Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (or Chocolate Chunk Cookies)
This perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe is the only chocolate chip or chocolate chunk cookie recipe that has ever turned out for me. Before this recipe, I was a chocolate chip cookie making failure, every time!
You may or may not believe me, but no one in my immediate family ever tasted a chocolate chip cookie until we moved to the US.
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My dad was 40, Mum was 27, I was 10 and my brothers, 4 and 5. Of course, after tasting them, we just had to make chocolate chip cookies ourselves, right? Well–sort of.
The Chocolate Chip Cookie Failures
You see, from the late 70s until rather recently, my mother and I were both complete and utter failures when it came to making and baking chocolate chip cookies. We tried every recipe under the sun (yes, even the supposed Neiman Marcus cookie recipe), to no avail. They’d either fall flat, stay in the shape we made after baking, turning out dry and rather hard, it was so frustrating! After becoming US citizens, I decided that my chocolate chip cookie making skills would follow suit, but I was wrong.
Jacques Torres To the Rescue
Given that Mum could bake the most perfect soufflé and I had no problem with choux pastry, it didn’t make sense that neither one of us could bake a simple cookie properly! However, after numerous attempts, we both gave up.
That is, until the New York Times shared Jacques Torres now incredibly famous chocolate chip cookie recipe. Incidentally, it isn’t a chocolate “chip” cookie recipe at all. One of the main reasons that this cookie is drop dead delicious is the use of REAL chocolate and in a large quantity.
If you haven’t tried this recipe yet, you’re missing out. All the hype is not unwarranted. This is truly an “always perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe”! The cookies are a little crunchy around the perimeter, slowly softening towards the center. Imagine lots of gooey, melted chocolate throughout a chewy, delectable cookie! They’re heavenly.
My Changes and Variations on How to Use the Dough
Jacques has done all the hard work of figuring out which flours work best. Although the super large cookies are great, I have decreased the portioning of the cookie dough to a more reasonable size. I’ve also slightly decreased the sugar in the recipe, and I skipped the salt topping since I don’t understand the love of sweet and savory combined.
Salt in the recipe to bring out the flavors is necessary, but I don’t want to eat a salty cookie that is meant to be sweet. It’s easy enough to add a sprinkling at the end if you disagree. I also made this recipe into brown butter sugar cookies.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
Use this recipe if you want to do a chocolate chip cookie “cake” for your next birthday celebration.
Truffle Surprise Chocolate Chip Cookies
As a super decadent treat, I tested hiding a chocolate truffle inside the center of the dough.
It turned out perfectly! Warning: don’t make too many of these if you have no self control!
A Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie Crust
You need to try this–it’s fabulous. I turned one into a chocolate chip cookie baked Alaska pie!
Finally, Mum and I now feel like we’re more American! We finally have conquered chocolate chip cookies!
Always Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
(or Chocolate Chunk-which I prefer)
Tips~
- Use top quality ingredients, especially the chocolate (I use Callebaut) or Trader Joe’s chips/chunks.
- Chef Torres didn’t include cups for a reason. Want these to turn out? Use a scale, they’re so cheap now, there’s really no excuse not to have one. You’ll kick yourself for not getting one earlier.
- You can use chips or chunks or discs of chocolate. The latter two give the best results.
- Have the eggs and butter at room temperature.
- The dough freezes extremely well. Shape them, freeze them on a tray, then store them in a freezer bag. To bake: place on cookie sheet and leave for an hour then bake as normal.
- Best eaten warm, or at least the same day, but this applies to most chocolate chip cookies.
- If you need a gluten-free chocolate chip cookie recipe, check out my friend Sheena’s recipe HERE.
Always Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (or Chocolate Chunk Cookies)
Special Equipment
- 1 mixer
- 1 mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 2 cups bread flour
- 2 cups cake flour
- 1 ¼ tsp baking powder
- ⅛ tsp cream of tartar (a pinch)
- ½ tsp Kosher salt
- 1 ¼ tsp baking soda
- 2 ½ sticks butter (unsalted)
- 1 ¼ cups brown sugar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs (large)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract (natural)
- 3 cups bittersweet chocolate (discs, chips, chunks or fèves, about 60% cacao content)
Instructions
Make the Cookie Dough:
- Sift first 6 dry ingredients together into a bowl.
