For those of you who have been asking, here is my classic, no-secret-ingredient-required chocolate chip cookie recipe! It is soft, chewy, with slightly crisped edges, buttery, loaded with chocolate chips and tweaked to be superior in texture and flavor to every chocolate chip cookie out there (except one…)!
I originally shared this recipe for perfect chocolate chip cookies over on Spend with Pennies!
Well here I am again with another confusingly named chocolate chip cookie recipe. The second-best? Who wants to make the second-best cookie?
If you’ve tried my “Worst” Chocolate Chip Cookies, you already know that cookies don’t get better than that one. There’s a reason my video for that recipe has been viewed over 8 million times and I get dozens of e-mails and comments a day about it.
There’s simply no substitute for the worst, and since there’s not a cookie out there better (worse? I’m starting to confuse myself here) than that one, I never thought I’d share another chocolate chip cookie recipe here.
But I get a lot of e-mails from those of you who don’t have maple syrup on hand, those of you who want to leave it out for one reason or another (oh, please don’t!) and I finally decided that instead of sending people off to Google different chocolate chip cookies or stick to the back of the Tollhouse bag, I’d offer an alternative.
This is that alternative, and while every time I make a batch of these chocolate chip cookies they are devoured and they will definitely be a fast favorite and beloved by everyone who tries them, Im going to be honest and tell you that I still prefer the Worst Cookies.
But if you can’t make them, why not go for the second-best, right? I promise that these are a worthy substitute.
Tips for Making These Chocolate Chip Cookies:
- Melt the butter. As with the “Worst”, these cookies use melted butter. A lot of people (people who had not yet tried the recipe) have since argued with me that you *shouldn’t* use melted butter in cookies and I so strongly disagree. It gives these cookies a great buttery flavor throughout. It makes them nice and chewy. Melt the butter 😉
- But, let it cool, too. Let your butter cool for at least 10 minutes. If your butter is scorching hot, it will melt your sugars and you’ll end up with a soupy mess rather than cookie dough.
- Chill the dough. Because of the melted butter and the general consistency of the dough, the cookie dough will need to chill for at least 30 minutes before baking.
Can I Freeze this Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough to Bake Later?
- Yes. You will still want to chill the dough for 30 minutes to make it easier to portion, first. I recommend scooping the dough, wrapping each dough-ball in cling wrap, and then placing all wrapped dough portions in a large Ziploc bag and freezing. The cookies can be baked from frozen, they may just need an additional minute or two of baking.
So that’s how to make these “second-best” chocolate chip cookies. Don’t get me wrong with the label, these cookies are definitely worth your time and I wouldn’t be sharing them if I didn’t think you would absolutely love them (just check out the rave reviews they’ve received over on Spend with Pennies website!! — link just below the first photo)
They’ll still shrink your jeans. They’ll still consume your thoughts. They probably won’t steal your boyfriend but they will definitely flirt with him, like a lot.
Enjoy!
The Second-Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter melted and cooled at least 10 minutes (226g)
- 1 ¼ cup brown sugar tightly packed (250g)
- ½ cup sugar (100g)
- 1 large egg + 1 yolks room temperature preferred*
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour (350g)
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 ¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips plus additional for tops, optional (300g + additional)
Instructions
- Combine melted butter and sugars in a large bowl. Stir very well.
- Add egg and egg yolk, stir well.
- Stir in vanilla extract. Set aside.
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually add flour mixture to wet ingredients — stir well so that all the flour is absorbed.
- Stir in chocolate chips.
- Place dough in refrigerator and chill for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350F (177C) and prepare cookie sheets by lining with parchment paper.
- Scoop dough by rounded 1 ½ Tablespoon onto prepared cookie sheets, placing at least 2″ apart.
- Bake on 350F (177C) for 11 minutes — cookies may still seem slightly soft in the centers, that is OK, they will cook completely on the cookie sheets. Don’t over-bake or your cookies will be too hard.
