If you’ve ever dreamed of a melt-in-your-mouth, bakery-style treat, these Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies are absolute perfection. Every bite delivers the most delightful combination of rich, buttery flavor and decadent chocolate, all wrapped in a tender, plush crumb. They’re golden around the edges with soft, gooey centers that practically beg for a glass of cold milk. Whether you’re baking for family, friends, or that inevitable cookie craving, this recipe promises irresistible cookies that simply outshine anything store-bought!

Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

The magic of Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies truly lies in using classic, everyday ingredients. Each component plays a key role, from building that signature chew to creating complex flavors—simple, yes, but every bit essential. Here’s exactly what you’ll need (and why!):

Unsalted butter (softened): Softens to blend smoothly, giving the cookies their ultra-tender, rich texture.
Brown sugar (packed): Adds moisture and a deep caramel note for a chewy, flavorful cookie.
Granulated sugar: Brings sweetness and just the right hint of crispness at the edges.
Large egg: Binds everything together and helps the cookies puff up as they bake.
Vanilla extract: Infuses warmth and rounds out the chocolatey, buttery flavors.
All-purpose flour: Forms the base and structure, keeping the cookies sturdy yet soft.
Cornstarch: The secret to a super-soft, melt-in-your-mouth crumb.
Baking soda: Gives just enough lift to keep cookies light, not dense.
Salt: Intensifies all the flavors and balances out the sweetness.
Semisweet chocolate chips: Plenty of chocolate in every bite—classic, gooey, and irresistible!

How to Make Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

Step 1: Preheat and Prepare

Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C)—this ensures even baking from the very start. Take out two baking sheets and line them with parchment paper so your cookies will lift off easily and bake evenly, with no sticking or burnt bottoms.

Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars

In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. This step is vital for achieving the cookies’ signature soft-and-chewy texture, so be sure to mix for a good few minutes until everything looks pale and airy.

Step 3: Add the Egg and Vanilla

Crack in the egg and pour in the vanilla extract. Mix until everything is beautifully combined, creating a creamy base that binds the dough and adds just the right hint of warmth and depth.

Step 4: Combine the Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. The cornstarch is your secret weapon for those pillowy-soft centers—don’t skip it! Make sure these dry ingredients are well blended so the cookies bake up evenly.

Step 5: Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients

Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet, blending gently until just combined. This keeps the dough tender and prevents overmixing, which can make cookies tough instead of soft and dreamy.

Step 6: Fold in the Chocolate Chips

Tip in all those glorious semisweet chocolate chips and gently fold them through the dough. Every scoop should be packed with melty, chocolate-studded goodness in the finished cookies.

Step 7: Scoop and Bake

Use a tablespoon or cookie scoop to portion out generous mounds of dough, then space them about 2 inches apart on your baking sheets. Into the oven they go for 9 to 11 minutes—pull them out when the edges look set but the centers appear just a touch underdone (trust the process, this is what keeps them soft!).

Step 8: Cool

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes; they’ll finish setting up while staying soft inside. After that, move them to a wire rack to cool completely—if you can wait that long. Enjoy every blissful bite of your Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies!

How to Serve Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

Garnishes

For a picture-perfect finish, sprinkle a little flaky sea salt on top just as the cookies come out of the oven. The salt wakes up every chocolatey bite and gives your Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies that irresistible bakery sparkle. A dusting of powdered sugar also adds playful elegance—especially if you’re serving these for a special occasion!

Side Dishes

Nothing complements warm Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies quite like a tall, icy glass of milk. For grown-up gatherings, try pairing them with rich, freshly brewed coffee or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream for cookie sundaes. They also shine alongside a bowl of seasonal berries for a light fruit-and-cookie plate that makes dessert feel extra special.

Creative Ways to Present

Think beyond the cookie jar! Stack them in cellophane bags tied with ribbon for a thoughtful gift, or use a rustic wooden tray lined with parchment for family-style sharing. For party fun, arrange the cookies in a circle surrounding a bowl of whipped cream or chocolate dip, creating an irresistible Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies platter everyone will crowd around.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Keep any remaining Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies fresh for several days by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature. They hold onto their softness best if you pop a slice of bread in with them—the bread adds a touch of moisture while the cookies stay perfectly tender.

Freezing

For fresh-baked deliciousness on demand, freeze the cookie dough in scooped balls on a tray until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. They’ll keep for up to 3 months and can be baked straight from the freezer (add an extra minute or two to the bake time). You can also freeze the baked cookies themselves—just thaw at room temperature whenever a cookie craving strikes!

Reheating

Want to revive that fresh-baked magic? Pop a cookie in the microwave for 8-10 seconds, and it’ll become warm and gooey all over again. If you’re heating a batch, a couple of minutes in a 300°F oven works wonders for that just-out-of-the-oven feel.

FAQs

Why do my Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies come out flat?

Most often, flat cookies happen when butter is too warm or the dough hasn’t been chilled. For thicker, softer cookies, chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking and make sure your butter isn’t melted. Mixing in cornstarch also helps keep them thick and pillowy.

Can I substitute the chocolate chips with something else?

Absolutely! Swap part or all of the chocolate chips for dark, milk, or white chocolate chunks, or fold in toasted pecans, walnuts, or even butterscotch chips. The base is wonderfully versatile for your favorite mix-ins.

How do I know when my cookies are done?

Pull the cookies when the edges look lightly golden and set, but the centers still appear a little soft and underbaked. They’ll continue cooking as they cool, giving you that perfect chewy center every time.

What does cornstarch do in these cookies?

Cornstarch creates incredibly soft, tender cookies by interrupting gluten formation and helping absorb a bit of moisture. It’s the little secret that transforms humble chocolate chip cookies into next-level Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Can I double this recipe?

You sure can! Simply double all the ingredients and bake in multiple batches or freeze extra dough balls for future cookie emergencies. Just keep an eye on the bake time—large batches can take a minute or two longer in the oven.

Final Thoughts

There’s something genuinely magical about pulling a tray of Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies from the oven, warm and fragrant and begging to be devoured. Whether you bake them to share or keep them all to yourself, this recipe always delivers smiles. So go ahead, treat yourself and anyone lucky enough to be nearby—you may never look at store-bought cookies the same way again!

Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

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4.9 from 11 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 24 cookies 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

These Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies are a classic favorite, with a soft and chewy texture that makes them irresistible. Packed with rich chocolate chips and a hint of vanilla, these cookies are perfect for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients:

3/4 cup unsalted butter (softened)
3/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Mix-Ins:

1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

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Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
Stir in Chocolate Chips: Fold in the chocolate chips.
Bake: Scoop the dough into heaping tablespoon-sized balls and place on the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 9–11 minutes, or until edges are set and centers look slightly underbaked.
Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.