- Using another mixer bowl (using a paddle), cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes.
- Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each egg. Stir in vanilla.
- On low speed, add the dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds.
- Drop chocolate chunks or pieces in and incorporate them without breaking them (I use a spatula).
- Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Afterwards, either bake or freeze the dough.
Bake the Cookies:
- Preheat oven to 350°F/175° C.
- Place 2 ½ ounce scoops of dough onto a silicone sheet lined cookie sheet. Bake until golden brown but still soft, 15-18 minutes.
- Remove and place on a cooling rack. Repeat with remaining dough, or keep dough refrigerated.
Notes
- If you choose not to weigh your ingredients, please realize that your results will vary each and every time you make these. Weight is the only way to guarantee good results.
- The chocolate amount will vary if you use cups due to the size difference of your choice of chocolate. I recommend a scale.
- DO NOT USE HERSHEYS, NESTLE or other US type chocolate as these do not have 60% cacao
- Alternatively, you can shape the cookies then freeze on a tray and then place in a bag to keep frozen, to bake another time. To bake from frozen: place on cookie sheet and leave for an hour, then bake as instructed.
Nutrition
Other delectable cookie recipes ~
Chocolate Chip Hazelnut Cookies
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Always Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie
I just made this dough and now it is resting happily in the fridge. I am looking forward to baking these glorious cookies in 36 hours!
The resting makes a world of difference, Melanie! Let me know how you like them!
These cookies look amazing! I really want to make them! Could you please make the unit into grams?? It would be a lot easier for many people that doesn’t use ounces. Thanks!
Hi Jazz, I plan to do that for all of my recipes, but it’s a time-problem! Both of my scales have oz and g options so it’s never an issue for me. Will try to get to it today. CC
That is just too funny, your story about making them, Christina. I know what you mean, though, as even now this chocolate chip cookie deal has only fairly recently taken off in Paris (possibly due to David Lebovitz, who knows?) and now there are cookie companies popping up around us. I love the salt with good dark chocolate – and never added in a truffle surprise in there. What a super idea!
I just love this recipe! The truffle is a bit of a naughty thing to do, but goodness is it ever amazing! ;)
Question 1: In a pinch is 12 to 18 hours enough chilling time? Question 2: Have you tried them with nuts? Result? And last but not least, what’s the rationale for using bread flour and cake flour instead of a good all-purpose flour? I’m just curious about the last one. Thanks.
Hi Kelly,
1. 18 hours would be better than 12, but of course you can still bake them. Won’t be as good as the proper length of time, but still better than not chilling at all.
2. I have not tried them with nuts, simply because my daughter is severely allergic, but by all means, add nuts. I would probably switch out some of the chocolate for the nuts.
3. Chef Torres has come up with this combination to get the outcome that most of us crave in a cc cookie, crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle. Trust me, he knows his science in the kitchen! These are amazing and I’ve never had success with any other recipe.
Enjoy! CC
They were great although I don’t know if I might not like them better with dark chocolate vs bittersweet. However, the recipients thought they were fantastic. I perfectly understand about nut allergies. They are not to be trifled with. Thanks for having such a great website and posting such wonderful recipes.
Yay! You can use any time of chocolate you like, Kelly! I’m a fan of darker chocolate, too! Thank you for your lovely comment!! :)
PS Ghiradelli makes a 70% cacao bittersweet chocolate chip
I haven’t tried it, but not a big Ghirardelli fan.
I love these cookies because they are delicious, but what I love even more is what you do with them. My most memorable moment with you is when you took these cookies to the fire station and those firefighters were so delighted you took the time to make them cookies. I also know that you took them to the police station. You are an amazing soul. Love you and your cookies.
You are too kind, Cathy! You are feeding the homeless EVERY WEEK! That trumps cookies to the local firemen and police officers once in a while! Thank you, though. I loved that you came with me!
This is quite a delicious post! When I saw the picture of this cookie on Instagram, I wanted to bake them immediately! I’m for sure going to try them. No such thing as trying too many choc chip cookies. Love!
Agreed! I still need to make the ones you posted (the bars) OMG, too many recipes and not enough time!