Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (2024)

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Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe is a simple chocolate chip cookie recipe that makes super soft chocolate, super yummy chip cookies – no mixer necessary, no chilling needed.

Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (1)

I’ve made a lot of chocolate chip cookies. A lot a lot. Probably more cookies than I should say. Sometimes, I break out my mixer and make a recipe like my brownie cookie recipe that needs time to chill.

Other times, I want cookies five minutes ago. When those cookie cravings hit, I need a simple, easy, go-to cookie that I can whip up in just a few minutes.

This Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe is just such a recipe. The cookies can be made from scratch in less than 20 minutes, and there’s no need to get the mixer out or to chill the dough. All of which make this the simplest chocolate chip cookie recipe.

Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (2)

What Makes This the Simplest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe?

This recipe uses just a few basic ingredients – flour, sugar, baking soda, salt.

Also, it is so fast and so easy – no mixer needed, no chilling required – that the cookies can be mixed up and baked in less than twenty minutes.

How To Make Chocolate Chip Cookies

Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (3)

For this recipe, you’re going to start by melting the butter. The butter shouldn’t be sizzling hot. If you’re not sure how hot is too hot, you’ll want it about 90% melted, and then you’ll whisk it until it finishes melting.

Once the butter has melted, whisk in the sugars until well-combined. Mix in the vanilla extract and egg.

Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (4)

Add the flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir in just until combined. You don’t want to overmix the dough.

Stir in the chocolate chips, and then scoop the dough. Place about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake until the cookies are set on the edges but slightly underdone in the middle, about 7-10 minutes.

Slightly under-baking the cookies helps to keep them soft. Since oven temperatures can vary, you may find that you need to adjust the baking times.

Can I Use an Electric Mixer?

Sure! You can use one if you would prefer. I do recommend mixing in the flour by hand, though, to avoid overmixing the dough.

Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (5)

Tips/FAQ

There are over 1,000 comments and questions on this recipe. I’ve added this section to answer some of the common questions in the hope that it saves people from having to try to sift through all of those comments. If you have a question that isn’t answered below, please feel free to ask!

  • Gluten Free: I haven’t tried it, but I’ve heard from several people who have used a measure-for-measure gluten-free flour in this recipe, and they’ve said that it worked well. However, I haven’t heard from anyone regarding other flours, such as almond flour.
  • Butter: This recipe begins with melted butter. I prefer to use salted butter, but you can use unsalted butter if you prefer.
    • The butter should just barely be melted. That means that it shouldn’t be sizzling hot or browned.
    • If you’re worried about getting it too hot, melt the butter about 90% of the way and then whisk it until it is completely melted.
  • Sugars:This recipe uses both brown sugar and granulated (white sugar). If you would like to use only brown sugar, check out my brown sugar chocolate chip cookie recipe.
    • Using only granulated sugar will give you crispier cookies.
    • For this recipe, you can use either dark or light brown sugar. Dark brown sugar will give you a slightly richer flavor.
  • Measuring Flour: If you aren’t weighing your ingredients, I can’t recommend that enough. If you are using measuring cups, be sure to sift or stir the flour before measuring. Flour packs easily and using too much flour in cookies will give you dry, crumbly dough and cookies that don’t spread.
  • Salt: Kosher salt is a larger-grain salt that isn’t as “salty” as table salt. If you’re using table salt, be sure to use 1/4 teaspoon.
    • Please note the measurements on the salt. I’ve seen people who have commented that the cookies were salty, and it turned out that they had used several times the amount of salt that the recipe calls for.
  • Chocolate Chips: I use semisweet chocolate chips. You can use dark, bittersweet, milk, or white chocolate chips.
    • People have used all sorts of mix-ins, like M&Ms or other candy and chip combinations, in this recipe.

Tips For Making Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

The best way to make soft chocolate chip cookies is to slightly under-bake the cookies. In order to slightly under-bake the cookies, the edges should look set (but not brown).

The center of the cookies should look soft and even a little puffy still. This trick will help to keep your cookies nice and soft.

Kitchen Tools I Use When Making Homemade Cookies

Here are some of my must-have kitchen essentials that help to make this recipe even easier.

Whisk: A good whisk doesn’t have to be expensive, but it’s a kitchen must-have for really combining ingredients like the melted butter and sugars.

Cookie Scoop: I use my cookie scoop so often that I bought a second one. It’s great for scooping cookies, mini muffins, and even meatballs.

