Why are these the best chocolate chip cookies? Keep reading to find out…
The recipe for these chocolate chip cookies originally appeared on my blog in 2012. I am updating the post because they really are the best chocolate chip cookies and I have made hundreds of batches between then and now. Everyone’s version of “the best” can be as different as chocolate and vanilla. Whenever I see a recipe claiming it’s the best I’m skeptical. So why are these the best?
First I found the original recipe in the Better Homes and Gardens annual holiday cookie magazine and they called them “Sweet and Salty Chocolate Almond Chippers”. They have a whole teaspoon of salt in the dough for just 24 cookies. It’s hard to beat sweet and salty as a flavor combination.
Second the dough can be used as a base for numerous chip flavor combinations. Pictured here are dark chocolate chip walnut cookies. I used 1 1/4 cups of Ghirardelli Bittersweet Chocolate Chips plus 1 cup chopped walnuts. Here are some other flavor ideas that are popular with my kids, friends and family…
- milk chocolate chips + Reese’s peanut butter chips
- mini chocolate chips + M&M’s
- semi sweet chocolate chips + sliced almonds
- white chocolate chips + macadamia nuts
- butterscotch chips + toffee bits
You get the idea. These cookies are versatile and bake up perfect every time. And do you want to know the real secret to the best chocolate chip cookies? Under baking the cookies. You want them to look a little gooey in the center when they come out of the oven. They’ll firm up as they cool on the cookie sheets.
Watch how to make The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies:
These cookies also freeze well! Simply allow them to completely cool and then seal them in freezer bags. They’ll keep in the freezer up to one month (if they last that long). Seriously you need to add this cookie recipe to your collection!
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
PIN THIS RECIPE
The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
A full teaspoon of salt in the cookie dough recipe makes all the difference. These are the best chocolate chip cookies!
Servings 24
Calories 102kcal
Ingredients
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter softened
- 1/2 cup granulated (white) sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup walnuts finely chopped
- 1 1/4 cups Ghirardelli bittersweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add the butter, sugar, brown sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda to the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix on low until combined and then beat on medium speed for about 1 minute. Beat in egg and vanilla until smooth. Stop mixer and add the flour, walnuts and bittersweet chocolate chip. Mix on low speed until a cohesive cookie dough forms, about 1 minute.
- Drop dough by a cookie scoop (1 1/2 tablespoons each) onto cookies sheets lined with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Bake for 10 minutes. I rotate the pans front to back and top rack to bottom rack halfway through baking time.
- The cookies should look a bit underdone when you take them out of the oven. They will set up as they cool.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 10 minutes. Remove them to a cooling rack and allow to cool to room temperature.
- Cookies are best eaten within a day or two. Place completely cooled cookies in a freezer bag and freeze for up to one month if desired.
Nutrition
Calories: 102kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 133mg | Potassium: 39mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 100IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg
Mary Paul says
No flour???
Kendra says
Hi! All I have is salted butter. What do you recommend as far as the amount of salt I would add in?
foodtasticmom says
I would decrease the amount of salt to 1/2 teaspoon when using salted butter, instead of the full 1 teaspoon of salt in the original recipe.
Mary Paul says
Sorry I see it now. Too early in the morning, I guess!!!
foodtasticmom says
Yeah, the ingredients are listed in order they are worked with. Glad you saw it at the bottom 🙂 Hope you like them!
Amy says
Best cookies ever! I’ve tried dozens of recipes and this one is by far my favorite! Pretty sure it’s the sea salt instead of regular salt. So yummy! Can’t wait to make them again!
foodtasticmom says
Thanks for the comment Amy! I’m so happy you love the cookies. It was definitely a great recipe find for me and is still my most viewed recipe to date. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
PineappleGirl says
These seem similar to a variety at Trader Joes. I have to try these!!!
foodtasticmom says
I think you’ll love them. Let me know!
Dos Trotamundos says
These are amazing! Thanks!
foodtasticmom says
You are very welcome 🙂
foodtasticmom says
You are welcome!
Lane & Holly @ With Two Spoons says
These look amazing…there can never be too many chocolate chip cookies!
foodtasticmom says
Thank you Lane & Holly 🙂
Kristen (amindfullmom) says
Nothing beats a soft gooey, chocolate filled cookie–these look spectacular!
foodtasticmom says
Yes I totally agree. Thanks Kristen!
patsy henderson says
Sounds yummy
foodtasticmom says
Thank you
Meeta says
So awesome to have a good go to chocolate chip recipe that can be used in a variety of ways. I love the addition of sea salt in my cookies too. Now I need to bake a batch!
Helene says
Wow i really love how the chocolate melts😍😍
These cookies are just perfect
Thanks for such a lovely recipe…
Jacqueline Meldrum says
I’m definitely trying these. They look so good. Thanks for the tip too. I am sharing these.
Tara says
Yum! I can see why these would be the best. So perfect for holiday baking. I would love to try them with some sliced almonds.
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
You can never go wrong with homemade cookies….especially chocolate chip ones!!! These are perfect for dunking in milk…or to have with an afternoon latte.
Cecilia says
Hi, I am hoping that you still have the original recipe for these cookies that you posted so long ago. I recall it being somewhat different than this new one. Silly me didn’t bother to write it down before you updated the post.
foodtasticmom says
Here is the link to the original recipe…
https://www.bhg.com/recipe/cookies/sweet-salty-almond-chocolate-chippers/
In my updated recipe card I subbed walnuts for almonds, there’s a little extra salt and a few more chocolate chips. I think those are the only changes.