Skip to content

Forever Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

We’re sharing the secret to these forever chewy chocolate chip cookies – the best cookies you’ll ever taste. Thick, chocolatey, and supremely chewy, they’re unbelievably addicting and worth every bite! 

two hands pulling apart a chewy chocolate chip cookie
Chocolate chip cookies are unbeatable when eaten warm, fresh out of the oven.

Why This Recipe Stands Out

  • Just 8 pantry staple ingredients are all you’ll need. 
  • With no butter melting or dough chilling required, these cookies couldn’t be any easier to make. 
  • Every bite bursts with warm chocolatey goodness.
  • Chewy chocolate cookies are the best for packed lunches, holiday parties, or giving away as gifts
  • Although they disappear almost immediately, these cookies are incredibly soft and chewy and stay that way almost forever 🙂

Simple Ingredients

chocolate chip cookies ingredients including eggs and butter.

Basic items are all you’ll need for this recipe:

  • All-Purpose Flour – To make your cookies gluten-free, swap it out with a 1:1 gluten-free flour alternative.  
  • Baking Soda – This is crucial to achieving tender chewy perfection. 
  • Salt – Used to enhance the natural flavor of the rest of the ingredients. 
  • Salted Butter – Creamed and mixed into the dough for a rich taste.  
  • Sugar – After countless tests, we found that brown sugar works best to lock in moisture and keep your cookies soft. 
  • Eggs – You’ll need one egg and a separate egg yolk to add structure and extra chewiness.
  • Vanilla Extract – If you can, opt for 100% pure vanilla extract to deepen the flavor of the cookies. 
  • Semi-Sweet Chocolate – Use chocolate chips or morsels in the dough and sprinkled on top for a classic taste. 

Optional Mix-Ins 

If you want to add even more flavor and texture to this recipe, you can easily include extra ingredients in the dough. For instance, try incorporating: 

  • Chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts
  • M&Ms
  • Small candy pieces
  • Pieces of chocolate bars
  • Dried fruit  

Tools You’ll Need

There is no fancy equipment needed for these cookies. However, there are a few tools we recommend for successful cookie-making of any kind. They include:

Step-By-Step Instructions

  1. Whisk dry ingredients together in a bowl.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the sliced/cold butter with paddle attachment on medium speed. Add brown sugar and continue beating until smooth, 1 min. Add egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract. Beat on low speed until fully incorporated.
  1. Combine flour mixture and butter mixture on low speed; don’t over mix. Add chocolate chips and mix on low speed just to incorporate. Use rubber spatula to fully scrape down sides/paddle.
  2. Form a large dough ball with hands. If dough is somehow too sticky, cover and chill a bit until dough is manageable, 15-30 minutes. Form 1 1/4 inch dough balls and place 2 inches apart on lined baking sheets. Bake 8-9 minutes or edges are turning golden and cookies are somewhat puffy. Cookies will still seem under-baked, but will set nicely upon cooling.

The Secret to Chewy Cookies

  • Brown Sugar and Egg Yolk: When it comes to cookie making, the key to a chewy texture is largely in the ingredients used. For instance, white sugar has less moisture than brown which would dry out the dough; thus, we use all brown sugar only. In addition, adding one extra egg yolk, without the egg white, increases the moisture content – the extra fat creates a chewier texture. 
  • Don’t Over-Mix: The second largest contributor is the technique used to create and bake the cookies. To begin, you’ll want to mix the ingredients until they are just combined. Over-mixing will activate the gluten, creating a tough texture.
  • Beat Cold Butter Well: Use cold butter, not softened butter – you’ll beat that cold butter all by itself for a whole 2 minutes before adding anything else. Then, you’ll want to make sure your dough is slightly chilled and easy to work with. This helps the fat distribute evenly as it bakes, creating tender layers in the cookies. 
  • Slightly Under-bake: Removing the cookies from the oven just as they turn golden brown allows them to finish baking as they cool and ensures they do not overcook and dry out. Over-baked cookies are a big culprit for dry cookies that lack a chewy texture.
  • Separate the edges. If your cookies accidentally spread into one another while in the oven, use a rubber spatula to gently push the edges of each cookie back to the center while they’re still hot. 
chocolate chip cookies on a plate
Serve your chewy cookies fresh out of the oven, with a glass of cold milk!

How to Store and Freeze Chocolate Chip Cookies

Baked Cookies: It’s almost impossible not to devour these cookies right away. However, if you happen to have leftovers, they can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Or, freeze your baked chewy chocolate chip cookies for up to 3 months. 

Cooke Dough: If you want to prepare the dough in advance, store it covered in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. Or, roll it into balls, and freeze them for up to 3 months. 

