Description

These classic chocolate chip cookies are crispy on the edges and chewy in the center, featuring a perfect balance of sweet, buttery dough and rich semi-sweet chocolate chips. With a quick preparation and a short high-temperature bake, these cookies come together easily and deliver warm, comforting homemade goodness in every bite.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

1¼ cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons cornstarch
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking soda

Wet Ingredients

½ cup cold butter (1 stick)
6 tablespoons granulated sugar
6 tablespoons brown sugar
1 egg
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Add-ins

1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips (about 10–11 oz; or half a bag for less chocolate)
¼ cup walnut pieces (optional)

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Instructions

Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 475°F (246°C) and prepare your baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a smaller bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda until evenly combined.
Prepare Butter: Cut the cold stick of butter into smaller pieces to make it easier to mix later.
Combine Wet Ingredients: In a larger mixing bowl, combine the butter pieces, granulated sugar, brown sugar, the egg, and vanilla extract. Stir until well blended.
Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gently fold the dry mixture into the wet mixture, stirring carefully to combine without overmixing, ensuring a uniform cookie dough.
Add Chocolate Chips and Walnuts: Mix in the semi-sweet chocolate chips and, if using, the walnut pieces, folding gently until distributed evenly throughout the dough.
Shape Dough Balls: Using a tablespoon or full-size spoon, scoop and shape dough into balls, placing them spaced apart on the prepared baking sheets to allow for spreading.
Bake: Bake the cookies for 6 to 7 minutes, watching closely for the edges and tops to turn a golden brown color.
Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet. They will continue to set and cook slightly as they cool.
Serve Warm: For the softest and most delightful texture, enjoy the cookies while they are still warm rather than waiting until completely cooled.

Notes

Using cornstarch helps create a softer, more tender cookie texture.
Cutting the butter cold and adding it in pieces helps manage the dough consistency.
Keep an eye on the cookies as baking times may vary slightly depending on your oven; avoid overbaking to maintain softness.
Walnuts are optional but add a lovely crunch and flavor contrast.
For less chocolate, use half the bag of chocolate chips as preferred.
Cookies will firm up as they cool, so removing them from the oven at the right time is key to achieving a chewy center.