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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Comments & Reviews
Jamie B. says
I just made these. They are soooo good! I had the large pampered chef scoop too and I almost didn’t use it because i thought the cookies would be too large. I’m so glad I did! They are large but so beautiful and delish! I didn’t have dark brown sugar but I used light instead. Is there much of a difference? Should I try the dark next time?
Lisa S. says
These are amazing! My husband just LOVES them and refers to them as THE cookies!
Carol Gay says
This is the recipe I have been looking for—–the best!! Thank you?
Layne says
if i use self rising flour do I still need to use the baking soda? Thanks!
Chris says
I have been using the Nestle recipe for years and substituting 2Tbs of pumpkin for each egg and they have been great, but I am interested in trying your recipe with my modification. Thank you for sharing.
Elizabeth says
This is by far the best cookie recipe i have made! Thank you!
Happy.MoneySaver says
I am so happy you like it!
Sharon says
I am a bit old fashioned can you please tell me what a cup measure is in grams or ounces for us English folk who love your recipes thanks
Happy.MoneySaver says
I love it! Use this converter to change it into grams or ounces http://www.traditionaloven.com/tutorials/conversion.html.
Carolyn says
I made these today..added a tsp of almond extract and drizzle a little bit of salt on each cookie before going in to the oven. It was sooo yummy! My kids and other family members loved it… It’s going to dissapear soo. Thanks for this recipe!
Happy.MoneySaver says
Yum! Great addition!
Allie says
Well my last batch is minutes from coming out of the oven and I have to give this recipes a glowing 5 stars! My hubs is a huge fan of the classic chocolate chip cookie and I have been struggling for 3 years trying to find one that really blows him away. Well, I found it! It is chocolate-chip-cookie-snob approved! I followed the recipe to the letter and I can’t imagine it coming out any better. I think I ended up with about 3 tbsp dough per cookie and baked for exactly 14 minutes. This made 30 cookies exactly. This is will definitely be my staple recipe from now on. Thanks for sharing!!!
Happy.MoneySaver says
I am so happy you liked this recipe so much!
Claudia says
WOW!! They are exceptional!! Love the recipe – going into my 5-star recipe collection book.
Happy.MoneySaver says
Claudia, I am so glad you like them! WOW–5 stars! Thanks! 🙂
Melinda says
These are AMAZING! I made them as directed and replaced the chocolate chips with mini chocolate chips and mini m&m’s .. They were outstanding! We also formed half of the cookie dough into balls and put them into the freezer and baked throughout the week as needed. They were just as wonderful as the first ones!
Happy.MoneySaver says
Yum! The mini m&m’s sound amazing!
Natalie says
I FINALLY made these cookies about a month ago. I even bought a large cookie scoop just for them. 🙂 I already had a family favorite chocolate chip recipe, but had been looking for one that would freeze well since there are just three of us at my house. WE LOVE THEM! Finished up the rest of them last Saturday and will definitely be making them again.
Happy.MoneySaver says
I am so glad you liked them! It is definitely worth the large cookie scoop, too!
Rosa says
The best chocolate chip cookie recipe EVER!!
My kids love the cookies so much they couldn’t stop eating it. I made a few changes to the recipe because I didn’t want the cookies to be that sweet: I added 1 cup light brown sugar, 1 cup sugar, 6 oz bag of Tollhouse chocolate chips and 1 cup of butter.
Jenn says
Hello! The first time I made this recipe they were absolutely the perfect milk choco chip cookie! These last two times, both batches were very light & fluffy. I followed the recipe exact. Can someone tell me what I’ve done? They taste good just do not have the density I feel is necessary with a choco chip cookie. Thank you!
Jaime says
This cookies are AMAZING! I made the recipe last night, a little skeptical because I am a diehard Tollhouse cookie devotee, and was totally blown away. This is definitely becoming my new go-to. I didn’t have enough brown sugar, so substituted about 1/2 cup of it for raw sugar with the bigger crystals and it added a really pleasant, subtle crunch to the inside. YUM YUM YUM – thanks for the recipe!
Kristan says
these cookies ROCK!!! I use only two tablespoons of dough and they still come chewy in the middle. Awesome recipe.
Happy.MoneySaver says
Thanks! I am so happy you like them!
Lynne says
Thank you, Karrie! These really are the BEST chocolate chip cookies! I have made these several times, following your recipe exactly, and they have become a favorite. 🙂
Happy.MoneySaver says
I am so glad you like them!
Carrie says
Karrie, these cookies are fabulous! My family loved them. The only question that I have is do you have an equally scrumptious oatmeal and sugar cookie recipe to share with us as well? , If do where do I look for it?
Happy.MoneySaver says
I need to work on those, right? Hopefully soon! 🙂
Marie says
I do a lot of baking, and I absolutely loved your criteria for the perfect chocolate chip cookie !! These are delicious, have a great texture, and they do freeze well. I have a batch in my freezer right now ! I added some toffee chips as well as a teaspoon of Penzey’s baking spice. I made these for Father’s Day & they disappeared in minutes. My new favorite cookie !
Happy.MoneySaver says
Yum! Great addition!
Molly says
Whoa – these really are the best. I bake a ton but have never found my “go-to” chocolate chip cookie recipe… until today. I slightly cut back on the sugar by not packing the brown sugar and only using 1 of the added TBs of white sugar. Otherwise, I followed the recipe.
One note – perhaps the problem some folks were having with flat cookies had to do with the amount of time creaming the butter/sugar? This is the only recipe I’ve ever seen that says to mix them just until blended. Most other cookie recipes require a lot of time creaming – like 5 minutes or so. I creamed the butter alone for about 3 minutes and then added the sugars and let it go at least another 2 more. My cookies were nice and thick – in fact the first thing my husband commented on!
Happy.MoneySaver says
Great idea for those with flat cookies! I am glad you got your go-to!