Go no further! While many have called these the best chocolate chip cookies, I assure you they are actually the worst, and this recipe might actually ruin your life.
Consider yourself warned.
The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies are the Worst
I can only assume that something must have gone horribly wrong to bring you here today.
Amidst a cherry-picked Pinterest Sea of “perfect chocolate chip cookies”, a Google Forest of the “best chocolate chip cookies”, and dog-eared cookbooks of “award winning” and your family favorites, you have somehow found yourself here, face-to-cookie with the actual worst chocolate chip cookie recipe.
Oh, I know what you’re thinking: It’s just a cookie, right?
I mean, sure, they look innocent enough. Golden with melty chocolate chips, crinkled edges and chewy, melt-in-your-mouth interiors… but one bite and you’re positively ruined for life.
These cookies will consume your life, shrink your jeans, and steal your boyfriend (I wouldn’t put it past them, anyway).
They even contain a secret ingredient.
A Secret Ingredient You’ll Wish You Never Discovered
How obnoxiously cliche, and, even more obnoxiously, intriguing.
I won’t drag it out. The secret ingredient is maple syrup. And sure, pure maple syrup (priced per ounce nearly the same as gold) would work just wonderfully here. But, if you have a sticky bottle of Aunt Jemima in your cabinet (as I happened to when I set out on the unholy quest for a secret ingredient for the worst-but-should-be best chocolate chip cookies), that will work just fine, too.
What kind of self-respecting cookie doesn’t demand purity and quality?
Only the worst kind.
Ingredients (& Secret Ingredients)
I credit (or, rather, blame) this “secret ingredient” for being the greatest offender in this positively worst chocolate chip cookie recipe. It gives the cookies a subtle, caramelized flavor as well as long-lasting chewiness and softness (these cookies stay soft for days, and the cornstarch helps with that as well), and the flavor is other-worldly.
And, while anyone who takes a bite will be able to detect the extra richness of flavor, not a single taste-tester was able to identify exactly what the secret ingredient actually is. Just that they were enjoying “really, really good cookies”.
OK, so what’s so bad about really good chocolate chip cookies?
How about the fact that they will consume you as you consume them? I’m not kidding about them wrecking your relationships.
Mom’s favorite chocolate chip cookie? Ditch it. You will snub your nose at every “favorite” cookie (chocolate chip or not) of the past and struggle to hold back scornful laughs at anyone who comments on their own personal best chocolate chip cookies. Nobody likes a cookie snob, and yet here you are.
Here comes that girl again, the one who’s too good for Chips Ahoy.
A Cookie Recipe for Ruining Your Life
Be prepared for weight gain. It creeps up slowly, the cookies gently embracing you at first, then clinging to your thighs, your stomach, tighter and tighter until yoga pants are your only way out of the house. If you’re worried about your significant other noticing, don’t bother. They don’t notice anything anymore, only whether or not there are more chocolate chip cookies readily available for consumption.
Perhaps worst of all is that this recipe can be made so easily. There’s no stand mixer or even an electric hand-held one required. They can be stirred by hand, dirtying only two bowls.
They do need to chill for at least 30 minutes, which would only serve as a deterrent if 25 of those minutes weren’t spent sneaking copious chunks of cookie dough from the refrigerator.
If you’ve made it this far, I fear it may already be too late for you.
It’s too late for me, sadly, and I’ve made these cookies nearly a dozen times in the past two weeks. I’m swapping gym time for cookie time to keep my refrigerator well-stocked with dough, and the photo shoot for this post took three times as long as it should have because I kept eating the subjects.
If you can, stick to the “best” chocolate chip cookies. Stick to Grandma’s chocolate chip cookie recipe and the old family favorites. Those cookies are safe, your friends, made to be consumed by you.
These cookies will consume you, instead.
Good luck out there. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did you run into cookies that spread all over the baking sheet in the oven? Here are your most likely culprits:
The butter was too hot when you added your sugar, causing the sugar to melt and creating a greasy cookie dough that never stood a chance.
You didn’t add enough flour. If the flour was under-measured, your cookies could spread when baking.
Your baking powder/baking soda was bad. These need to be stored properly and often will expire after 6 months, if yours is old, that could be the problem.
The dough didn’t chill long enough. If your dough is still very sticky after 30 minutes, let it chill longer.
You put your cookie dough on a hot cookie sheet. It actually starts to melt before it can even begin baking.
