Name: Best Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 147 min
Yield: Servings: 24 cookies
Ingredients: Unsalted butter; melted – 170 g (¾ cup); Brown sugar – 200 g (1 cup; packed); Granulated sugar – 100 g (½ cup); Eggs – 1 large; Egg yolk – 1 large; Vanilla extract – 10 ml (2 tsp); All-purpose flour – 250 g (2 cups); Baking soda – 5 g (1 tsp); Cornstarch – 5 g (1 tsp); Salt – 2 g (½ tsp); Semi-sweet chocolate chips – 250 g (1 ½ cups)

The Ultimate Guide to Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

What Makes a Cookie Perfectly Chewy?

There’s something truly magical about biting into a soft, chewy chocolate chip cookie. The delicate crisp edge, the gooey center, and the rich blend of butter, brown sugar, and chocolate create an irresistible combination. But achieving that perfect chewy texture isn't just about throwing ingredients together—it requires the right balance, technique, and a little bit of baking science.

Many bakers have attempted to master the classic chocolate chip cookie, but not all recipes deliver that soft, melt-in-your-mouth chewiness that makes cookies so addictive. Some turn out too cakey, others too crisp, but when the right ingredients come together in perfect harmony, you get a cookie that stays soft for days, with a satisfying bite and rich, buttery flavor.

The Science Behind Chewy Cookies

To achieve the perfect chew, understanding the role of each ingredient is crucial:

Butter: The foundation of flavor and texture. Using melted butter helps create a dense and chewy cookie, while creamed butter produces a lighter, airier result.
Sugar: The combination of brown sugar and white sugar impacts both sweetness and moisture retention. More brown sugar leads to a softer, chewier cookie due to its higher molasses content.
Eggs: The structure builders. Adding an extra egg yolk enhances richness and chewiness.
Flour: The right ratio of flour is key. Too much flour can lead to a dry cookie, while too little will make it spread too much. Using all-purpose flour with a slight increase in protein ensures a firm but tender texture.
Leavening Agents: A mix of baking soda and baking powder helps cookies rise while keeping them soft and tender.
Chilling the Dough: Resting the dough before baking enhances flavor and texture, allowing the flour to hydrate and the butter to solidify, which leads to thicker, chewier cookies.

The Role of Chocolate in the Perfect Cookie

A chewy chocolate chip cookie is only as good as the chocolate inside it. Using a mix of semi-sweet, dark, and milk chocolate chips or chunks creates a rich, multi-layered flavor profile. Chocolate bars chopped into uneven pieces melt differently than standard chips, creating gooey pockets of chocolate in every bite.

For an even more indulgent experience, consider using high-quality chocolate with a cocoa content of at least 60%. This provides a deep, intense chocolate taste that perfectly complements the buttery, caramel-like sweetness of the dough.

How to Achieve the Best Cookie Texture

The secret to the best chewy texture lies in these key steps:

Use melted butter for a richer, denser cookie.
Incorporate more brown sugar than white sugar for moisture retention.
Chill the dough for at least 24 hours to develop flavor and prevent excessive spreading.
Slightly underbake the cookies to keep them soft in the center.
Use a mix of chocolate types to create layers of flavor.

By following these steps, you’ll get perfectly chewy chocolate chip cookies with a soft center, slightly crispy edges, and a decadent chocolatey bite in every piece.

The Secret Ingredient for Even Better Cookies

If you really want to take your chewy cookies to the next level, try adding a small amount of cornstarch to the dough. This helps create an extra soft and thick cookie without making it cakey. Another secret? A pinch of flaky sea salt on top before baking enhances the chocolate flavor, balancing the sweetness with a hint of savory goodness.

Why This Recipe is a Must-Try

This isn’t just any chewy chocolate chip cookie recipe—it’s been carefully refined and tested to create the perfect balance of chewiness, flavor, and texture. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion, a late-night snack, or just because you love homemade cookies, these irresistible treats will quickly become your go-to recipe.

So, preheat your oven, grab your ingredients, and get ready to bake the most delicious chewy chocolate chip cookies you've ever tasted!

Recipe Ingredients

Unsalted butter, melted – 170 g (¾ cup)

Brown sugar – 200 g (1 cup, packed)

Granulated sugar – 100 g (½ cup)

Eggs – 1 large

Egg yolk – 1 large

Vanilla extract – 10 ml (2 tsp)

All-purpose flour – 250 g (2 cups)

Baking soda – 5 g (1 tsp)

Cornstarch – 5 g (1 tsp)

Salt – 2 g (½ tsp)

Semi-sweet chocolate chips – 250 g (1 ½ cups)

The quantity produced by the recipe

Servings: 24 cookies

Preparation instructions

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth.
Add the egg and egg yolk, mixing until well combined. Stir in the vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt.
Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until just combined.
Fold in the chocolate chips, ensuring even distribution throughout the dough.
Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours (preferably overnight).
Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Using a cookie scoop or spoon, portion out dough balls (about 40 g or 2 tbsp each) and place them on the baking sheet, leaving space between them.
Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are slightly underbaked.
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Preparation

15 minutes

Cooking / Baking

12 minutes

Chilling / Freezing

120 minutes

Total Time

147 minutes

Mastering the Art of Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Enhancing Texture and Flavor with Simple Adjustments

Creating the perfect chewy chocolate chip cookie is both an art and a science. While a classic recipe provides a reliable foundation, slight modifications can elevate these cookies to a whole new level. Whether it's tweaking ingredient ratios, adjusting baking techniques, or incorporating alternative ingredients, every decision affects the final result.

