Soft And Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Last Updated on October 2, 2025 by Jamie Saechao
These soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies are a classic cookie that every family needs in their cookie jar!
These homemade cookies are based on an old-fashioned chocolate chip cookie recipe. They feature a chewy texture, loads of chocolate chips, and a sweet vanilla flavor with just a hint of salt.
In my humble opinion, this old-fashioned chocolate chip cookie recipe will give you the best cookies you can find! Just like our family, you’ll return to this recipe over and over again for soft, chewy, irresistible cookies.
Why You’ll Love Them
- Soft: These golden brown cookies are firm on the outside with soft centers.
- Flavorful: Classic ingredients like pure vanilla extract and semi sweet chocolate chips.
- Easy: No special ingredients required and you can use a stand mixer or a simple wooden spoon to mix the dough!
- Flexible: Add in dark chocolate chips, m and m’s, or pecans to spice up these soft chocolate chip cookies.
The best part? They are easy to whip up and kid-friendly: perfect for teaching baking skills to your children.
For more easy cookie recipes try my snickerdoodles, thumbprint cookies, double chocolate sourdough cookies, or famous sourdough cookies.
*This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Ingredients + Notes
Ingredients:
- Flour
- Baking Powder + Baking Soda
- Salt
- Eggs
- Vanilla
- Light brown sugar + White Sugar
- Room temperature butter
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: We use one cup of mini chocolate chips and one cup of regular chocolate chips for added texture.
- Finishing Sea Salt: We love sprinkling these cookies with finishing sea salt as soon as they come out of the oven.
I use unsalted butter. If you only have salted you can omit the salt in the recipe (if desired). I tend to like a bit of saltiness to my cookies.
How To Measure Flour
Instead of dipping your measuring cup into the flour, scoop the flour with a spoon or pour into into the cup instead. Gently scoop it in, then use the back of a knife to level it off.
This will prevent your flour from compacting when scooping it, keeping your cookies fluffy and soft.
How To Make Soft + Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 1: First, mix all the dry ingredients into a large bowl and whisk well.
Step 2: In a separate medium bowl, add the two sugars and butter. Cream together with a hand mixer or a stand mixer.
Step 3: Add the eggs one at time, beating well each time. Add the vanilla and mix well.
Step 4: Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients a little bit at a time, mixing well in between each addition.
Here is a photo of the perfect dough:
Step 5: Add in two cups of chocolate chips and stir until just combined. My kids like to fight over this job. Isn’t the dough pretty?
Step 6: Use a cookie scoop to drop the cookie dough into even shapes on the prepared baking sheets, about two inches apart.
We use this cookie dough scoop for perfectly shaped cookies that bake evenly.
Step 7:
Depending on your specific oven temperature, these cookies will need to bake for 8-10 minutes. Remove the cookies from the oven when they look almost done but are still just a little doughy in the middle.
Let them cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Tips For Soft Cookies
For a perfect chewy cookie, take them out of the oven a little bit early to get that extra soft texture. The edges may start to lightly brown, but the cookie should not be fully baked.
When the pan is out of the oven, sprinkle the cookies with finishing salt. This step is optional, but we think sea salt makes these cookies taste magically gourmet and oh-so-delicious!
Recipe Tips
- For soft cookies, don’t over bake. Remove the cookies when they are still soft in the center.
- Substitute dark or milk chocolate chips for semi sweet if the mood strikes!
- Sift ingredients to prevent clumping: especially baking soda and baking powder.
More delicious desserts:
Soft And Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 3 cups flour white
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup light brown sugar lightly packed
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 cup butter softened
- 2.5 tsp vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 2 cup chocolate chips your choice
- 1 tbsp finishing salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 and prepare cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl mix flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.3 cups flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp baking soda
- In a separate bowl, cream together butters and sugar.1 cup light brown sugar, 1 cup butter, 1 cup white sugar
- Add vanilla to butter and sugar and beat well.2.5 tsp vanilla
- And eggs one at a time, then beat until light and fluffy.2 eggs
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients a little bit at a time and mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Dump in the chocolate chips and stir until combined.2 cup chocolate chips
- Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to drop rounded balls of dough onto pan.
- Cook for 8-10 minutes, cookies should look a little underdone when pulled from oven.
- Sprinkle finishing salt on top of cookies and let cool on pan for five minutes.
Notes
- Sift the dry ingredients prior to mixing to remove any clumps.
- Substitute dark or milk chocolate chips if desired.
- For chewy cookies, remove the cookies from the oven when they are still a little soft in the middle. Do not overbake.Â
