If you’re looking for the best chocolate chip cookie recipe in the whole world…I have it right here!
I have made Nestle Tollhouse, Cook’s Illustrated, Paula Deen’s and many other chocolate chip cookie recipes in my life. And while they have all added to my weight gain over the years (ahem), none of them were the absolute perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe. Some came darn close – but never 100% perfect.
But I finally have found it.
The Master Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe.
The recipe that out-does all other chocolate chip cookie recipes. The chocolate chip cookie recipe that meets all my tests, one that turns out perfectly for me every time. One that I can freeze into balls and that would bake up just as good as if you baked them without freezing since I love freezer cooking.
As I have been getting more into cooking more from scratch, finding a recipe that used real butter instead of shortening was a must. But it was hard to get a cookie that didn’t fall flat, or turn out nice and soft in the middle using butter. That was until now. These real ingredient chocolate chip cookies are soft in the middle and a little chewy and crispy on the outside.
Basically the perfect cookie.
This one tops them all. Seriously, my search is over! It’s FINALLY over.
My criteria for the perfect chocolate chip cookie was:
- Must use “real” butter, not shortening
- Must use “real” vanilla, not imitation
- Must taste amazing. Even the next day.
- Needed to be soft and not flat
- Needed to use quality chocolate chips (I love milk chocolate Ghirardelli)
- Needed to be able to be frozen, baked later and turn out perfectly since I am a huge freezer meal gal.
This recipe met all these tests 100% perfectly.
In fact, I will let the pictures show you how good these are.
You can see how beautiful this cookie looks on the inside – a perfect blend of chewy and soft melty goodness.
My personal secret: make sure your cookies are a nice big size. I usually roll mine into 1/4 cup or 4 Tablespoon sized balls. In fact, I use this cookie scoop which is the perfect size.
If you want that gooey center with a bit of chewy outside…make them big.
I love that this chocolate chip cookie recipe is not too flat, and the flavor is to die for. I was given this recipe by a friend who got it from hereistherecipe.com.
If you want to freeze this cookie dough, just form into balls and freeze individually. Then place into a ziploc freezer bag until you are ready to bake. Add a few extra minutes to your baking time and enjoy.
These cookies are pretty much the best thing ever, especially after a big freezer meal cooking marathon…. ……totally hits the spot.
Here is the Master Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe that you can print out!
Master Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups flour
- 1 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/4 cups real unsalted butter
- 1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar
- 1 cup plus 2 Tbsp sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 12 oz Ghiradelli milk chocolate chips or other quality chocolate chips, 11.5 .
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix to combine and set aside.
- Using paddle attachment on mixer, cream butter and sugars together just until blended.
- Add eggs, one a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Add the vanilla.
- Put mixer on low speed, and add in dry ingredients.
- Mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Stir in chocolate chips by hand gently.
- It's best to make bigger cookies for the right texture - so I would recommend using a 4 Tablespoon size scoop to form your cookies.
- Place on cookie sheet and bake for 15-17 minutes. I like mine to look a little undercooked in the middle, then let them finish cooking on the cookie sheet for a few minutes while they cool. Then move them to a cookie rack or plate to keep cooling.
- If you are freezing these cookies: Form into balls, and freeze on a cookie sheet. After frozen remove and add to a Ziploc freezer bag. They will last for about a month in the freezer. To bake just take out and bake as directed, adding a few extra minutes of baking time.
Nutrition
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I want you to bake these cookies and tell me what you think!
Come back to this post and give me your honest opinions. I think it’s the best chocolate chip cookie recipe ever and I hope you do, too.
—> See ALL of my Freezer Meals recipes here.
If you love to cook, try these out!
- Karrie’s Favorite Inexpensive Kitchen Gadgets
- Making 50 Freezer Meals in one Day
- Freezer Meal Tips for Beginners
- 10 Easy and Cheap Camping Meals
- Unique and Cool Camping Equipment For the Whole Family
About Karrie
Food is my love language. But so is saving money. So I like to combine the two a lot and make thrifty make ahead and freeze meals to save time. Because life is busy, and freezer meals can come to the rescue for all of us. And yes, they actually CAN taste good. Read more...