If your cookies are spreading too much, you can try stirring in a bit more flour or just chilling them (covered) for longer.
It could be that your flour was over-measured. Never scoop your flour directly into your measuring cup, it packs the flour into the cup and you end up with way more than the recipe actually calls for. Instead, use a scale (this is the scale that I use) or use a spoon to pour the flour into your measuring cup and then level off the top with a straightedge (like the back of a knife).
Honey or light or dark corn syrup would work instead of the syrup, just note that the flavor will be slightly different.
Easily one of the most-asked questions that I get, I suspect those who ask this question were merely so distracted by the siren call of these cookies that they were unable to read the blog post. Just know that they would be the best chocolate chip cookies… if they didn’t turn you into a cookie obsessed monster at first bite.
If you’re looking for something a little tamer but still delicious, check out my best chocolate chip cookie recipe, instead.
Let’s bake together! Subscribe to my email list to be notified of all my newest recipes and find my video tutorials on YouTube.
The WORST Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter melted and then cooled until no longer warm to the touch (see note)
- 1 ½ cups (300 g) light brown sugar firmly packed
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature preferred
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup (60 ml) maple syrup²
- 3 ⅓ cups (415 g) all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups (340 g) chocolate chips I used half regular semisweet chips and half mini semisweet chips
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- In a large bowl, stir together melted butter and sugars.1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, 1 ½ cups (300 g) light brown sugar, ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- Add eggs, one at a time, stirring until combined.2 large eggs
- Stir in vanilla extract and maple syrup.1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ cup (60 ml) maple syrup²
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.3 ⅓ cups (415 g) all purpose flour, 2 teaspoons cornstarch, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt
- Gradually add flour mixture to wet ingredients, stirring until completely combined.
- Stir in chocolate chips.2 cups (340 g) chocolate chips
- Cover bowl with clear wrap and allow to chill for at least 30 minutes (chilling!? I told you, this recipe is the worst) and up to 3 days (the cookies look and taste even better after a longer chill. Note the dough will be harder to scoop after a longer chill time, just let it sit at room temperature a bit until it's scoopable)
- While the dough is chilling, preheat oven to 350F (175C) and prepare cookie sheets by lining with parchment paper (if you don’t have parchment paper, you can bake directly on an ungreased cookie sheet).
- Scoop about 2 Tablespoons of cookie dough and roll into balls, making them slightly taller than they are wide. Place them at least 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheet.
- Bake about 13 minutes (cookies will appear to be a bit underdone, but edges should be just beginning to turn golden brown).
- Allow cookies to cool completely on cookie sheet. If desired, gently press a few chocolate chips on top of the warm cookies.
- Keep unbaked cookie dough in fridge while waiting to put the next batch in the oven, and do not place cookie dough on a hot cookie sheet.
Notes
¹Butter
You do not want your butter to be too hot or it may melt the sugar and you’ll have a very runny dough. Best practice would be to cut the butter into about Tablespoon-sized pieces, microwave in 10-second increments (stirring after each) until it is just completely melted, and then allow it to sit for 5 minutes. If your butter is too hot it could make your cookie dough or resulting cookies greasy.²Maple Syrup
I don’t recommend leaving out the maple syrup, it is critical to the flavor and is what makes these truly the “worst” chocolate chip cookies. In a pinch, honey or even corn syrup or golden syrup will work as a substitute to give you the same texture, but the flavor will not be the same. Pure maple syrup and imitation “pancake syrup” both work just fine here, the former lends itself to slightly flatter cookies and the latter to slightly thicker ones.Storing
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. Cookie dough may be chilled, scooped, individually wrapped in plastic wrap and then frozen in an airtight container for up to 6 months.Gluten Free
A number of readers have commented that this recipe works well when substituting the flour 1:1 with Cup4Cup Gluten Free Flour, but I have not tested this myself.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.
Related Cookie Recipes That are Also Pretty Terrible But Not As Bad:
I originally published my chocolate chip cookie recipe on 3/21/16. I have since updated it to include new photos and a video, but the recipe has remained unchanged.
Anna
Do you think I could add a little cream of tartar to the dough to give it more crinkly tops?
Sam
Hmm, that’s an interesting thought… I’m honestly not entirely sure how that would work, if you try it out I’d love to know how it works for you!
