Description
A classic recipe for perfectly soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies that strike the ideal balance of crispy edges and a tender center, loaded with semisweet chocolate chips for irresistible flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup softened butter
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons hot water
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
Add-ins
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the cookies evenly.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is smooth and fluffy, which helps create the perfect texture.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time to ensure even incorporation, then mix in the vanilla extract for flavor depth.
- Combine Baking Soda, Salt, and Water: Dissolve the baking soda in hot water, then add this mixture along with the salt into the batter, mixing thoroughly to activate the leavening.
- Mix in Flour and Chocolate Chips: Gradually stir in the all-purpose flour followed by the semisweet chocolate chips until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
- Shape Cookies: Drop large spoonfuls of the dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet, spacing them adequately to avoid merging.
- Bake Cookies: Place the cookie sheet in the preheated oven and bake for about 10 minutes, or until the edges are nicely browned but the centers remain soft.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for several minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Ensure butter is softened, not melted, to maintain proper dough consistency.
- Using both white and brown sugar contributes to the cookie’s chewiness and flavor complexity.
- Do not overbake; cookies will continue to firm up as they cool.
- Optional: Add chopped nuts for extra texture if desired.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh longer.