One of the easiest ways to enhance chewiness is by increasing the brown sugar content. Since brown sugar contains molasses, it adds moisture, creating a softer and chewier texture. For even deeper flavor, using dark brown sugar instead of light brown sugar introduces a more pronounced caramel-like taste.

If you want a richer, more buttery cookie, browning the butter before mixing it with sugar is an excellent technique. This step caramelizes the milk solids in the butter, resulting in a nutty, toffee-like depth of flavor. However, since browned butter has less moisture than melted butter, adding a tablespoon of milk can help maintain the perfect texture.

The Importance of Resting the Dough

Many home bakers overlook the crucial step of resting the dough before baking. Allowing the dough to chill for at least 24 hours significantly enhances both flavor and texture. As the dough rests, the flour fully absorbs the liquid, creating a more concentrated flavor while improving the structure of the cookies.

Additionally, refrigeration helps prevent excessive spreading during baking, ensuring thicker, chewier cookies. If time is limited, chilling for even 30 minutes can make a noticeable difference.

Balancing the Chocolate-to-Dough Ratio

The type and amount of chocolate used can completely transform the cookie experience. Many store-bought chocolate chips contain stabilizers that prevent them from fully melting, which means they may not create the luxuriously gooey texture found in bakery-style cookies.

For better melting and a more decadent bite, consider using chocolate chunks or chopped high-quality chocolate bars with at least 60% cocoa content. A mix of semi-sweet, dark, and milk chocolate provides a more complex and indulgent flavor profile.

Avoiding Common Baking Mistakes

Even the most seasoned bakers can make small mistakes that impact the final texture and flavor of their cookies. Here are some common pitfalls and how to avoid them:

Using too much flour: Too much flour leads to dry, dense cookies. Always measure flour using the spoon and level method instead of scooping directly from the bag.
Overmixing the dough: Overworking the dough develops too much gluten, resulting in tough, bread-like cookies rather than soft and chewy ones. Stir until ingredients are just combined.
Overbaking: The cookies should look slightly underbaked when removed from the oven. They will continue baking on the hot tray, resulting in the perfect soft and chewy center.

Healthier Alternatives Without Sacrificing Taste

For those looking to make a healthier version of chewy chocolate chip cookies, several ingredient swaps can retain the indulgence while improving nutritional value.

Replacing all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour adds fiber and nutrients. Using 50% whole wheat and 50% all-purpose flour maintains a soft texture without making the cookies too dense.
Substituting coconut sugar or maple syrup instead of refined white sugar provides natural sweetness with a lower glycemic index.
Using coconut oil instead of butter creates a dairy-free alternative while still keeping the cookies soft and chewy.
Adding flaxseed or chia seeds can increase fiber and healthy fats without drastically altering flavor.
Reducing sugar by 20% can still produce delicious cookies while lowering overall sugar intake.

Why Homemade Cookies Are Better Than Store-Bought

While store-bought cookies offer convenience, they often contain preservatives, artificial flavors, and excessive amounts of sugar to extend shelf life. Baking cookies from scratch allows complete control over ingredients, ensuring better flavor, fresher texture, and fewer processed additives.

Homemade cookies also allow for personalization. Whether it's adjusting the sweetness, adding sea salt flakes for contrast, or incorporating nuts for added crunch, homemade cookies can be tailored to individual preferences.

The Secret Ingredient That Takes These Cookies to the Next Level

For those looking to make an unforgettable batch of chewy chocolate chip cookies, a small but game-changing addition is a touch of espresso powder or cinnamon.

Espresso powder enhances the chocolate flavor without making the cookies taste like coffee. A teaspoon of finely ground espresso adds richness and depth.
Cinnamon adds warmth and complexity, pairing especially well with dark chocolate for a unique twist.

Perfecting chewy chocolate chip cookies is all about understanding ingredients, mastering techniques, and experimenting with flavors. Small adjustments—whether it’s using brown butter, chilling the dough, or choosing high-quality chocolate—can elevate a traditional recipe into a bakery-worthy delight.

With these expert tips, you can create cookies that are not only chewy and flavorful but also tailored to your taste and dietary preferences. Whether you're baking for a special occasion or just satisfying a sweet craving, these irresistible cookies will always deliver pure indulgence in every bite.

Serving size

Nutritional values per cookie

Calories (kcal)

210

Carbohydrate (g)

Cholesterol (mg)

Fiber (g)

Proteins (g)

2.5

Sodium (mg)

105

Sugar (g)

Fat (g)

Saturated fat (g)

Unsaturated fat (g)

Trans fat (g)

Allergens

Contains gluten (flour), dairy (butter), and eggs.
May contain traces of soy and nuts if chocolate chips are processed in facilities that handle allergens.

Ingredient substitution tips:

For a gluten-free version, replace all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour.
To make it dairy-free, substitute butter with vegan butter or coconut oil.
To avoid egg allergens, replace the egg and egg yolk with a flax egg (1 tbsp flaxseed meal + 3 tbsp water per egg, let sit for 5 minutes before use).

Vitamins and minerals