Commonly Asked Questions

How do I make chewy cookies?

To make chewy chocolate chip cookies, use very fresh brown sugar and an extra egg yolk in the dough. This will add moisture and chewiness. Also, slightly under bake the cookies, so they are still soft in the center when you take them out of the oven.

How long should I let the dough chill for chewy cookies?

We recommend letting dough chill 15-30 minutes to ensure chewy results. Keep unused portions chilled while you work in batches.

Why do my cookies turn out cakey?

Cookies can turn out cakey if you overmix the dough or use too much leavening agent – baking soda or baking powder. Over-baking can also result in cakey cookies. You’ll also want to chill the dough.

What’s the best way to store chewy cookies?

To keep your chewy chocolate chip cookies fresh, store them in an airtight container at mild room temperature for 2-3 days. If you need to store them for a longer period, consider freezing the cookies in an airtight container.

Can I add nuts or use other kinds of baking chips in these cookies?

Absolutely! Try toasted chopped pecans or walnuts, white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, or M&M’s.

Can I freeze the dough?

This cookie dough freezes extremely well. Wrap dough tightly in plastic wrap and freeze for up to a month. You can also freeze baked cookies.

Also Try Bakery-Style Chocolate Chip Cookies

BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies (Chewy!) 🍪

Did you make this?

Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!

chocolate chip cookies on a white plate

Forever Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

4.97 from 330 ratings
Made with a secret technique, these chewy chocolate chip cookies are the best cookies you’ll ever make. Thick, chocolatey, and supremely chewy, they’re unbelievably addicting and worth every bite!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 23 minutes
Servings: 30
Author: Amy Dong

Ingredients  

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350F with rack on lower middle position. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
  • In a bowl, add flour, baking soda, and salt. Hand-whisk to combine well. Set aside.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the sliced/cold butter with paddle attachment on medium speed, 2 min. Use rubber spatula to scrape down sides of bowl as needed. Add brown sugar and continue beating until smooth, 1 min. Add egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract. Beat on low speed just until mixture is fully incorporated, scraping down sides.
  • Gently add the flour mixture and mix on low speed just until no flour streaks remain and mixture is combined; don't over mix. Add chocolate chips and mix on low speed just to incorporate; again, do not overmix. Use rubber spatula to fully scrape down sides/paddle.
  • Form a large dough ball with hands. If dough is somehow too sticky, cover and chill a bit until dough is manageable, 15-30 minutes. Form 1 1/4 inch dough balls and place 2 inches apart on lined baking sheets, keeping remaining dough chilled while in between batches.
  • Bake 8-9 minutes or edges are turning golden and cookies are somewhat puffy. Cookies will still seem under-baked, but will set nicely upon cooling. Don't over-bake. If desired, gently press in a few extra chocolate chips on tops of hot cookies. Let cookies cool 10 min on baking pan before transferring to wire rack to finish cooling. Cookies must cool to set correctly.

Notes

  • If using unsalted butter, add an additional 1/4 tsp salt.
  • If cookies accidentally spread into one another, use a rubber spatula to gently push edges of each cookie back towards its center, while cookies are hot.
  • Actual bake time will vary depending on temperature of dough and specific ovens. We recommend baking a half-batch of cookies first, to get the timing down, before proceeding with remaining batches. 
  • These cookies keep wonderfully for days when sealed airtight at room temp.
  • Unused cookie dough can be wrapped airtight and frozen for several weeks. Baked cookies can be frozen, too.
  • If dough is very cold, you may need to bake an extra minute.
  • If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating ♡

Nutrition (per serving)

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 114kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 55mg | Potassium: 54mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 114IU | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian
Method: baking

More to Bake and Eat

Add a comment

Recipe Rating




96 comments

    • Diana
    • 5 stars

    My cookies didn’t spread out. I’m not sure why. I will say even though they didn’t come out exactly right, my husband said they were the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever made him! Thanks for the win!

      • Amy Dong

      For better spreading, be sure to measure flour using scoop and level method. So happy yu guys liked these 🙂

    • Jeanette
    • 5 stars

    I’m going to make these today. They look and sound yummy. Can I use semisweet chocolate baking bars? I would break the bar up.

    • Jeanette

    Can I use semisweet chocolate baking bars chopped up, along with chocolate chips? Or just use the chocolate chips? I’m making these today, would like to know? Thank you. I can’t wait they look yummy.

      • Amy Dong

      Yes, you can use both!

    • Beatrice Arreguin
    • 4 stars

    Mine are fluffy and don’t flatten out, I don’t know what I did wrong! I did a double batch. I added 3c flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 1c butter, 1 1/2 c of dark brown sugar ( I didn’t have light), 2 eggs, 2 yolks, , 2 tsp vanilla & the chocolate chips last. I followed the directions & the dough was a little sticky even though I chilled it but I figured I’d try it anyway but it was a mistake ‍♀️. What do you think I should do?

