Our Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes and Tips for the Perfect Cookie

How to Make the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies are one of our go-to bakes. Our Test Kitchen regularly whips up these big and buttery cookies (and they are an office favorite!). But there are lots of ways for you to create your version of a great cookie at home.

Customize the Recipe to Suit You

Some folks prefer crispy cookies and others like chewy ones. No matter what type you prefer, the good news is that you can customize any chocolate chip cookie recipe to suit your tastes. By altering the proportions of sugar, flour, baking soda and butter, you can totally change the texture and taste of this basic cookie.

Don’t be afraid to mix up batch after batch experimenting with the ingredients and ratios. We’ve all made plenty of batches in search of the perfect cookie and even the imperfect batches are delicious.

Use Quality Chocolate

Chocolate chips are the star of the show, so be sure that you’re choosing chocolate you really enjoy—not just one that’s on sale. If you’re not sure where to start, check out the best chocolate chips according to the Taste of Home Test Kitchen.

Don’t Skimp on the Vanilla

While chocolate is the headliner of any chocolate chip cookie recipe, don’t underestimate what an important role vanilla extract plays. Vanilla gives these cookies more flavor and accentuates the taste of the chocolate. Make sure you’re reaching for the best vanilla extract so your cookies are the very best. You can also use vanilla bean paste; use the same amount as you would extract.

Toast the Nuts

If you enjoy stirring chopped walnuts or pecans into your cookie dough, don’t add them straight from the package. Instead, toast them first. This step takes only a few minutes and pays dividends in flavor and texture.

Toasting nuts for just a few minutes—you can do this in a pan on the stove or in the oven—releases a bit of oil from the nut which develops the flavor, gives the ingredient a delicious aroma and provides added crunch.

Try More Than Chips

Yes, chocolate chips are essential to this cookie, but you can go beyond just chips. To add texture, consider adding in chopped chocolate as well. The chopped chocolate bits melt into the cookie dough making little puddles of delicious cocoa flavor while the chips stay whole for bigger chunks of chocolate taste.

And if you really want to level-up, use one type of chip and a different type of chocolate bar for some great contrasting flavors.

Cream the Ingredients for 5 Minutes (or More!)

Creaming butter and sugar together—the first step of any chocolate chip cookie recipe—incorporates air into the dough and helps to dissolve the sugar crystals. This helps to create a lighter, more tender cookie. For best results, cream the butter and sugar with a stand mixer or hand mixer for five to seven minutes.

But Don’t Overmix

While you can beat your sugar, eggs and butter as long as you like, be sure not to overmix your cookie dough once you add the flour. Overworking the dough at this stage can make your cookies tough. Instead, mix until just combined, then mix in the chips by hand.

Experiment with Mix-Ins

Who said chocolate chip cookies could only have chocolate? This drop cookie is a wonderful canvas for all sorts of additions including flavored baking chips, nuts, dried fruit, sprinkles and so much more (monster cookies, anyone?).

Infuse the Nuts

We bet this is a new technique for most home bakers! Taste of Home Books Editor Hazel Wheaton swears by this trick. To infuse nuts, pop them in an airtight container with the spices of your choosing. Hazel suggests cinnamon, cardamom or other holiday spices. This will infuse your treats with a slightly aromatic flavor that will have friends asking what your secret is.

Add Some Espresso

Your favorite chocolate cake recipe might call for coffee or espresso. That’s because coffee makes chocolate desserts taste even more chocolaty. So why not add a bit of espresso powder to your chocolate chip cookie recipe? A teaspoon of this ingredient will do a lot to amplify the chocolate without making your cookies taste like a coffee shop.

Chill the Dough

If your go-to cookie recipe tends to spread more than you like, producing flat cookies, try this: chill the cookie dough!

Chilling cookie dough allows the fat inside the dough to firm up a bit which can help prevent the dreaded spread. It also let’s some of the moisture evaporate from the dough, producing more concentrated flavors. You can use this technique with all kinds of cookies—though chocolate chippers and shortbread really benefit from this step.

Use a Cookie Scoop

When it comes to baking drop cookies of any kind, a good cookie scoop is going to be your best friend. This gadget helps you create perfectly portioned cookies and keeps your hands clean.

If you make cookies often, our Test Kitchen suggests grabbing a small scoop and a large cookie scoop. You’ll want both handy. The larger scoop is perfect for these Big & Buttery Chocolate Chip Cookies, and small ones work for dainty cookies like tea cakes.

Make the Perfect Shape

Even with a cookie scoop, chocolate chip cookies can sometimes come out of the oven looking a little misshapen. Of course, that’s not a big deal because they will still taste delicious.

But if you’re looking to give your cookies that perfect round shape, you need one tool: a biscuit cutter. By swirling the cookie around inside, you help smooth out any irregular edges. This is great if you’re planning to make homemade ice cream sandwiches, looking to package them up neatly or just trying to impress the new neighbors. This quick trick gives the cookies a bit of professional polish.

Keep Cookies Soft

If you’re a fan of soft, chewy cookies, you know the disappointment that comes with opening up the cookie jar only to find that your latest batch is now crunchy. As disheartening as this can be, know that there is such an easy solution: a slice of bread.

Pop a slice of bread into an airtight container along with your too-crisp cookies, and it will soften the cookies right up. The cookies will take in the moisture from the bread, making them chewy again. Just be sure to use plain white or wheat bread (you don’t want your sweet treats absorbing strong flavors from a slice of rye or pumpernickel).

