Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies – Soft, Thick & Bakery-Style

---

🎉 Introduction

When it comes to chocolate chip cookies, everyone dreams of the perfect one — soft and chewy in the center, lightly crisp at the edges, buttery, full of warm vanilla flavor, and loaded with melty chocolate. These Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies deliver exactly that. They’re thick, tender, rich, and perfectly balanced in sweetness, with chocolate in every single bite.

This recipe combines all-purpose flour + cake flour to create a cookie that is soft but never cakey, chewy but not dense, and thick without needing to chill the dough (though chilling always makes cookies even better!). The brown sugar adds a caramel warmth, the cornstarch keeps the crumb soft, and the extra egg yolk adds richness and chew.

These are the cookies that feel like home — cozy, nostalgic, and unbelievably delicious.

---

🧰 Equipment Needed

• Mixing bowls
• Hand mixer or whisk
• Rubber spatula
• Measuring cups & spoons
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Cooling rack

---

🛒 Ingredients

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup light brown sugar
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup cake flour
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 cups milk chocolate chips (use less if desired)

---

👩‍🍳 Directions

Step 1:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Line your baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2:
In a bowl, cream the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until smooth, creamy, and fluffy.

Step 3:
Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract. Whisk until fully combined and silky.

Step 4:
In another bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cake flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Step 5:
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Fold gently using a spatula until just combined.
Do not overmix — this keeps cookies soft.

Step 6:
Fold in the chocolate chips, reserving a few to press on top later.

Step 7:
Scoop cookie dough into balls and place on your baking sheet.

Step 8:
Press a few extra chocolate chips on top for a bakery-style look.

Step 9:
Bake for 9–12 minutes, until edges look set but centers still appear soft.

Step 10:
Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.

---

🍽️ Servings & Timing

• Servings: About 16–20 cookies
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Bake Time: 9–12 minutes
• Total Time: ~20 minutes

---

🧊 Storage & Reheating

• Store in an airtight container for 4–5 days.
• Refrigerate dough for up to 3 days to bake later.
• Freeze dough balls for up to 2 months — bake directly from frozen (add 1–2 minutes).
• To rewarm baked cookies, microwave 6–7 seconds for gooey chocolate.

---

🥄 Variations

• Dark Chocolate Lovers: Use dark chocolate chips instead of milk chocolate.
• Salted Cookie: Add flaky sea salt on top right after baking.
• Nutty Bakery Style: Fold in ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans.
• Double Chocolate: Add 2 tablespoons cocoa powder to the dry ingredients.
• Caramel Swirl: Add a few caramel bits for soft caramel pockets.

---

❓ 10 FAQs

1. Do I need cake flour?
   Yes — it helps keep the cookies extra tender.
2. Can I use only all-purpose flour?
   Yes, but cookies will be slightly less soft.
3. Why the extra egg yolk?
   It makes the cookies richer and chewier.
4. Do I need to chill the dough?
   Not required, but chilling 15–30 minutes makes thicker cookies.
5. Can I use salted butter?
   Yes — reduce added salt to ¼ teaspoon.
6. Why are my cookies flat?
   Butter may have been too warm — chill dough briefly next time.
7. Can I reduce the sugar?
   You can reduce 2–3 tablespoons with no problem.
8. Can I add more chocolate?
   Always yes. Always encouraged.
9. Can I make jumbo cookies?
   Yes — just bake an extra 2–4 minutes.
10. How do I get bakery-style cracks?
    Gently tap the pan on the counter right after baking.

---

🏁 Conclusion

These Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies are thick, soft, chewy, melty, and full of comforting sweetness. The perfect balance of textures and flavors makes them a cookie you’ll want to bake again and again — for family, for friends, or simply for your own joyful moment with a warm cookie and a quiet break.

Bake them. Share them. Love them.