Comments & Reviews
Carl McLuhan says
Dear Karrie: Yes, I’ve made your famous chocolate chip cookies and am now just finishing my final batch from the frozen state. I particularly like the many chocolate chips in each cookie, the general texture is good, and also love the crispy exterior. Great taste! Thanks for sharing. These cookies are wonderful as large items.
Carl
Jen says
Silly question, but….it doesn’t specify but I’m assuming the butter should be softened like most recipes? Thanks.
Karrie says
Yes softened butter.
Tami says
Hands down, the best chocolate chip cookie I have ever had! Thank you for sharing this recipe!! ❤️
Rach T says
Everyone who has ever tasted these have loved them. I am making them today but only have semi sweet chocolate chips. Do you think that will change the flavor too much
Karrie says
They will still be delicious with semi-sweet chips.
Nancy says
Best chocolate chips cookies ever! My husband, not a big chocolate chip cookie guy, loves them and wants more. Could I use butterscotch chips in place of chocolate?
Karrie says
Absolutely!!
Shantel says
Baked these cookies and my cookies monster said they are the best!! Thanks
Gail Webb says
These will be my go to recipe for chocolate chip cookies. They are crispy on the edges and so chewy in the middle. I added chopped pecans to mine. So good!
Angela L says
I’ve made these cookies for years! I too was on the hunt for the best chocolate chip cookies. My daughter took these to her teachers her freshman year of high school. She’s a junior and her teachers wait expectantly for these cookies for special holidays! Thank you thank you thank you!!
Alecia says
I love this recipe!! It’s become my go to recipe for chocolate chip cookies. It doesn’t flatten out, it’s thick and chewy, we love it! Thanks!
My daughter who hates chocolate has me bake her a batch with one chip on top because she likes the basic cookie better than sugar cookies. 😉
Sabina says
Is the dough really stiff? It resembles a roll out cookie dough.
Karrie says
No it shouldn’t be stiff, add a little less flour next time. Sometimes elevation, humidity and other factors can change and I use less flour as needed.
Dorena says
Hello, can these be made using sugar replacements for both kinds of sugars, brown and the white?
Katrin says
I personally don’t like them. And I always use real butter and a mix of sugars in my cookies. But they are not my kind of dream.
The only thing I had to change was the dark sugar and replace it with a lighter one, but still – the dough should be chilled first, otherwise they will not turn out ok.
Denise says
Have you ever used Crisco butter flavored sticks instead of butter? I’ve heard some say using Crisco makes the cookies stay soft but I don’t know chemically if this is true or if it changes the flavor of the cookies.
Karrie says
I think that would change the flavor quite a bit, and I haven’t tried it. I stick to the original cause its so good!
Melody says
I’m curious if they could be made into smaller cookies. I will baking cookies for a wedding and don’t need to make such a large cookie. Will they still be just as good if made into smaller ones??
Karrie says
Yes they taste good smaller, but try a batch first to make sure you like the way they look for the wedding!
Marilyn says
I only have a lot of light brown sugar on hand…wil that be ok to use?
Karrie says
Yes!
Holly says
My forever go-to CCC recipe!! The absolute best ever hands down!! ❤️
Linda Tollefson says
These are so good, I made them big so I only got 22. My grandson loves them!
Pollieanna Sepulveda says
Great recipe, this is my families new favorite cookie recipe. The taste and texture us perfect. Thank you for sharing.
Lisa Stevens says
This is a fantastic recipe! My Dad is 86 and has dementia, lots of things have changed, but not his love for cookies, cake, etc. I try to make him cookies regularly and one weekend I made these and I made them big as recommended. He loved them! Later I asked my Mom if she’d tried them and she said she only got a couple. Apparently, he ate all of them in just a couple days! I’m making them again for him this weekend! His disease is stealing him away bit by bit and sometimes I’m not sure he even remembers I’m his daughter when I first arrive, but I can tell you these cookies sure brought him joy and in turn gave me another sweet memory to tuck away. Thank you.
Cindy says
Wonderful story of your love for your Father and Mother. Blessings to you all!
Ross says
I have been accused of bringing store bought cookies when using this recipe 🙂
Karrie says
Hahaha!!!