Irresistibly Easy Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies: Your New Favorite Cookie Recipe
Prepare for a delightful treat that perfectly marries two of the most beloved cookie classics: the crisp, buttery sugar cookie and the undeniably satisfying chocolate chip cookie. These light and airy chocolate chip sugar cookies are speckled with delicious chocolate chips, creating a harmonious blend of textures and flavors that will captivate your taste buds. If your inner cookie monster is constantly on the hunt for a simple yet extraordinary cookie recipe, look no further! This easy-to-follow guide to making the ultimate Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies promises a homemade delight that’s perfect for any occasion, from casual snacking to festive gatherings.
The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies: A Perfect Fusion
As the holiday season draws near, or truly any time you’re craving a comforting homemade dessert, I can’t imagine a better way to celebrate than with this exceptional Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookie recipe. It’s where the timeless elegance of a traditional sugar cookie gracefully meets the universal appeal of the chocolate chip cookie. This isn’t just a cookie; it’s a culinary celebration, offering an impeccable combination of flavors and textures that makes these buttery cookies an ideal treat all year round. Imagine biting into a cookie that’s wonderfully crisp at the edges, delicately soft in the center, and bursting with delightful chocolate morsels. That’s precisely what awaits you with this recipe.
Crafting Perfect Sugar Cookies with Chocolate Chips
What’s not to adore about a cookie that features a generous full stick of butter, yielding an incredibly rich and tender crumb? These buttery sugar cookies are renowned for their light and crisp texture, achieved through classic cookie ingredients such as all-purpose flour, a hint of baking soda, pure vanilla extract, and granulated sugar. While my personal preference leans towards semi-sweet chocolate chips for this classic sugar cookie dough, the beauty of this recipe lies in its versatility. Feel free to unleash your creativity by experimenting with different types of chocolate, or by adding festive mix-ins like colorful M&M’s, seasonal candies, or even crushed candy canes during the holidays. Whatever your preference, these cookies are designed to be easily customizable, making them a joyful baking project for everyone.
For those who have a deep appreciation for the humble sugar cookie, you’ll be thrilled to explore more variations. Be sure to check out these equally delightful recipes: Brown Sugar Cookies for a chewier, richer experience, and Iced Maple Sugar Cookies for a touch of seasonal sweetness and elegant presentation.
Sugar Cookie vs. Chocolate Chip Cookie: Unveiling the Key Differences
You might often find yourself pondering, “What exactly is the distinction between a chocolate chip cookie and a sugar cookie?” It’s a common question, and the answer primarily lies in the type of sugar used, which significantly impacts the cookie’s texture, flavor, and appearance. The main difference is the inclusion of brown sugar in traditional chocolate chip cookies.
Authentic chocolate chip cookies are typically crafted with a combination of both brown sugar and granulated sugar. Brown sugar contains molasses, an ingredient responsible for that characteristic caramel coloring, distinctive rich flavor, and the wonderfully chewy texture that chocolate chip cookies are known for. Molasses also helps retain moisture, contributing to a softer, more pliable cookie.
In stark contrast, a traditional sugar cookie relies solely on granulated (white) sugar. This singular choice of sweetener is what gives sugar cookies their signature light color, delicate sweetness, and crucially, their crispier, snappier texture. Without the moisture-retaining properties of molasses, sugar cookies tend to spread more evenly and become wonderfully brittle once cooled.
Therefore, if you’ve been under the impression that simply removing chocolate chips from a chocolate chip cookie dough magically creates a sugar cookie, it’s time to rethink! The sugar profile is the true game-changer, dictating whether you’ll end up with a chewy, robust treat or a crisp, delicate delight. Our chocolate chip sugar cookies beautifully bridge this gap, offering the best characteristics of both worlds: the light crispness of a sugar cookie base with the comforting addition of melted chocolate.
Essential Ingredients for this Delicious Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookie Recipe
Creating these delightful chocolate chip sugar cookies requires just a handful of common pantry staples. Each ingredient plays a vital role in achieving the perfect balance of flavor and texture. For a comprehensive list of quantities and detailed instructions, please scroll to the bottom of this post for the full printable recipe card.
- All-Purpose Flour: This forms the structural foundation of our cookies. It provides the necessary body and texture, ensuring they hold their shape while remaining tender. For those with dietary restrictions, a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend can be substituted to create equally delicious gluten-free cookies without compromising much on consistency.
- Salt: A crucial, often underestimated ingredient. A small touch of salt isn’t just for seasoning; it significantly enhances the sweetness of the cookies and helps to balance the overall flavor profile, preventing them from tasting overly sugary.
