Gooey Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies: A Simple Home Bake (Print Version)

Craving gooey easy chocolate chip cookies? This simple recipe delivers soft, chewy centers and rich chocolate in every bite. Perfect for any craving.

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 12 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes
Servings: 24 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: American
Dietary: Vegetarian

# Ingredients:

→ Wet Ingredients

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed
04 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
05 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

→ Dry Staples

06 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
07 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
08 - 1 teaspoon sea salt

→ The Good Stuff

09 - 2 cups chocolate chips (a mix of semi-sweet and milk chocolate)

# Instructions:

01 - Alright, first things first for these delicious cookies. Grab your softened butter and both sugars, then beat them together in a large bowl until they're light and fluffy. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes with an electric mixer. You'll see the color lighten and the texture get really airy. This step is crucial for incorporating air, giving your cookies that lovely soft texture later. I always get a little too excited and sometimes overmix, but a good 2-3 minutes is just right.
02 - Next up, crack in those room-temperature eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then, pour in that glorious vanilla extract. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to make sure everything is fully combined. The mixture should look smooth and creamy, almost like a custard. This is where the dough starts to smell absolutely incredible, a sweet promise of what's to come. Don't rush this part; it's all about building flavor.
03 - In a separate, medium bowl, whisk together your flour, baking soda, and salt. Make sure it's really well combined – you don't want a pocket of just baking soda in one cookie, trust me, I've been there! This ensures even distribution and helps your cookies rise beautifully. I usually just give it a quick whisk with a fork, but a proper whisk works wonders.
04 - Now, slowly add the dry ingredient mixture to your wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix! Overmixing develops the gluten too much, leading to tough cookies, and we want soft, gooey cookies, right? