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!
If you’ve tried this easiest chocolate chip cookie recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who’ve made my recipes!
You can subscribe to receive my latest recipe newsletters or follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for even more delicious food.
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.
- 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
Did You Make This Recipe?
Share it with me on Instagram @i_heart_eating and follow on Youtube @katedean and Pinterest @katedean for more!
Originally published 8/16/16. Adapted from Pinch of Yum.
Reader Interactions
Love this recipe?
Share your thoughts below and let’s chat! Make sure to connect with me on your favorite social platform below and show me what you made!
Comments & Reviews
Meghaan says
I’ve been using this recipe for 2+ years. It is the simplest and most reliable cookie recipe I’ve ever used. I share it with everyone that asks and they rave as well!
Kate says
Thank you! And thank you for sharing the recipe!
Nellie says
I of course forgot to sift the flower but added a little oil and got the dough to a good consistency. Delicious!!!
Kate says
Thank you!
Denise says
Perfect and easy!
Kate says
Thank you!
Safiya says
I LOVE this recipe! I have been using it for over a month and it fails to make the best treat at every family gathering and birthday party! I will keep using this recipe from now on!
Kate says
Thank you! I’m glad that you like the cookies!
Andrea says
Best chocolate chip cookie I’ve ever made! Thanks for the recipe. We mixed m&ms and the semi sweet chocolate chips and it was the perfect combo.
Kate says
Thank you so much!
Natalie Ligato says
Hello,
Just made these cookies this morning, they were easy and so good!
Can’t wait for the kids to try them! Hope I don’t eat them all before then:)
Thanks for the recipe!
Kate says
Thank you! I’m glad that you liked the cookies!
Lynne says
Very good just the way I like them soft and chewy,,,,yummy
Kate says
Thanks!
Nancy says
After making a very disappointing batch of chocolate chip cookies yesterday, I was ready to give it up. This morning I searched for an easy chocolate chip cookie recipe and yours came up first. I’m glad I tried it, they are perfect. Thank you 😊
Kate says
Thank you! I’m glad that you liked the cookies!
Berta V says
Great recipe ! This will be my choc chip recipe from now on
Kate says
Thanks! I’m glad to hear that!
Holly says
I am challenged with baking and cooking my batter came out runny baked anyway and came out amazing. Tips for next time are appreciated.
Kate says
Hi! Did you happen to see the tips in the post? There’s a tips section, and there are also step-by-step photos and a video that both show what the cookies should look like at each step. Also, if you have any specific questions, I’m happy to answer them!
eve says
My new favourite. I used only 40g of white sugar (because……. i didn’t realise i had ran out……) but it was perfect!!
Kate says
Thanks!
Amira says
Quick and very easy to make also as an 11 year old, THANKS! You people should for sure make these and they have barely make you have dirty dishes.
Kate says
Thank you!
Jennifer says
THESE COOKIES ARE SOOO VERY EASY AND GOOD.
Kate says
Thank you!
Alice says
I LOVE these cookies! So easy and so yummy! I switch up the recipe a little bit, and do half chocolate chips and half pb chips.
Kate says
Thank you!
Ashley says
I had a sweet tooth the other night and decided to Google “simple chocolate chip cookie recipe.” Yours was the first to come up and I’m glad it did! Thank you for sharing it with us! :)
Kate says
Thanks! I’m glad you liked the cookies!
Yami says
Made these for my 4 year old nephew. I needed something quick and easy to make for dessert that he could help make & I found this recipe. Really good! I’d make them again.
Kate says
Thank you!
Lindsay says
I’m not a good baker, and my husband said these were the best cookies! They are so fluffy, and the recipe is so straight forward and easy to follow. Definitely my go-to recipe for chocolate chip cookies now.
Kate says
Thank you! I’m glad that they were a hit!
Demi says
The most delicious cookies ever!!!! I am a chocolate lover so I add an extra quarter cup of chocolate!
Kate says
Thank you so much!
Bridgette Houchins says
Rarely do I leave reviews on recipes, even if I love them, but these are amazing! My 3 year old made them with me, definitely easy and delicious!
Kate says
Thank you so much!
Zanayjah says
My cookies come out PERFECT every time.
Kate says
Thank you!