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.
- 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?
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Originally published 8/16/16. Adapted from Pinch of Yum.
Reader Interactions
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Comments & Reviews
Rayne says
Me and my family love this recipe it is easy and yummy
Kate says
Thank you!
Ruth says
Easy? Yes! and yes, I did need to increase baking time. A whole 2 minutes. They are delicious! Have book marked this recipe.
Kate says
I’m glad you liked them!
Jeni says
Why are these so much better than other cookies? I made a perfect circle and chilled for 15 mins before baking. These came out very domed and cakey which is exactly the kind of chocolate chip cookie recipe I’ve been searching for! Not overly sweet and just an all around great cookie! I had to add time to mine but that probably had to do with size and shape and the fact I chilled them first. Perfection!
Kate says
Thank you! I’m glad you liked them!
ViennaBaker says
Can’t stop making them! Just pulled another double batch out of the oven ;)
Thank you from Vienna
Kate says
Thank you!
Nafisat says
Omg this is like the best cookies ever i love you all I mean it is really yummmy
Kate says
Thank you!
Laura M says
This is super easy and so delicious. I made mine with Heath pieces because after I made the dough I realized that someone (probably me!) used the chocolate chips. But the dough itself is so good and the cookies are just perfect. Thanks!
Kate says
Thank you!
Emily Nielsen says
I have made chocolate chip cookies a hundred different ways, but this was by far the favorite in my house. Even the teenager begrudgingly admitted they were good. Quick, yummy, and less dishes.
Kate says
Thank you!
A shy one says
Never baked such a great cookie until I found your recipe. This would be the only cookie I would make. I love that they are not too sweet. Everyone enjoyed your cookies. I was just an instrument to pass your recipe. Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Kate says
Thank you!
Penni says
This is a wonderful recipe! I was looking for something quick and still delicious. This was it! My husband, daughter and I all enjoyed these cookies. They aren’t overly sweet, which is perfect for my husband. So, for my extra sweet tooth, after scooping out half the batch, I added in some caramel, sprinkles, and pretzel bits. Then topped with a touch more kosher salt. So good!
Thanks for this easy and delicious recipe!
Kate says
Thank you so much!
Andrew says
Love it even with gluten free flour
Kate says
Thank you!
Yvette says
Good Recipe, add more sugar though.
Kate says
Thanks! You can also use milk chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet chocolate chips for sweeter cookies.
Kristina says
I used amaranth flour & my goodness amazing. I also substituted brown sugar for raw coconut sugar. Soooo yummy
Kate says
Thank you!
MissBakerRori says
BEST COOKIES EVER!!!!!!!! I have tried multiple cookie recipes trying to find the perfect fit for my family and this one comes out AMAZING each time. it’s a must-try and super easy to perfect! a 10000000000/5!!!!!! ❤️🍪
Kate says
Thank you!
Elijah Dahmer says
I found this recipe bcs I’m gonna be making chocolate chip cookies for me and my mum and I’m glad u found this recipe bcs what ever recipe I use the chocolate chip cookies come out heavenly every time
Kate says
Thank you!
Jackie says
5 out of 5 stars! My husband and I loved this recipe and most importantly, we had fun doing this simple but yet best tasting cookie ever.This is my now go-to recipe!
Kate says
Thank you!
BettyBoo says
Super easy and Taste delicious!!!
Kate says
Thank you!
Louise says
As a mother of 4 curious busy and growing kids.
I found this recipe super easy and quick to put together.
All the kids live to come together and through all the ingredients in and whip up this super nice treat.
This last batch was made solely by my 6 year old who will be 7 in a year 20 days time.
She loves the kitchen and inparticular loves to make things for her siblings to enjoy.
She took great pride in making this last batch for her and her older siblings.
A few notes on slight changes to the OP recipe.
We used baking powder instead of baking soda, we also used vegan butter instead of normal butter.
We double the recipe and we get a nice amount of cookies to go around.
We also bake them for 15 minutes
They come out soft chewy and crisp on the exterior.
Absolutely devine.
This is a perfect sweet snack to serve with fresh fruits platter and ice cold lemonade in this hot isreali summer next to the pool.
Many thanks
This recipe will continue down our family line for generations to come.
Kate says
Thank you! I love to hear that!
Leslie says
My cookies turned out fluffy and moist. I really like this recipe, and loved mixing it all in one bowl. Thankyou for sharing this recipe.
Kate says
Thank you!
davyn says
thanks for making the recipe! me and my friends had lost of fun making these and we thought that they were very very very veryyyyyyyyyyyyyy yummy. love you Kate <3
Kate says
Thanks! I’m glad that you had fun with the recipe!
Lizzie says
This is a good easy recipe! Star!
Kate says
Thank you!