If you’re on the hunt for soft, irresistibly chewy cookies loaded with melty chocolate, this Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe delivers everything you crave. With just the right balance of crisp edges and plush centers, these cookies are a dream come true for any cookie lover. Whether you’re baking up a quick weeknight treat or prepping for a special occasion, this recipe uses simple ingredients for maximum flavor and comfort. Let’s dive in and create a batch of these gorgeous homemade cookies that will have everyone reaching for seconds!

Ingredients You’ll Need
What makes the Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe truly shine is the beauty of its pantry staples, each playing a special role in achieving perfect chewiness, flavor, and that golden color. Take a quick look through your kitchen and gather these essentials, plus a few classic flavor boosters for the ultimate batch.
- All-purpose flour: Gives structure to the cookies, helping them hold their shape while staying wonderfully tender inside.
- Baking soda: Adds just enough lift for a soft, chewy bite and balanced spread.
- Salt: Highlights the sweetness and brings out all the subtle flavors in the dough.
- Unsalted butter (softened): The secret to that rich, buttery flavor and luscious chewy texture.
- Granulated sugar: Delivers a hint of crispness to the cookie edges and helps with that beautiful golden finish.
- Packed brown sugar: Provides extra moisture and deep caramel notes for perfect chewiness.
- Large eggs: Binds everything together while adding richness and helping the cookies rise.
- Vanilla extract: The aromatic undertone that gives homemade cookies their signature warmth.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips: Those irresistible chocolate pools and gooey pockets in every single bite.
How to Make Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Baking Sheets
Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lining your baking sheets with parchment paper. This keeps cleanup easy and ensures your cookies bake evenly without sticking.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. This quick step helps evenly distribute the leavening agent so your Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe bakes up with the perfect texture each time.
Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugars
In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the softened butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until the mixture is light and creamy—about 2 minutes. Creaming incorporates air, giving the cookies that lovely lift and inviting chew.
Step 4: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Pour in the vanilla extract and mix again. This is where the cookie dough gets its smooth, luscious base, ready to welcome the dry ingredients.
Step 5: Combine the Wet and Dry Ingredients
Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low just until everything is combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the cookies tough. You want the dough to be just blended and still tender.
Step 6: Stir in the Chocolate Chips
Gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips so they’re scattered throughout the dough. If you’d like, swap a portion of the chips for chocolate chunks or throw in some chopped nuts for extra texture.
Step 7: Scoop and Bake
Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto your prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to give them room to spread. Bake for 9–11 minutes, watching for edges that turn golden while the centers remain slightly soft—this is the secret to the Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe’s heavenly texture.
Step 8: Cool and Enjoy
Once out of the oven, let the cookies rest on the sheets for 2 minutes (they’ll finish baking with the residual heat), then carefully transfer them to wire racks to cool completely. This step locks in their perfect chewiness.
How to Serve Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Garnishes
For an extra-special touch, try sprinkling a pinch of flaky sea salt on the cookies as soon as they come out of the oven. It beautifully highlights the chocolate and adds a sophisticated finish to your Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe.
Side Dishes
Classic sides to serve with these cookies include a tall glass of icy cold milk, a creamy vanilla milkshake, or a piping hot cup of coffee. These cozy pairings make the cookies even more comforting and complete the nostalgic treat experience.
Creative Ways to Present
Get playful by stacking the cookies in a rustic mason jar tied with twine for gifting, or serve them warm and gooey with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream for an unforgettable dessert. If you’re entertaining, arrange them artfully on a tiered tray alongside fresh fruit or caramel sauce for dunking.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep your Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe goodies fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay chewy and delicious for up to five days—although they rarely last that long!
Freezing
You can freeze both the baked cookies and the raw dough! Freeze baked cookies in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container for up to three months. For convenience, scoop unbaked dough onto a tray, freeze until solid, then store the dough balls in a zip-top bag—bake straight from the freezer for fresh cookies any time.
Reheating
To bring back that fresh-from-the-oven warmth and gooeyness, simply pop a cookie in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or warm a batch in a low oven until just heated through. This quick trick revives any day-old or frozen cookies beautifully.
FAQs
How do I make my cookies extra chewy?
For maximum chewiness, chill the dough for at least one hour before baking. The cold dough spreads less in the oven, resulting in cookies with thicker centers and that signature soft, chewy bite.
Can I use different types of chocolate in this Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe?
Absolutely! Swap out some or all of the semi-sweet chips for dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or even white chocolate chips. Mixing in chocolate chunks or bits of your favorite bar can make the cookies extra decadent.
Why did my cookies turn out flat?
Cookies can spread too much if the butter was overly soft or melted, or if you skipped chilling the dough. Make sure your butter is softened but cool, and don’t skimp on chilling if you want puffier, chewier cookies.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes! The dough can be made up to three days ahead of baking and kept well-wrapped in the fridge. Chilled dough not only enhances flavor but also improves the texture for your Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe.
Are there any nut-free substitutions?
This recipe contains no nuts by default, so it’s naturally nut-free. If you want to mix things up, just leave out the optional add-ins or use nut-free chocolate chips for extra safety.
Final Thoughts
There’s a unique magic that happens when you pull a batch of these Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe from the oven: warm, gooey, and loaded with chocolate, they bring out smiles for every age. I hope you feel inspired to whip these up and share the joy. Happy baking, and don’t forget to savor every morsel!
Print
Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 25 minutes (plus optional chilling)
- Yield: About 36 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the classic goodness of homemade Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies. These soft, chewy cookies are loaded with semi-sweet chocolate chips and are perfect for satisfying your sweet cravings.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Mix-Ins:
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare baking sheets: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Prepare dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
- Cream butter and sugars: In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until creamy, about 2 minutes.
- Combine wet ingredients: Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each, then mix in vanilla.
- Mix dry and wet ingredients: Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
- Bake: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart. Bake for 9–11 minutes, or until edges are golden but centers are still soft.
- Cool: Let cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Notes
- For extra chewy cookies, chill dough for at least 1 hour before baking.
- Substitute part of the chocolate chips with chunks or mix in ½ cup chopped nuts for variety.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg