These Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies are thick, yet soft, melt in your mouth cookies full of chunks of rich chocolate and chopped pecans. Better than bakery cookies they will put you on the top of the list with your cookie loving friends.
Look at those beauties. Now these are chocolate chip cookies. I have the secret to good thick cookies that melt in your mouth! You are going to love them.
I always split my batch in half. One half with pecans and one half without. Are you a nut lover or are you a lovers nut? Whatever the case may be prepare accordingly.
How to make Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies!
First in a medium sized bowl whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. Set this aside as you will get back to it very soon.
Using a mixer cream butter, brown sugar and sugar. This may take several minutes to get the butter and sugar light and fluffy. Add vanilla and the eggs, one at a time mixing just until incorporated. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in three parts mixing just until combined. Make sure you scrape down the beater and bowl to combine. Stir in the chocolate chips and the pecans. Spoon on to parchment covered cookie sheets and bake just until the tops start to brown.
Let cool for ten minutes and then move to cookie cooling racks. Store in airtight containers. Look at those beauties! Makes you want a few, doesn’t it?
These gorgeous Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies are perfect for anytime of the year. They are just right for a birthday party, neighborhood shindig, potluck or holiday party.
Recipe notes and helpful tips
- Always preheat your oven and load your cookies in the center of the oven.
- Use real unsalted sweet cream butter.
- Make sure you cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. However do not over-mix. Butter and sugar is over-mixed when the butter begins to separate.
- Use good quality chocolate. It really does make a difference.
- If you do not like pecans, try walnuts or omit them all together.
- Cover your baking sheets with parchment paper or use silicone baking mats.
- For optimum results bake one sheet of cookies at a time. Use multiple cookie sheets or let the single cookie sheet cool before dropping more dough on it as a warm cookie sheet can cause cookies to spread too fast.
- Bake just until lightly browned. Chocolate Chip Cookies are best just slightly under cooked…or at least in opinion.
- Last but not least and perhaps the most important tip of all. Bake a few cookies off on a test run. If they spread too fast refrigerate the dough for 1-2 hours and test again. If they do not spread enough gently press the rounded spoonfuls of dough down with the palm of your hand and test again.
These extraordinary cookies are perfect for any occasion whether it be small or large. Are you baking this holiday season? If so put these delights on your cookie list and let me know what you think. Go ahead! I know you want them. What’s stopping you?
Other cookie recipes you will love!
Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies
These scrumptious Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies are thick soft cookies full of chunks of semi-sweet chocolate and chopped pecans. The cookies can be baked and frozen for 2-3 weeks. For best results flash freeze and then move to freezer bags placed in sturdy ziploc freezer containers. Freeze for up to 3 months by shaping into individual balls and flash freezing. These are best also placed in freezer bags and then in sturdy ziploc freezer containers.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 10
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 25
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1 1/4 cups brown sugar
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 2 (4 ounce) bars Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate baking bars chopped.
- 1 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Stir flour, baking soda and salt in medium bowl; set aside. In stand mixer on medium speed cream butter, brown sugar and sugar. Add vanilla and eggs, one at a time mixing just until incorporated.
- Add dry mixture slowly to butter mixture. Scraping bowl several times. Stir in chocolate and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoons on to ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 9-11 minutes or until the tops start to brown.
Notes
- If you would like to do half the batch without nuts you will only need 1/2 cup of nuts. Mix in after you have baked off 1/2 of the cookies.
- Always preheat your oven and load your cookies in the center of the oven.
- Use real unsalted sweet cream butter.
- Make sure you cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. However do not over-mix. Butter and sugar is over-mixed when the butter begins to separate.
- Use good quality chocolate. It really does make a difference.
- If you do not like pecans, try walnuts or omit them all together.
- Cover your baking sheets with parchment paper or use silicone baking mats.
- For optimum results bake one sheet of cookies at a time. Use multiple cookie sheets or let the single cookie sheet cool before dropping more dough on it as a warm cookie sheet can cause cookies to spread too fast.
- Bake just until lightly browned. Chocolate Chip Cookies are best just slightly under cooked…or at least in opinion.
- Last but not least and perhaps the most important tip of all. Bake a few cookies off on a test run. If they spread too fast refrigerate the dough for 1-2 hours and test again. If they do not spread enough gently press the rounded spoonfuls of dough down with the palm of your hand and test again.
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This post was originally published November 30, 2015 and was republished September 1, 2019 with new content.
https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Linda
Can I freeze these cookies after they are baked?
Beth Pierce
Yes you sure can
Brenda
Best cookies! Has the crunch factor and the chewy factor a good cookie should have. One question though, I made this recipe for thanksgiving recently I was about to make them again using the ‘scale’ tool to help me double the recipe without googling measurements… is it possible to get the dosages for the 2X & 3X scale amount for the recipe?
Beth Pierce
I am sorry, Brenda I removed it because it sometimes throws errors. So glad that you like the cookies!
