Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (2024)

Updated on |By Kate|2,909 Comments

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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.

Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (1)

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

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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.

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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.

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Step 2: Once the butter has melted, whisk in the sugars until well-combined.

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Step 3: Mix in the vanilla extract and the egg.

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Step 4: Add the flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir in just until combined. You don’t want to overmix the dough.

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Step 5: Stir in the chocolate chips, and then scoop the dough. Place about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.

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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.

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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.
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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.

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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!

  • Easy Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you’ve tried this easiest chocolate chip cookie recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who’ve made my recipes!

You cansubscribeto receive my latest recipe newsletters orfollow meonFacebook,InstagramandPinterestfor even more delicious food.

Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (15)

Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (16)

4.97 from 1640 votes

Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe


Author Kate @ I Heart Eating

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 8 minutes minutes

Total Time 18 minutes minutes

Easiest chocolate chip cookie recipe – no mixer, no chilling necessary.

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

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 138kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 109mg | Potassium: 57mg | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 130IU | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

Did You Make This Recipe?

Share it with me on Instagram @i_heart_eating and follow on Youtube @katedean and Pinterest @katedean for more!

Originally published 8/16/16. Adapted from Pinch of Yum.

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Created by Kate

Kate got her first cookbook when she was five years old, and she hasn't stopped cooking since then! Her delicious recipes have been featured on Food Network, MSN, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and more. When she's not cooking or baking, she can be found on her mini farm with her husband and her five kids.

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    Comments & Reviews

  1. Gina says

    Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (17)
    FIVE STARS!! I know it shows only four stars but for some reason it won’t let me give five and I would give 10 if I could. These are the best cookies I’ve ever eaten! I switched the sugars to use more brown sugar to make them softer and I actually used butter because I had it on hand when I usually don’t and they’re phenomenal and I can’t stop eating them! I did learn that using more brown sugar and butter makes them softer so I will remember that for the future. Thank you so much for an awesome recipe although my waist isn’t very happy with me lol

    Reply

    • Kate says

      Thank you so much!!

      Reply

  2. Lindsay says

    Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (18)
    Made this recipe for a cookout this weekend. I didn’t have chocolate chips so I broke up a hersheys bar leftover from s’mores. Added some chopped pecans too. They were the first thing gone!

    Reply

    • Kate says

      I’m glad that the cookies were a hit!

      Reply

  3. Amanda says

    Hi! I’ve made these cookies many times before and they are a huge hit – absolutely delicious. I would like to bake them Sunday but make and freeze the dough in advance. When freezing dough, do you bake them from frozen or let them come to room temperature first? And how long can unbaked cookie dough be stored in the fridge before baking?

    Reply

    • Kate says

      Thank you! When I bake from frozen, I bake the frozen scoops. It usually takes about 3-4 minutes longer to bake from frozen. It’s really best when it’s used within the first 24-28 hours. Hope that helps!

      Reply

      • Amanda says

        It does, thank you!!

        Reply

  4. JT says

    Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (19)
    Made these for the first time the other day after a long spell of not baking anything – and they came out beautifully! I always have an issue of choc chip cookies turning out flat no matter how cold I try to keep the batter or how much I try to whip the butter and sugar so it gets perfectly creamed. I set my temperamental oven a little lower than usual and baked the cookies after leaving them at room temp, and they came out perfectly round (scooped using an ice cream scoop) and very NOT flat. How long has it been While I did bake them until the edges were lightly browned, I did take them out while they were still pretty pale, but once the tops were just barely set (if the top of the dome felt molten and mushy still, they went back in for a few more minutes). Definitely more cakey than the crispy type, and while I personally prefer the crispy kind, these were still very tasty and a hit in my Japanese office. Will be making these again when I get the chance!

    Reply

    • Kate says

      Thank you! I’m glad the cookies turned out well for you!

      Reply

  5. Jan says

    Best ever chocolate chip cookies!! I mean EVER!!! Don’t over bake, they will be white, not browned when they are done. Follow the suggestions re. flour, etc.

    Reply

    • Kate says

      Thank you!

      Reply

  6. Linda says

    Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (20)
    Absolutely Love This recipe 😋 Cookies turned out Great everything I’ve made Them🩷

    Reply

    • Kate says

      Thank you!

      Reply

  7. April Jackson says

    Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (21)
    I love how easy it comes together. Thank you

    Reply

    • Kate says

      Thank you!

      Reply

  8. Zahira says

    Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (22)
    Steps Easy to follow,

    Reply

    • Kate says

      Thank you!

      Reply

  9. Gill says

    Easiest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (23)
    They turn out fabulous every time! Tried different ingredients (today white chocolate and macadamia nuts) and a great hit with family and friends, thank you!

    Reply

    • Kate says

      Thank you!

      Reply

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