- Unsalted Butter: You’ll need one full stick (or ½ cup) of unsalted butter, softened to room temperature. Softened butter is key for proper creaming with sugar, which incorporates air and creates a light, fluffy dough, contributing to the cookies’ tender crumb and rich, buttery flavor. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the exact amount of salt in the recipe.
- White Granulated Sugar: As discussed, granulated sugar is the star sweetener in sugar cookies. It’s responsible for the distinct crispness and the beautiful light color of these cookies, making them visually appealing and texturally satisfying.
- Egg: A single large egg acts as a binder, holding all the ingredients together and preventing the cookies from becoming crumbly. It also adds richness and moisture, contributing to a more tender and cohesive cookie dough.
- Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract is a powerful flavor enhancer. It deepens the sweetness of both the sugar and the chocolate, adding a warm, aromatic note that is essential for a classic cookie taste. Don’t skimp on good quality vanilla!
- Baking Soda: This leavening agent is vital for giving the cookies a slight lift and contributing to their delicate, crisp texture. It reacts with other ingredients to create air pockets, ensuring the cookies aren’t too dense.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: My personal favorite for these cookies is semi-sweet chocolate, offering a perfect balance of sweetness and rich cocoa flavor. However, feel free to use your preferred type of chocolate. Milk chocolate chips will yield a sweeter cookie, while dark chocolate chips will provide a more intense cocoa experience. Both regular-sized chocolate chips and mini chocolate chips work wonderfully, creating different melting textures throughout the cookie.
Continue reading for more invaluable tips and tricks, potential substitutions, and answers to common questions you might have about baking these truly delicious chocolate chip sugar cookies.
How to Make These Irresistible Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies
These easy chocolate chip sugar cookies are not only simple to prepare but also fantastic make-ahead cookies, freezing exceptionally well. If your to-do list seems never-ending, preparing a batch (or two!) of these cookies in advance can be a lifesaver. Simply double or triple the recipe and stash the dough balls in the freezer until a few hours before you plan to serve them, making spontaneous treats or holiday baking a breeze.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, carefully sift together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Sifting helps to aerate the flour and ensures all ingredients are evenly distributed, leading to a more consistent cookie texture. Set this mixture aside.
- Cream Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar. Beat on medium-high speed until the mixture is light in color and fluffy, typically for 2-3 minutes. This step incorporates air, which is crucial for the cookies’ tenderness.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract, continuing to mix for about 1 minute until well combined and smooth. Ensure there are no lumps of butter remaining.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients and Chocolate Chips: Slowly add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies. Once the flour mixture is mostly incorporated, gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary, ensuring all ingredients are fully mixed without overworking the dough.
- Scoop and Chill the Dough: Using a cookie scoop (approximately 2 tablespoons per scoop), portion out the dough and gently roll it into smooth balls. Place these cookie dough balls onto a plate or a baking tray lined with parchment paper. This chilling step is absolutely crucial for the best results: it prevents the cookies from spreading too much during baking and allows the flavors to meld. Chill the dough for at least 2 hours. For convenience, you can prepare the dough balls up to 3 days in advance; just make sure they are tightly covered with plastic wrap to prevent drying out.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Once your dough is sufficiently chilled, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Parchment paper not only prevents sticking but also aids in even baking and makes cleanup a breeze.
- Bake to Golden Perfection: Place the chilled cookie dough balls evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until the edges are just barely golden brown and the centers still look slightly soft. Remember that cookies continue to cook slightly even after they are removed from the oven.
- Cool Completely: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This initial cooling on the baking sheet helps the cookies set and prevents them from breaking apart.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
These chocolate chip sugar cookies are wonderfully resilient, making them perfect for future enjoyment. Leftover baked cookies will maintain their freshness and delightful texture for up to one week when stored in an airtight container at room temperature on your kitchen counter. To extend their life significantly, you can freeze them for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, simply thaw the frozen cookies at room temperature until they are soft enough to eat. For an even quicker treat, you can also freeze the raw cookie dough balls (unbaked) for up to 3 months. When baking from frozen, you might need to add an extra minute or two to the baking time.
Love It? Pin It!
If you’ve fallen in love with this chocolate chip sugar cookies recipe and want to ensure you never lose it, make sure to save it! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you navigate away. This way, you’ll always have access to this fantastic recipe whenever a cookie craving strikes or you’re planning your next baking adventure!
Expert Tips & Tricks for Perfect Cookies
Achieving bakery-quality chocolate chip sugar cookies at home is easier than you think with these expert tips:
- Room Temperature Ingredients are Key: Always bring your refrigerated ingredients, especially butter and eggs, to room temperature before you begin mixing. This ensures they emulsify properly with the sugar, creating a smooth, homogenous dough that bakes evenly and results in a superior texture.
