The Best Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever!

Looking for the best chocolate chip cookies ever?! You’re in the right place.

Everyone loves chocolate chip cookies right? They are an easy go-to for many moms and anyone wanting to please a crowd. They are easily manipulated and very versatile when different ingredients are added.

Add nuts or oats? You have a version of a cowboy or “kitchen sink” cookie. Add cinnamon or another sweet, aromatic spice? You have a more interesting, deep, flavor that prompts thought and speculation when enjoyed.

 No matter the occasion chocolate chip cookies can be figuratively, dressed up, or down. Can you tell it’s my favorite cookie yet? 

Today I’m going to be sharing the ultimate chocolate chip cookie recipe that is famous among my friends and family. I made it my mission to find the best chocolate chip cookies recipe ever!

I achieved this great feat by trying EVERY recipe I came across and comparing ingredient ratios to help me decide which next recipe to try. This process continued down a long and winding, though very sweet, road of regularly buying 5 brands of chocolate chips, just to compare the recipes that come on the backs. 

I finally found a recipe that was sweet, yet not overly so, brought out the deep flavors of the vanilla, and in which you could taste the creaminess of the butter. I used this as my diving board and jumped. 

What I am sharing with you today is a recipe that I have tweaked at least a dozen times, using that original recipe, and adding or subtracting my own pieces to find the perfect balance of flavors and consistency. I hope you love it as much as I do!

Lila’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yield: 24-36 cookies

Prep Time: 20 minutes 

Total time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

• 2 ¼ cups plain white flour

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1 tsp salt

• 2 eggs

• 1 cup (2 sticks) softened butter

• ¾ cup brown sugar

• ¾ cup white sugar

• 1 tsp vanilla extract 

• 1 cup of chocolate chips (give or take)

• Optional: 1 cup crushed walnuts or pecans

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and pull out a nonstick cookie sheet or line a baking tray.
2. Start with a medium-size bowl and mix the flour, baking soda, and salt then set aside.
3. In a large bowl combine the softened butter and both types of sugar with an electric mixer on low to medium speed until you reach a smooth consistency.
4. Add the eggs and vanilla then blend again. 
5. Add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients in two parts, mixing the flour in between pours. When the flour mixture is fully combined add the chocolate chips as well as any extras such as nuts or oats. 
6. On your prepared baking sheet, scoop small spoonfuls into rows using two spoons. Rows should be 4×3, or 3×3 if you have bigger cookies.
7. Bake cookies for 12-15 minutes. Allow cookies to cool for a minute or two before transferring onto a wire rack. Makes 2-3 full sheets.

Notes:

Keep in mind if you add oats your cookies you are adding more dry ingredients which will make the dough thicker therefore the cookies will not spread out as much.

Make sure the butter is soft and creams easily, if not, the cookies will not stick together as well when they are put on the sheet.

Adding the flour in two parts makes it easier to mix in and does not leave any extra flour at the bottom.

If you add nuts just break them in half as you throw them in the bowl. No need to chop or grind them.

I have recently realized that adding about ⅓ cup of peanut butter to the wet ingredients is HEAVENLY. It adds a deep, nutty flavor and gives the cookies more substance. I highly recommend if you are looking for a way to spice up your cookies.