Silicone Spatula: A great all-purpose spatula is a must-have. They’re great for incorporating dry ingredients that are harder to whisk in and scraping the bowl.

Kitchen Scale: Using a kitchen scale is easier than measuring with measuring cups. It’s also more accurate! I was a holdout for a long time, but now I love using my kitchen scale.

Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (6)More Easy Cookie Recipes!

  • Chewy Brown Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Thick Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you’ve tried this easiest chocolate chip cookie recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who’ve made my recipes!

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Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (7)

Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (8)

4.97 from 1556 votes

Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe


Author Kate @ I Heart Eating

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Easiest chocolate chip cookie recipe - no mixer, no chilling necessary. Also, check out the video just above the recipe!

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar packed
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour¹
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt2
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 F.

  • Microwave the butter for about 40 seconds. Butter should be completely melted but shouldn't be hot.

  • In a large bowl, mix butter with the sugars until well-combined.

  • Stir in vanilla and egg until incorporated.

  • Add the flour, baking soda, and salt. Please read the recipe note about properly measuring flour.

  • Mix dough until just combined. Dough should be soft and a little sticky but not overly sticky.

  • Stir in chocolate chips.

  • Scoop out 1.5 tablespoons of dough (medium cookie scoop) and place 2 inches apart on baking sheet.

  • Bake for 7-10 minutes, or until cookies are set. They will be puffy and still look a little underbaked in the middle.3

Video

Notes

  1. Be sure to fluff and then scoop and sweep to measure the flour. Too much flour will result in a dry or crumbly cookie. For the ingredient measurements by weight, please click "metric" directly underneath the ingredients.
  2. Or 1/4 teaspoon table salt.
  3. Don't over-bake the cookies, or you won't end up with soft cookies. Several people have said that they've needed to bake the cookies for longer. Since oven temps can vary, I suggest starting with the listed baking time and increasing the time as needed.
  4. If you're interested in the chocolate version of these cookies, you can find that recipe here.
  5. Nutrition facts are estimates.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 138kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 109mg | Potassium: 57mg | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 130IU | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

Did You Make This Recipe?

Share it with me on Instagram @i_heart_eating and follow on Youtube @katedean and Pinterest @katedean for more!

Published 8/16/16. Updated with new photos and tips 10/3/18.

Adapted from Pinch of Yum.

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Created by Kate

Kate got her first cookbook when she was five years old, and she hasn't stopped cooking since then! Her delicious recipes have been featured on Food Network, MSN, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and more. When she's not cooking or baking, she can be found on her mini farm with her husband and her five kids.

Reader Interactions

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    Comments & Reviews

  1. Berta V says

    Great recipe ! This will be my choc chip recipe from now on

    Reply

    • Kate says

      Thanks! I’m glad to hear that!

      Reply

  2. Holly says

    I am challenged with baking and cooking my batter came out runny baked anyway and came out amazing. Tips for next time are appreciated.

    Reply

    • Kate says

      Hi! Did you happen to see the tips in the post? There’s a tips section, and there are also step-by-step photos and a video that both show what the cookies should look like at each step. Also, if you have any specific questions, I’m happy to answer them!

      Reply

  3. eve says

    Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (9)
    My new favourite. I used only 40g of white sugar (because……. i didn’t realise i had ran out……) but it was perfect!!

    Reply

    • Kate says

      Thanks!

      Reply

  4. Amira says

    Quick and very easy to make also as an 11 year old, THANKS! You people should for sure make these and they have barely make you have dirty dishes.

    Reply

    • Kate says

      Thank you!

      Reply

  5. Jennifer says

    Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (10)
    THESE COOKIES ARE SOOO VERY EASY AND GOOD.

    Reply

    • Kate says

      Thank you!

      Reply

  6. Alice says

    I LOVE these cookies! So easy and so yummy! I switch up the recipe a little bit, and do half chocolate chips and half pb chips.

    Reply

    • Kate says

      Thank you!

      Reply

  7. Ashley says

    I had a sweet tooth the other night and decided to Google “simple chocolate chip cookie recipe.” Yours was the first to come up and I’m glad it did! Thank you for sharing it with us! :)

    Reply

    • Kate says

      Thanks! I’m glad you liked the cookies!

      Reply

  8. Yami says

    Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (11)
    Made these for my 4 year old nephew. I needed something quick and easy to make for dessert that he could help make & I found this recipe. Really good! I’d make them again.

    Reply

    • Kate says

      Thank you!

