THE BEST CHEWY CAFÉ-STYLE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

These cookies are my most popular recipe ever, and for good reason. But I went ahead and messed with them anyway.

After years of making them, I’ve very slightly tweaked the recipe (to be seriously perfect, because I’m obsessive), but the original recipe will be preserved in the notes section for all who prefer it. I’ve also taken new photos and included a how-to video, so if the page looks different to you, don’t worry, you’re still in the right place. And what a delicious place it is.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups + 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon salt*
• 1 ½ sticks (6 oz) butter, melted and cooled
• 1 cup dark brown sugar, lightly packed*
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips, plus more for topping*

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, beat together the cooled melted butter and the sugars with a hand-mixer for about one minute. Then, add in the eggs and vanilla extract. Beat until just combined.
3. Slowly add in the dry ingredients and mix briefly, just until there are no flour clumps left. Fold in the chocolate chips.
4. Cover and refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes to an hour.
5. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and preheat the oven to 350°F, making sure you have the racks in the middle of the oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.*
6. Scoop 1/4 cup of cookie dough at a time and roll into balls. Then, tear the balls in half by pulling gently on both sides. Smush the two halves together again, but this time have the lumpy, torn sides face upward. Place on the prepared baking sheet, making sure the cookies have plenty of space to spread. You should be able to fit 6-8 cookies on each tray.
7. Bake for about 10-14 minutes, rotating half-way through, or until the cookies have spread out and the edges are golden, but the centers of the cookies still look soft and undercooked. Every oven is different, so I recommend starting with just one or two cookies on the tray to see what baking time works best for you!
8. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets until the cookies are firm enough to remove, about 15 minutes. As the cookies are cooling, press additional chocolate chips into the tops for a more bakery-style look.
9. Repeat with remaining batches, until all cookies are baked. Enjoy with a cold glass of milk!

NOTES

Take my advice about the test batch of 1 or 2 cookies. You can have the greatest cookie recipe in the whole world, but the time will vary depending on your oven! The key to perfect cookies is knowing how to adjust for your kitchen, as I mentioned in the post.

* The original version of this recipe called for 1/2 teaspoon of salt rather than 1 teaspoon, light brown sugar rather than dark, and baking at 325°F rather than 350. I’ve found that the results are better and more reliable in the updated version, but feel free to use the old recipe if you prefer.

Original Recipes Visit THE BEST CHEWY CAFÉ-STYLE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES @ hostthetoast.com