Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe is a one bowl chocolate chip cookie recipe that makes soft chocolate chip cookies in less than 20 minutes- no mixer necessary, no chilling needed.
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.
This popular recipe has been shared over 100,000 times and has thousands of glowing reviews. Give it a try, and it may just be your new go-to easy chocolate chip cookie recipe!
“This was seriously the easiest and most delicious cookie recipe I’ve ever tried! and I’ve tried a lot!!!” – Treasure via Pinterest
What makes this the easiest chocolate chip cookie recipe?
This recipe
- uses just a few basic ingredients like flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.
- is so fast and so easy that you can make it in less than 20 minutes – no mixer needed, no chilling required.
- is a one-bowl recipe so both mixing and cleanup are easier.
Ingredient notes and substitutions
- 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.
- I’ve also swapped the amounts of brown sugar and granulated sugar and used 1/2 cup of brown sugar and 1/4 cup of granulated sugar. The cookies are slightly chewier this way.
- 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 that the recipe calls for 1/2 teaspoon of kosher 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.
How to make easy chocolate chip cookies
This is a seriously simple recipe with just a few steps. Here are step-by-step photos showing how to make this recipe.
Step 1: 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.
Step 2: Once the butter has melted, whisk in the sugars until well-combined.
Step 3: Mix in the vanilla extract and the egg.
Step 4: Add the flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir in just until combined. You don’t want to overmix the dough.
Step 5: Stir in the chocolate chips, and then scoop the dough. Place about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
Step 6: 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.
Recipe Tips!
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!
- Mixing: I recommend mixing the cookie dough by hand to avoid overmixing the dough. However, you can mix the dough using an electric mixer if you prefer.
- 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.
- Freezing: You can freeze the baked cookie dough or freeze the cookie dough.
- Cookies: To freeze the cookies, bake them as-directed, and let them cool to room temperature on a wire cooling rack. Once the cookies have cooled, place them in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 1 month.
- Cookie dough: To freeze the cookie dough, scoop up the cooking dough and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Flash freeze until the dough is frozen through. Once the scoops are frozen through, place the frozen scoops in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 1 month.
How to make 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.
Storage
Store any leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. The cookies are best eaten within 3 days.
More chocolate chip cookie recipes!
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Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar packed
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour properly measured
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 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.½ cup butter, ½ cup granulated sugar, ¼ cup brown sugar
- Stir in vanilla and egg until incorporated.2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1 large egg
- Add the flour, baking soda, and salt. Please read the recipe note about properly measuring flour.1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Mix dough until just combined. Dough should be soft and a little sticky but not overly sticky.
- Stir in chocolate chips.1 cup semisweet 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
- Flour: 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.
- Salt: Or 1/4 teaspoon table salt.
- Baking: 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.
- If you’re interested in the chocolate version of these cookies, you can find that recipe here.
- Nutrition facts are estimates.
Nutrition
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Originally published 8/16/16. Adapted from Pinch of Yum.
Reader Interactions
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Comments & Reviews
Larry says
I just made these cookies, and they’re delicious!
Kate says
Thank you so much!
Supna says
I’ve been trying to find some easy beginner cookies recipes and this was seemed perfect! I bet it would have been wonderful if I knew more about baking and was better at it. I think I made a few mistakes and therefore there not as good. I made them too big and baked them a little too long. Anyone have any tips for beginner bakers? (I’m 12 btw)
Kate says
Absolutely! Did you have any specific questions about baking?
As far as the size goes, I find that it’s easiest to use a cookie scoop because then you get cookies that are the same size, so they bake more evenly that way. To keep your cookies soft, I recommend slightly underbaking the cookies. The edges should be set, and the middles should look slightly underdone (still be a little puffy and look soft). This will help to keep your cookies soft after they’ve cooled.
Nancy says
These are my go-to recipe! Easy to make. I’m too lazy to cream butter, hah. Thanks!
Kate says
I’m glad that the cookies have worked well for you! =)
Diana Lynn Bellas says
very good and easy to make.
Kate says
Thank you!
Alyssa says
I always get a late night urge to bake and this recipe was great! So fluffy and chewy. I used vegan butter and dairy free chocolate chips and they still turned out perfect. Thanks for the easy to follow instructions and delicious cookies
Kate says
Thank you! I’m so glad that they worked out well for you!
Lula says
Hi, do mind to share me the kitchen scale that you use(brand/type)? Thanks!
Kate says
Hi! I have the OXO good grip scale with pull-out display. Mine is several years old, and I think they have a newer model available now.
Julia says
I made these and they came out HUGE and kinda poofy, do you know why? I’m not complaining but I was surprised. These are awesome!!
Kate says
Hi! Did you happen to use a larger amount of dough?
Julia says
I didn’t, I’m almost sure. I’m kinda a perfectionist when it comes to cookies. I revisited this recipe and made some more today, and they came out POOFY, They didn’t grow out, they just kinda grew up.
Julai says
But they really did come out better than last time, so maybe it was just a personal error the first time? I love this recipe, I’ve never had a better cookie than this!:)
Kate says
That can certainly happen! Thank you! I’m glad that it worked out better the second time!
Candace says
I’m about to make these with my four-year-old. I’ll come back with a review! We’re both super excited! ??
Kate says
Yay!! Hope you two enjoyed them!
Sarah says
Just made these cookies and they are delicious :) will make again 10/10
Kate says
Thank you! I’m so glad that you liked them! =)
Betty says
OMG!!! These are the BEST cookies!! Defiantly saving this recipe!! ❤️
Kate says
Thank you!! That’s so great to hear! =)
Kara says
I usually don’t like chocolate chip cookies cooked, but usually cook half for my family, but I really liked these!!!
Kate says
Thank you! I’m so glad that you liked them! =)
Angela says
I have made these several times for my kiddos and neighbors and they disappear every time. Such a great, quick recipe, much appreciated!
Kate says
Thank you! I love to hear that!
Jai says
Great recipe! I have already made these twice. The first time I followed the recipe exactly and they were good but I felt like they were just a tiny bit off somehow. The second time I made them I swapped the measurements for the white sugar and brown sugar (so I did 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/4 cup white sugar) and I think they are perfect now! I love how nice and soft and a little bit chewy they are. This is definitely my go to chocolate chip cookie recipe now. Thanks!
Kate says
Thanks! Glad you liked them!
Leslie says
Perfect on the first time
Kate says
Thank you! I’m so glad to hear that!
Kathy Long says
I am a teen baker and I have baking for years. I have never been able to accomplish chocolate chip cookies, a very simple desert. They seem super simple and easy but a lot of recipes I have tried have failed me. But not this one. This one is amazing! Taste like a bakery made them!!
Kate says
Thank you! That’s so great to hear!!
Oni Montejo says
This recipe is so good and easy to make.
Kate says
Thank you so much!
sharon meinert says
wonderful! Have made these several times. always a favorite!
Kate says
Thank you so much!!
Faeryn says
I absolutely LOVE this recipe! I decided to add candy canes because Christmas is right around the corner! ?
Kate says
Thank you so much!!
Dana Hughes says
I was very pleased with this recipe. My son always wants a pizza sized chocolate chip cookie for his birthday instead of a cake. My husband passed in April and he was our chef. I never have been much on cooking or baking but this recipe was so easy that even I did it right! lol
Kate says
I’m sorry for your loss! I’m glad that the recipe turned out well for you!
Tessa Graves says
The most delicious cookies I’ve ever had in my LIFE. Husband agrees as well. Thank you for your recipe!
Kate says
Thank you so much! I’m so glad that they were a hit! =)