip cookie recipe. They were always good right out of the oven but then the next day would be hard. These are THE best!
Jade Kemme on 2025-05-07 (5 stars):
I love this recipe! I've made these cookies at least 10+ times now, so much so I can make these without looking at the recipe. No matter what I do though, I feel like I'm overheating the egg, even when I try my hardest to not. Any advice to avoid this?
Me on 2016-04-21 (5 stars):
Lindsay was kind enough to post this perfect recipe. I think you can figure this one out yourself... Smh
Kevin on 2016-12-24 (5 stars):
Maybe you shouldn't be so weirdly hateful in the comments section of a yummy chocolate chip cookies recipe? This is supposed to be fun, right?
Isa on 2024-02-17 (5 stars):
My favourite go-to cookie recipe!!! I’ve done it close to 10 times now.
Alex on 2017-11-29 (5 stars):
Loved the infomation that comes with this great recipe! Cookies are amazing :)
Kay on 2019-11-12 (4 stars):
Made these last night and they turned out good, a little salty perhaps unsalted butter should be used? But they were still soft the next day which is amazing for the holidays!
April on 2021-01-08 (5 stars):
Wow this is the perfect recipe!
Evelyn on 2023-08-07 (5 stars):
These are the easiest chocolate chip cookies I made and they taste super good!
Ashley on 2024-06-15 (4 stars):
These cookies are so good, I just wonder why was my dough so much stickier than yours? What do I do to fix it from sticking to my hands? Thank you for sharing!
Gina on 2025-05-05 (5 stars):
These are THE BEST cookies I have ever made and I’m 72!!! Everyone, and I am not exaggerating, EVERYONE goes crazy over how soft, flavorful, light and the rich flavor and texture. Thank you for the absolute perfect recipe.
madi on 2016-12-08 (5 stars):
Thank you!
Nikki on 2017-02-01 (5 stars):
The kcal amount for one of these cookies is actually 244, (based on making 12 cookies from one batch)going by the nutritional info listed on the packages of ingredients used in the recipe. The MFP database amounts are way off on some items.
Jess on 2017-03-12 (5 stars):
Dude... you are no fun.
DAB on 2018-02-22 (5 stars):
SUCKS
Nancy A. Moreno on 2021-11-12 (5 stars):
Nice, we will try it.
Topaz on 2019-10-13 (5 stars):
These cookies are delicious, and true to their word; soft, chewy, and super easy to make I add a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg to mine, with a little bit of instant coffee powder to bring out the bitterness in the chocolate, and these are the best chocolate chip cookies I've had.
emma on 2025-03-25 (5 stars):
took your advice and added a pack of instant coffee and a pinch of cinnamon. chefs kiss. they turned out perfect. i doubled the recipe!
Smith Jaan on 2026-03-31 (5 stars):
Just tried these and wow—they turned out super soft and thick exactly like you described! Melting all the butter really makes it so much easier compared to other recipes I’ve used. Definitely going to be my go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe from now on.