Clarissa
I’ve made these cookies 3 times now and they are absolutely delicious! My husband is my taste tester the first time i made them he said these are no good you don’t want any of this, that’s his way of trying to keep whatever I’ve made all to himself, lol
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoyed them so much, Clarissa! 🙂
Cassy
Hi, When you say light brown sugar do you mean brilliant yellow sugar or just normal brown sugar?
Thanks!
Sam
Hi Cassy! I have honestly never even heard of brilliant yellow sugar. From some research it appears as though it is the same things as light brown sugar here in the U.S (Although I could be mistaken). Brown sugar a sugar with molasses added to it. Enjoy! 🙂
Julie
These are AMAZING!! I have had to limit how often I make them because, since they’ve become a staple in my house during the pandemic, we are all gaining the “Covid-19!” These are hands down the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever tasted. Thank you, Sam!!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed them so much, Julie! 🙂
Rita Brown
I have looked for and tried many recipes for chocolate chip cookies and I have finally found it. This is the best chocolate chip cookie I have ever had & my family agrees!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed them so much, Rita! 🙂
Rebecca Hernandez
These cookies were the BEST I ever had!! My Family loved them! I also have tried your blueberry pie, and it was amazing! Especially your crust! So glad I came across your web page! Thank you for sharing these delicious recipes! Can’t wait to try the others!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed it so much, Rebecca! I hope you love everything you try! 🙂
Sandy
These are the BEST chocolate chip cookies I have ever had. I use half dark chocolate chips and half semi sweet! I had made them a few times in the past couple of weeks! They just don’t last! Making more in the morning! Thanks for this amazing recipe!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed the cookies so much, Sandy! 🙂
Becca
Can you keep keep the dough refrigerated or frozen for a time?
Sam
Hi Becca! It will be good in the refrigerator for about a week. If you need to keep it any longer than that I would scoop individual dough balls and wrap them in saran wrap and store in a freezer bag. They will take an extra minute or two to bake from frozen. 🙂
Ruth H
I don’t have any cornstarch at hand. Would it ruin the recipe if left out?
Sam
Hi Ruth! Replace the cornstarch with flour. The cookies won’t be quite as chewy and tender but they will still be delicious. 🙂
Lena A
I just made your brown butter chocolate chip cookie recipe and happened to stumble upon this one tonight., I was wondering if this is as good as that recipe I loved it!
Sam
Hi Lena! This one is my all-time favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, I’d love to know which one you like best if you try this one, too! 🙂
Michele
Can confirm these cookies are the worst. I don’t want to eat anymore and yet, here I am having “just one more”. My son put one on his dinner plate in lieu of vegetables and said “It’s just gotta be that way sometimes.”
To paraphrase Jeff Goldblum, I was so busy wondering if I can, that I didn’t ask if I should.
I guess I’m making these cookies forever.
Sam
🤣 That is some innovative thinking by your son! I can’t believe I haven’t thought of this myself. I am so glad everyone enjoyed them so much. 🙂
Dhivya
The cookies turned out great. You had explained the recipe really well. I might reduce the amount of sugar next time, as it was a little too sweet for my taste. Thank you 🙂
Sam
I am glad you enjoyed them overall, Dhivya! 🙂
Caroline
These cookies are definitely the best. My sister and I make these at least once a week! We usually brown the butter and add a bit of cinnamon for an extra nutty flavor 🙂
Sam
I’m so happy to hear you love them so much, Caroline!! Thank you for commenting 🙂
Suzanne MacMichael
This IS hands down the BEST chocolate chip recipe EVER! As my husband is a dark chocolate fan I made it with dark chocolate. Additionally as I peered into my pantry I discovered I only had 1/2 of the light brown sugar so I ended up 1/2 light 1/2 dark brown sugar. I will try all light next time to see if that is even better although we are hooked on these cookies! Thank you for sharing such an awesome treat! Tip to anyone making this, the butter melting/cooling is 100% REQUIRED! Cool the butter before you introduce it to the sugar. The sugar MUST remain crystallized do NOT add the butter too soon, you will be sad. Again, what an awesome recipe!
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoyed them so much, Suzanne! 🙂
Terri
Made the worst c.c.c.’s. Loved them. Followed the recipe exactly. Will be making again (tomorrow) this time with less salt adding pecans. (Sorry have a hugh bag must get rid of).
I never “tweak”a recipe until I try the original.
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed them so much, Terri! 🙂