The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie

Everyone has a favorite type of chocolate chip cookie—a little crispy, a little chewy—but they all have to begin with a basic chocolate chip cookie recipe. This is the best place to start! —Megumi Garcia, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Big & Buttery Chocolate Chip Cookies

Our version of the classic cookie is based on a recipe from a California bakery called Hungry Bear. The chocolate chip cookie is big, thick and chewy—perfect for dunking. —Irene Yeh, Mequon, Wisconsin

Chocolate Malted Cookies

These cookies are the next best thing to a good old-fashioned malted milk. With malted milk powder, chocolate syrup, and chocolate chips and chunks, these are the best cookies I've ever tasted…and with six kids, I've made a lot of cookies over the years! —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Everyone who has tried these cookies says they're the best they've ever eaten. I'm sure the addition of pudding mix makes all the difference.

Cookie Brittle

This recipe from Shauna Sever’s Midwest Made has the components of a chocolate chip cookie—butter, sugar, vanilla, chocolate—but without the hassle of scooping cookies and swapping trays in and out of the oven. Best yet: This cookie pieces taste just as good as the real deal. —Lisa Kaminski, Taste of Home Editor

Go to Recipe

Super Chunky Cookies

Chocolate lovers will go crazy over these cookies that feature loads of chocolate! When friends ask me to make "those cookies," I know exactly what recipe they mean. —Rebecca Jendry, Spring Branch, Texas

Chippy Peanut Butter Cookies

"Hey, these are good!" is the surprised remark I hear when I bake these for the family. As simple as it may seem, all I do is follow directions. This works exceptionally well when it comes to making cookies. —Ian Badeer, Hickman, Nebraska

Wyoming Cowboy Cookies

These cookies are very popular here in Wyoming. Mix up a batch for your crew and see why! —Patsy Steenbock, Shoshoni, Wyoming

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies

Here's a different version of a traditional recipe. I love these soft peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. — Clarice Schweitzer, Sun City, Arizona

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Crazy about chocolate chips? This chewy, oatmeal chocolate chip cookie has plenty, not to mention lots of heart-healthy oatmeal. The gang’ll come back for seconds so this big batch recipe is perfect. This is the best 'oat choc chip cookies recipe' you'll ever taste! —Diane Neth, Menno, South Dakota

Mini Chocolate Chip Sandwich Cookies

I love baking cookies to give as gifts to my family and friends. I created this recipe for my annual holiday cookie platter and it received rave reviews from both children and adults. If the buttercream doesn't come together after all of the butter has been incorporated, add some shortening one tablespoon at a time until the mixture starts to transform. —Julie Thomas, Saukville, Wisconsin

Pan-Bang Chocolate Chip Cookies

This cookie, created by Sarah Kieffer of the Vanilla Bean Blog, takes chocolate chip cookies to a new level by literally banging the cookie sheet in the oven to create ripply, crispy chocolate chippers. When I saw this fresh take, I knew that I had to try it for myself. —Lisa Kaminski, Taste of Home Editor

Go to Recipe

Norwegian Chocolate Chip Cookies

My best friend, Amber, taught me how to make this classic Norwegian dessert. They are a great mash-up of a sugar and chocolate chip cookie. A pizza cutter is the best tool for cutting into slices after baking. —Bonnie Brien, Surprise, Arizona

Chocolate Chip Sprinkle Cookies

Whenever I used to make cookies, my three boys would always find something they didn't like about them. After some trial and error, I finally came up with a cookie they all enjoyed. —Heidi Cretens, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Oat-Rageous Chocolate Chip Cookies

My aunt gave me this recipe, and my family thinks these cookies are delicious. We enjoy all different kinds of cookies, and with this recipe, we can combine three of our favorite kinds—oatmeal, peanut butter and chocolate chip—in one! —Jaymie Noble, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Cherry-Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

My kids love making these home-style cookies. They're so wonderful when warm. —Jaye Beeler, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Orange-Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Cookies

I developed this recipe after years of searching for a chocolate chip cookie that would stand out from all others. Orange and cinnamon are tasty additions. —Daniel Kaepp, Coldwater, Michigan

Chocolate Chip Mandelbrot Cookies

Mandelbrot in Yiddish literally means "almond bread." The twice-baked cookie made with oil and almonds dates back to 19th century Eastern Europe. There are many variations made of different dried fruits and nuts. My chocolate chip version is more modern-American. —Kimberly Scott, Kosciusko, Mississippi

Air-Fryer Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

I am crazy about chocolate chips, and this chewy cookie has enough to satisfy me. My husband and kids love these cookies. This big batch is perfect for our family. —Diane Neth, Menno, South Dakota

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

As a competitive figure skater, I need high-energy snacks to keep me going. These cookies are loaded with nuts, chips and fabulous flavor. Coaches at my skating rink are always sneaking two or three when I bring them in! —Cassandra Brzycki, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

Macadamia Nut Cookies

These rich cookies are full of Hawaiian macadamia nuts and chocolate chips. —Mary Gaylord, Balsam Lake, Wisconsin

Cinnamon White & Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies

I wanted to put a spin on the traditional chocolate chip cookie, and who doesn't love cinnamon? Depending on what you use to drop your cookies, the serving quantity may change. —Cassie Colosimo, Reading, Pennsylvania