      Reply

  9. Lindsay says

    Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (12)
    I’m not a good baker, and my husband said these were the best cookies! They are so fluffy, and the recipe is so straight forward and easy to follow. Definitely my go-to recipe for chocolate chip cookies now.

    Reply

    • Kate says

      Thank you! I’m glad that they were a hit!

      Reply

  10. Demi says

    Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (13)
    The most delicious cookies ever!!!! I am a chocolate lover so I add an extra quarter cup of chocolate!

    Reply

    • Kate says

      Thank you so much!

      Reply

  11. Bridgette Houchins says

    Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (14)
    Rarely do I leave reviews on recipes, even if I love them, but these are amazing! My 3 year old made them with me, definitely easy and delicious!

    Reply

    • Kate says

      Thank you so much!

      Reply

  12. Zanayjah says

    Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (15)
    My cookies come out PERFECT every time.

    Reply

    • Kate says

      Thank you!

      Reply

« Older Comments

Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are the 4 main ingredient in baking cookies? ›

While there may be countless variations, each cookie at the core has four ingredients – butter, sugar, flour & eggs. The proportions of ingredients and the methods of mixing are what define our cookies. Dough spreads – Inside the hot oven, the butter starts to melt and the dough gradually starts to spread out.

What is the secret to making cookies soft and chewy? ›

Cornstarch helps product soft and thick cookies. Using more brown sugar than white sugar results in a moister, softer cookie. An extra egg yolk increases chewiness. Rolling the cookie dough balls to be tall and lumpy instead of wide and smooth gives the cookies a bakery-style textured thickness.

What makes cookies chewy and not hard? ›

If you enjoy your cookies soft and chewy, chances are likely the recipe contains a common ingredient that serves a very specific purpose. No, it's not granulated sugar, nor the butter. It's not the egg, all-purpose flour, or even the vanilla extract. The simple, yet oh-so-necessary component is cornstarch.

Should I use baking soda or baking powder in cookies? ›

Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

How do I make my cookies chewy instead of crunchy? ›

What ingredients make for a chewy rather than a crunchy cookie? - Quora. Eggs, brown sugar and a fat mix of 50/50 butter and shortening are some of the ingredients that will help make a cookie chewier. Also, fluff the flour with a whisk before measuring it — too much flour will make a cookie dry.

What oven is best for cookies? ›

In contrast, convection ovens have a fan that circulates hot air around the food, resulting in more even cooking and a faster cooking time. This fan also helps to reduce hot spots and promote browning, making it ideal for baking cookies.

Do you flatten cookie dough before baking? ›

Flattening the cookie dough provides more surface area that comes into contact with the ice bath, shortening the time it takes to chill. Then submerge the dough in the ice water and let it chill. After 20 minutes the dough will be completely chilled and ready for baking.

What are 3 factors that contribute to a chewy cookie? ›

The ingredients you use and how you shape your cookies both play an important role in whether your cookies turn out crispy or chewy. The type of flour and sugar you use, if your cookie dough contains eggs, and whether you use melted or softened butter all factor into the crispy-chewy equation, too.

What does brown sugar do in cookies? ›

Brown sugar, meanwhile, is dense and compacts easily, creating fewer air pockets during creaming—that means that there's less opportunity to entrap gas, creating cookies that rise less and spread more. With less moisture escaping via steam, they also stay moist and chewy.

Why do my homemade cookies get so hard? ›

Cookies become hard when the moisture in them evaporates. This can be caused by leaving them out in the air for too long, baking them for too long, or storing them improperly. The lack of moisture makes the cookies hard and dry, which makes them difficult to enjoy.

What is the main ingredient of cookies? ›

Flour is the main ingredient that provides structure in a cookie – without it, there would be no cookie! The gluten in flour forms a web of sorts – the framework that catches the air bubbles/gasses given off during rising.

What are the 4 major baked products? ›

Bread, cookie, muffin, and cake are the most common baked goods.

What are the 4 cookie types? ›

Here are the 4 main types of cookies:
  • Session cookies. These are temporary web cookies that are only present as long as your web browser stays open or your session is active. ...
  • Persistent cookies. ...
  • Third-party cookies. ...
  • First-party cookies. ...
  • User experience. ...
  • Advertising and marketing. ...
  • Analytics and web optimization.
May 22, 2023

What are the most important ingredients in cookies? ›

The foundation of any cookie recipe consists of five types of ingredients: fat, sugar, flour, a rising agent, and a binding agent. Fat is added for flavor and controls how chewy or crunchy the cookie is. More fat = a chewier cookie, less fat = a crunchier cookie.

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