- If desired, gently press additional chocolate chips into the tops of the warm cookies.
- Allow to cool completely on cookie sheets.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Haley
These are great! I substituted white chocolate chips because my husband was craving cookies and that was all I had around at the moment. Turned out delicious 🙂
Jill
Delicious! I’m making them now and already had 2 maybe 3.
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed them so much! My secret is I don’t count how many I eat that way nobody can judge me!
Diane
Excellent! Got lots of compliments and request for the recipe!
Sam
So happy to hear this! Thank you for trying my recipe, Diane!
Bonnie
I think this recipe might actually be fail proof. I can’t bake cookies to save my life but I followed the recipe exactly, including weighing the ingredients and they were perfect. Crisp on the outside, soft inside, just the right amount of chewiness. I also rotated my cookie sheets halfway through baking, just like The Great British baking show.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Thanks so much for the review, Bonnie! We are so happy the cookies were a success for you 🥰
Morgan
These are AMAZING and can be tweaked anyway you’d like as far as toppings go! So yummy and I highly recommend!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Thanks so much, Morgan! We love them too 🥰
Marianne
Oh my….these are so good! If these are second best I will definitely try your “worst” recipe. These are amazing!
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed these so much, Marianne! Hopefully you don’t hate the others! 😉
Patty
These cookies turned to be the best tasting cookies ever. Easy directions to follow and make. Our family will enjoy them for years to come.
Sam
I’m so glad everyone enjoyed them so much, Patty! 🙂
Donna Steever
One of the best Chocolate chip cookie I’ve made in a long time!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Thanks so much for your review, Donna! We’re so happy you like the cookies 😊
Linda Masilek
Hi, Sam…this is probably the 6th or 7th time we’ve made your wonderful cookies (The Worst Chocolate Chip Cookies!). I’ve been meaning to tell you that I’ve been a cookie baker for over 40 years and have never tasted chocolate chip cookies nearly so delicious? Thank you, Sam, for sharing this and many other really great recipes with us, and all your FANS!
Linda
Sam
Thank you so much, Linda! I’m so glad you enjoy them so much! 🙂
Aliana
I am making those cookies right now. Can’t help and not try the dough first and wow, its yummy. Can’t wait to try it fully cooked.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Sometimes we sneak a bite too 🙃 We hope they taste even better after baking!
Aliana
My whole family loves it. Thank you for sharing your recipes with us. You are amazing😍
Rena Sullivan
Been using this recipe for about 3 years it’s our favorite!
Joyce Wagner
These cookies look beautiful and taste amazing! Recipe is a keeper!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Thanks so much for your kind words, Joyce! Enjoy the cookies ❤️
Jeannie
Loved the taste of these cookies. The dough was stiff and I had to use my hands to drop the cookies onto the pan. Is this normal? Did I leave in fridge too long?
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
It could be that, or you may have a bit too much flour in the dough 🙁
Sam
These might actually be “The Worst”. Amazing chocolate chip cookie recipe. You really should make a YT video for this recipe. It’s FANTASTIC! Simple, easy, beautiful, delicious.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy you loved them, Sam! Thanks for your five star review ❤️
Gigi
These came out yummy & delicious! It’s my new go-to cookie. Thank you for sharing such a great recipe.
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed them so much, Gigi! 🙂
Cassandra
LOVE these cookies. Have made them twice now. Second time I put less flour in the batter. Definitely a good idea and I recommend doing it. The cookies the first time were a little drier and denser. Other than that the recipe is awesome. I bake a lot and come to this site often for recipes 🙂
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed them so much, Cassandra! 🙂
Dawn Krevokuch
Hey Sam
O M G this recipe is simple and oh my SO DELICIOUS! Made 8 dozen today for our grad party. They may not get to the party! This is now my go to recipe my cookies turned out perfect and looked just like your picture. Thank you for sharing this gem
Dawn
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed them so much, Dawn! 🙂