Leah
Oooh, these cookies were delish, super chewy, + looked so picture perfect! I adored the chunks of chocolate, too. Thank you, Beth, for the stellar recipe + detailed instructions!
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome Leah! So glad that you liked them!
Zina
Great recipe! Just enough sweetness to balance the semi-sweet chocolate chips I get from Costco. Mine didn’t spread much but they baked up perfectly in 11 minutes. Thank you!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Zina! So happy that you liked the cookies!
Brittany Amick
Can you freeze these and if so can I just pull the out the freezer and bake them immediately?
Beth Pierce
Yes you can scoop and flash freeze. Pull out from the freezer and bake. I usually let them sit on the parchment paper out of the freezer while the oven is preheating.
Melanie Cummings
Does this really only use 1/2 cup of butter? My other recipes with similar ingredients use 1/2 lb [1 cup] of butter. Just double checking. Thanks!
Beth Pierce
They are a thicken chunkier cookie. That is why they only have 1/2 cup butter. Most people love them but I had a women a couple of weeks ago that did not like them at all.
Shannon
These are the best cookies I’ve ever made. Yummy. Thanks for the recipe.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Shannon! So glad that you liked them!
Judy K DuPree
Hi Ms. Pierce, I can’t wait to try your cookie recipe for family gatherings! Did you sift your all purpose flour?
Beth Pierce
No but I spoon it into the measuring cup and level it off with a table knife.
G Crago
Turned out great, thanks so much. Made a half batch. Used Trader Joe’s semi sweet chocolate chunks, had some that needed to be used. Cooked them longer, about 15 minutes?, maybe my oven is not as hot.
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much! So glad that you liked them. There is a always a little variance when it comes to baking cookies.
Kelly
Delicious cookies! The only Chocolate chip cookies I make! Can I sub all purpose flour with self rising flour and leave out the salt and baking soda? If so how much should I use to replace the 2 1/4 cups of flour? Thank you!
Beth Pierce
I don’t use self rising flour so I needed to do a little research. Here is what I pulled “There are some cases in which you can substitute the same amount of self-rising flour for the amount of all-purpose flour called for in a recipe. If a recipe calls for ½ teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of baking powder per 1 cup of all-purpose flour, it’s safe to swap in self-rising flour.” It does appear that it would be an even swap so I can not advise it.
Brad Weesner
These are just awful!! I cannot seem to get them in the oven – I’m eating the raw dough before I can get them onto cookie sheets! These are gonna be excellent. Don’t yell at me for eating raw dough, just try mixing this up, you will see.
OK, my first batch just came out of the oven. and they are excellent. Perhaps a little less sweet, and definitely more gourmet. I added a bit more pecans and chopped chocolate.
Really well done recipe!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Brad! So glad that you liked them. I love your sense of humor! Nothing wrong with more chocolate and pecans! 😉
Lisa B
Can I use the chocolate chips instead of the bars? If so, how much do you recommend I use?
Beth Pierce
Yes you can. Use 2 cups.
Beth Pierce
Be sure to read my helpful tips.
Andrea
They look so good and I really love the chunks of chocolate.
Beth Pierce
Thanks Andrea!
Jas
Nothing better than homemade chocolate chip cookies. I love them soft and gooey. Ghirardelli chocolate makes a huge difference. The only brand I use. 🙂
Beth Neels
Wow! These are so thick! Mine always flatten out when they bake. Can’t wait to try your tips and sinking my teeth into these babies!
Tara
These are definitely a “you can’t eat just one” kinda cookie!
Kushigalu
I wish I could grab one right from the screen. Looks amazingly delicious!
Anissa
Made this recipe with coconut sugar I happened to have. I was out of brown sugar (that never happens!) anyway, I used a scoop and then refrigerated the balls on pan before baking. They’re looking awesome so far. I am a pro cook so I wasn’t afraid of the substitute. I doubled this recipe and so far I have 36 medium size cookies. It looks like I’ll end up with about 42 total using my 1 oz scoop.
Beth Pierce
Cool! Glad they are looking good so far. Can you please explain what is coconut sugar? Since I love coconut I feel like I need to know.
Richelle Leonard
My cookies taste delicious, but they went flat.
Beth Pierce
I am sorry to hear that they went flat. Cookies can go flat for several reasons but the two top reasons are that the butter was too soft or over worked. I recommend cooking just a couple of cookies to start with and if the spread too fast than refrigerate the dough for about an hour and try again. The second reason would be that your leavening agent (is this case baking soda) has weakened and needs to be replaced. Also make sure you preheat your oven and don’t load cookie dough on to warm cookie sheets.
STEPHANIE WALLS-BENBOW
Do you have to use unsalted butter????? I just bought about 6 pounds of salted butter for the holiday season.
Beth Pierce
No you can use the salted butter. They will still be absolutely delicious!
Jaimie
Sooooo yummmmmy! I think this is my new favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe!!
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Jaimie! Glad that you liked them!