      • Amy Dong

      It should definitely spread out just enough in the oven; the main culprit may be accurate measuring using scoop/level method for flour. In this case, if you have leftover dough already made, you can try flattening the dough balls down a bit prior to baking.

    • Yuna

    Hi! I don’t have a cookie scoop and my parents wouldn’t get me one, saying it’s “unneccessary.” What should I use instead? I’m planning to bake these tomorrow. 🙂

      • Amy Dong

      You can use a spoon and measure about 1.25″ dough balls. 🙂

    • Liz
    • 5 stars

    Thanks for all the tips! My family was thrilled with these chocolate chip cookies!

      • Amy Dong

      Yay, Liz!

    • Liz

    Is it possible to just hand mix? Don’t have a stand or ha d mixer

      • Amy Dong

      Yes, you can hand-mix; it might just take a bit longer. Enjoy!

    • Morgan Brown
    • 5 stars

    Just made this recipe this afternoon because I have one last family Christmas tomorrow. These cookies are to die for! If I could give them 10 stars I would.

      • Amy Dong

      YAY, so happy you guys loved them, Morgan 🙂

    • patti

    I do not have a stand mixer. Can I use a hand mixer instead? My attachments do not include a paddle. Can I use the whisk or regular beaters instead?

      • Amy Dong

      Yes, you can use a hand mixer with beaters 🙂

        • patti

        Thanks for getting back to me so expeditiously! I am out to get ingredients as we speak!

    • Jen

    My cookies didn’t flatten out??? What did I do wrong?

      • Amy Dong

      Jen, my best guess is dry vs. wet ingredients ratio – when scooping flour, use scoop/level method described here.

    • Leyla

    Hey! Can I use sea salt instead? I’m planning on making these today as it’s the only day I have time to bake 😀 Pls respond
    Thanks!

      • Amy Dong

      Absolutely, Leyla! Hope you love it as much as we do!

    • Ciara

    Is the butter amount the same for all three sizes? I noticed it said equivelent to 2 stick on each of them, also if i dont have 2/3 measuring spoons what can that be equivelent to? I was a little confused about the 1.33 and 2/3 tsp part

      • Amy Dong

      For the butter, it is 1/2 cup (or 8 tablespoons). You can use 3/4 tsp for the baking soda.

        • Ciara
        • 5 stars

        Thank you so much! I baked these cookies and they are the best recipe i have found! This will def be my go to for chocolate chip cookies!

          • Amy Dong

          Aww, thank you!

    • Kari Heron | Chef and Steward
    • 5 stars

    This was such an am amazing combination of flavours that I had to come back and tell you how much this recipe was a delight!

      • Amy Dong

      Aww, thank you so much!

    • Ann
    • 5 stars

    Chewy cookies are my husband’s all time favorite! This recipe stood true to it’s name, however “forever” lasted about two days, since we ate them all in that time frame!

      • Amy Dong

      We are the same!

    • Tracy
    • 5 stars

    Forever chewy indeed! Exactly how I like my cookies, these were so so delicious and perfectly chewy!

      • Amy Dong

      Yay, Tracy!

    • Jenny
    • 5 stars

    We love chewy cookies in my house and these look delicious! Can’t wait to make them.

    • Maggie
    • 5 stars

    These are the most amazing and decadent cookies ever. Can’t wait to make again.

      • Amy Dong

      So happy you like them!

    • Luke
    • 5 stars

    These cookies are amazing! They are so chewy and have the perfect chocolate chip-to-cookie ratio. I could eat these all day long!

      • Amy Dong

      Yay, so glad to hear that, Luke!

    • Linds
    • 5 stars

    As a food allergy mom, I am always on the look out for safe homemade recipes for treats for my little guy that outshine the store bought versions. Chocolate chip cookies that stay soft and chewy have always been the elusive leprechaun until now! Thank you for this recipe! My kids love them, and so do hubs and I! I like to scoop them out and freeze them so I can pull out a pan’s worth at a time and bake them as after school snacks or anytime my little food allergy guy needs a special snack at school. Thank you for this awesome recipe!

      • chewoutloud

      You’re so welcome, and glad your family loves these as much as we do!

    • Paula B
    • 5 stars

    One of the best cookies I have ever made (and eaten). They are a pretty cookie, too. Pinning and sharing. ❤️

      • chewoutloud

      So great to hear, Paula! Thanks for sharing 🙂

Get our free email series: 5 Easy Recipes in 30 Minutes or Less

Plus our newest recipes each week