- Measure Flour Accurately: Precision in measuring flour is vital for the best cookie texture. Avoid scooping flour directly from the bag, which can compact it and lead to too much flour. Instead, use the “spoon and level” method: spoon flour into your measuring cup and then level it off with the straight edge of a knife. The correct amount of flour will give you that desired light and crisp texture; too much can result in dry, crumbly cookies, while too little can make them spread excessively.
- Get Creative with Cookie Cutters: While rolling the dough into balls works perfectly, you can also roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface and use fun-shaped cookie cutters to mold your cookies into festive designs. This is especially delightful for holiday baking or themed parties. Just be mindful that cut-out cookies might require slightly less baking time.
- Don’t Skimp on Chill Time: Planning accordingly to allocate the proper amount of chill time (at least 2 hours) is non-negotiable. Chilling the dough solidifies the butter, which prevents excessive spreading in the oven, and allows the flour to fully hydrate, resulting in a richer flavor and a more desirable texture.
- Parchment Paper is Your Friend: Always line your baking sheets with parchment paper. It ensures easy cleanup, prevents sticking, and helps the bottoms of your cookies brown evenly without burning.
- Avoid Overbaking: Keep a close eye on your cookies during the last few minutes of baking. Overbaked cookies will be dry and hard. You want the edges to be just barely golden, and the centers to still look a little soft. They will firm up as they cool.
This heartwarming recipe is proudly part of The Sweetest Season, an annual virtual cookie swap that I co-host with Erin from The Speckled Palate and Susannah from Feast + West. Each year, a wonderful community of food bloggers comes together to share brand new, festive holiday cookie recipes, perfect for baking and sharing with loved ones.
Beyond the joy of baking, this year we are honored to be raising money for Cookies 4 Kids’ Cancer. This remarkable organization is a recognized 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to a profoundly important cause: funding innovative research for new, more effective, and less toxic treatments for childhood cancer. Their work directly impacts the lives of countless children and their families.
Since its inception in 2008, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer has achieved incredible milestones, granting nearly $18 million to pediatric cancer research. This funding has supported over 100 research grants to leading pediatric cancer centers across the United States. Thanks to these grants, more than 35 new treatments are now available to children bravely battling cancer today, offering renewed hope and improved outcomes.
We urge you to join us in supporting this vital cause! You can make a difference by donating through our dedicated fundraising page. Every contribution helps.
Adding to the excitement, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is currently in a special matching window with their generous friends at OXO. This means OXO will match every dollar raised through the end of 2024, up to an astounding $100,000! Whatever money we raise through our fundraiser will automatically be doubled, significantly amplifying our collective impact for these brave children. Your donation goes twice as far during this crucial period.
This year, in addition to these amazing Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies, I also contributed these festive Double Chocolate Cranberry Magic Bars to our Sweetest Season Event.
And for a super cute and incredibly easy holiday treat, don’t miss these Christmas Dipped Oreo Cookies! If you’re a true cookie enthusiast, you can explore ALL of my cookie recipes here, ensuring you’ll find the perfect cookie for every craving and occasion.
More Irresistible Recipes to Love
If your heart beats for chocolate chips, you’re in for a treat with these other fantastic recipes. Dive into the unique flavor of Malted Chocolate Chip Cookies, experience a sophisticated twist with Bailey’s Chocolate Chip Cookies, or get into the holiday spirit with Peppermint Dipped Chocolate Chip Cookies. For those truly special celebrations that demand an extra touch of indulgence, I highly recommend my show-stopping recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream Cake, which is beautifully pictured above. It’s the ultimate dessert for any chocolate chip lover!
This easy recipe delivers truly delicious cookies with just a few basic ingredients, promising a batch of crispy, chewy, and chocolatey goodness every time. I wish you all the very best for happy baking during this festive time of year, and indeed, all year round. May your kitchen be filled with the delightful aroma of freshly baked cookies and your heart with joy!
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Print Recipe
Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies
Equipment
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KitchenAid Hand Mixer
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KitchenAid Hand Mixer
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Wilton Stainless Steel Cookie Scoop
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Wilton Performance Pans Aluminum Jelly Roll and Cookie Pan, 10.5 x 15.5-Inch
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
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Sift flour, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside.
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Using a mixer cream butter and sugar together until fluffy.
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Add in egg and vanilla and beat again for about 1 minute.
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Slowly fold in the dry ingredients and then the chocolate chips.
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Scoop out the dough using a cookie scoop, about 2 tablespoons, and roll the dough into balls. Place on a plate or a lined baking tray and chill for at least 2 hours (you can leave up to 3 days though, make sure they are covered with clingfilm).
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Preheat oven to 350°F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
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Bake for 12-14 minutes or until the edges are just barely golden.
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Cool on the cookie sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.