Diann Bonkowski
Love your Recipes… I miss my moms baking. EVertime I bake your goodies people Rave like when I use my Mothers recipes. I’m glad I got all her recipes when she passed except the ones that were a bit of this and a dab of that.. all in her head or go by the feel she would say.
Thank you so much
Crystal
I am currently using your recipe right this very minute
I love baking for my co-worker as they absolutely love baked goodies. I am doing 2 variations on your recipe. Ibake half with just chopped ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate bars with rolo’s, and the other half wit rolo’s, chopped ghirardelli and pecan halves. They are turning out wonderfully well.
I’ll let you know the re-actions of my co-workers tomorrow after work.
Beth Pierce
That is awesome. I used to bake for my co-workers too when I worked in accounting. It was fun. I sure hope they enjoy your cookies!!
BRIAN
One of my old coworkers brings in a batch of cookies every so often to our job. Everybody loves them, so I wanted to make something comparable. I searched recipes and decided to try yours based on how the pictures looked. We nailed it, it was a succes on first attempt of ever making homeade cookies. My coworkers were fighting over them. Everybody was impressed and they are all very critical. I was expecting some trial and error, but really was perfect. Thank you soo much for the great recipe.
Beth Pierce
That is really great. You are most welcome my friend! I obviously love the fact that you nailed it! Thanks so much for leaving me such a nice message. It really made my day!
Brynn
I just made these but they didn’t spread out or bake all the way through. What did I do wrong? 🙁
Beth Pierce
Oh goodness. Sorry to hear about that. Baking can be like a chemistry experiment. Was your baking soda still active? Did you cream your butter and sugar? Did you preheat your oven? Is your oven temperature correct?
Betty Nolan
Can you add caramel to the recipe? I believe they would be called “turtle” cookies. Delicious as chocolate chip though!
Beth Pierce
I have never tried. I would suggest if you try it that you separate a small portion. That way if it does not work you still have part of the batch or if you come up with a different way to add it then you have more test dough.
Carole Darroch
CANNOT FIND FIND THAT BAKING CHOCOLATE, CAN I JUST USE CHOCOLATE CHUNKS (HERSHEY’S).
DeAndra
These look amazing! Can I make the dough ahead of time and keep in the freezer until ready to bake?
Beth Pierce
Yes you most certainly can Here is an excellent article from Sally’s Baking Addiction How to Freeze Cookies
Jeannie
Is the flour all-star purpose?
Beth Pierce
Yes just all purpose flour!
Diane
Gonna try these, they look sooooo good! 🙂
Beth Pierce
Thank you. They are delicious!!
Nyoka
I Made these cookies from your recipe for several different people, and everyone commented how delicious these cookies are. I think the Ghirardelli chocolate makes a big difference, really yummy.
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much Nyoka! So glad that everyone loved them!
Rosa
Hi Beth! I just made these. I used coconut oil instead of butter. I’m wondering if that’s why the cookies didn’t spread out. I used a #20 scoop, which is a little less that a tbsp. Made 47 chubby cookies. Very good, though! Thanks for the recipe.
Beth Pierce
Coconut oil is hard to bake with because it sets up so fast hence you always see it in solid form. If I add coconut oil I just add a little bit. A couple of tablespoons in place of a couple of tablespoons of butter. You are most welcome for the recipe!!
Phyllis
Beth do you use salted or unsalted butter?
Beth Pierce
Unsalted butter my friend. Sorry about the delay I was picking up the kids.
Cheri
How many cookies does this make?
bpierce
About 20 cookies. Happy baking!! 🙂
beccabooco
I made a double batch based on the reply below of getting 20 cookies from 1 batch. I used my 2 Tbs cookie scoop (the recipe suggests to make 1 Tbs rounded cookie dough balls). I figures with the 20 cookie suggestion, I would double the recipe. I made 58 cookies 🙂 Which is more than I expected! As soon as I measured out the flour, I knew I was going to have more than 20 cookies, but no problem ~ I froze half of the dough balls to bake a few at a time when we just need a fresh baked chocolate chip cookie
Lori
How did you freeze the dough b as old? Did you freeze them with the nuts in them?
Beth Pierce
I am not sure what your first question is. Yes you can freeze cookies with nuts in them and cookie dough with nuts in it.
Karen
These look delicious. I’m going to make later this month to send to my nephew who is in the Air Force in South Korea.
Kiya
How do you send cookies to ensure they stay fresh
Regina Perez
I learned how to mail cookies from a YouTube video. I send my son in Kuwait he let me know that they got there perfect and that the older women there were very impressed how they were wrapped and mail there try YouTube.
Monica
Oh yes! Exquisite. I put the nuts in all of them + I doubled the recipe and I used Dark chocolate.
bpierce
Thanks!! Yummy. Now you are making me hungry. 🙂
Karen
This recipe looks wonderful! I haven’t tried it yet because it calls for half as much butter as all the other recipes I have used for cookies. Just wanted to make sure I am not missing something. Love all your extra tips. Thank you!
Beth Pierce
It is correct. The key to thick chocolate chip cookies.