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
- 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 flour properly measured
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 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.
- 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
- 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.Â
- Salt: Or 1/4 teaspoon table salt.Â
- 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.Â
- 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
Catherine Lewis says
I have just made these for my family, and everyone loved them. I added peanut butter chips and chocolate chips with walnuts.
Kate says
I’m so glad that they were a hit!
Nicky Fera says
I made these with my great-grandson. I measured everything out and he added them as needed and then I gave him a scooper and he scooped them all out. These cookies were delicious, he practically ate them all. Next time I make them I will cut back on the chocolate chips to 2/3 of a cup, One cup was too many, they were falling out of the cookies, lol. Seriously, these cookies were so easy to make and delicious. The cookies stayed moist in an airtight container for quite a while. I will be using this recipe from now on
Kate says
I’m glad that you liked the cookies!
Tyler says
Everyone under the roof absolutely loved these cookies and told me to make sure I save this recipe!
Kate says
Thank you! I’m glad that the cookies were a hit!
Barbara says
Excellent chocolate chip cookies
Kate says
Thank you!
Leela says
The most amazing cookies ever, so soft and chewy and easy! I will never use another recipe!!
Kate says
Thank you so much!
Carsen says
I am a new baker and can’t get mine to turn out right. My dough is always sticky and they come out like bready. Any advice or help is appreciated
Kate says
Hi! If you’re a new baker, you may find some useful tips and information in the tips section of the post above the recipe. Are you making any changes to the recipe?
Charlotte says
My 10 year old and her friend made these by themselves, with no help from an adult & they came out perfect!! My husband said that they were the best chocolate chip cookies he’s ever had! Thank you for a simple and delicious recipe.
Kate says
Yay!! I’m so glad that they turned out well!
Carrie Fors says
Great cookies!! And so easy!
Kate says
Thank you so much!
Johanna says
I made these exactly as the recipe says except I used apple sauce to substitute the egg. I ran out. Still, the cookies came out delicious and soft and chewy. A hit with all the family!
Kate says
Thank you! I’m glad that they worked out well for you!
Carolyn says
Delicious!!!!
Kate says
Thank you!
Anna says
I just made these. Easy peasy recipe easy to follow. They are delish!!! Will make these again.
Kate says
Thank you!
Delilah Naranjo says
My family thinks these are the best choc chip cookies I have ever ever made!
Kate says
Yay!! I’m glad that they’re a hit with your family!
Terrisa says
I use this recipe for cookie dough and it’s so easy and super delicious!
Kate says
Thank you!
Marguerite says
Oh my gosh! I’ve never been able to make homemade chocolate chip cookies. This recipe is so easy and versatile and sooo delicious!!
I finally have a favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe! Thank you
Kate says
Thank you so much!
Nat says
I had a late afternoon craving for chocolate chip cookies and googled a quick/easy recipe because I didn’t want to wait for butter to soften. I wasn’t expecting much, just something good enough to curb my craving. My mind is utterly blown at how how easy and DELICIOUS these cookies are! I’d say they are even better than any other chocolate chip cookie recipe I’ve tried!! Thank you for sharing!
Kate says
Thank you so much!!
Sophie says
I used oat flour 1:1 and they turned out fantastic! Will definitely be my go to recipe
Kate says
Thank you for sharing that! It’s great to hear the substitutions that have worked for people!
Cyndi says
I don’t like to bake. My husband wanted cookies. I’m 58 yr old, and baking gives me anxiety. You know, mixing dry and wet, exact measurements, etc… I wish this recipe told me how many dozen this recipe makes. I don’t have a cookie scooper, so I used tablespoon like it suggested. They still seemed too big. Yes, it was easy to make, I wish I had an idea how much I would end up with
Kate says
Hi! On my recipes, the servings are given just above the ingredients and next to the “print” “pin” and “rate” buttons on the recipe card. If you have questions on my recipes, please feel free to ask!
Angela says
Although they took longer than 8 minutes to cook, i loved this recepie. I can’t wait to share these cookies with my family and see what they think.
Kate says
I’m so glad that you liked the cookies!
courtney says
chocolate chip cookies have always been my enemy. even the packs where you just add water i could never get right. but i got these on the FIRST TRY!! thank you!
Kate says
YAY!! I’m so glad that they worked out well for you!
Donna says
This is a fantastic, simple recipe! My 10 year old made these and they turned out great! I’m throwing out all my other chocolate chip cookie recipes. Thank you for sharing!
Kate says
Thank you! I’m so glad to hear that!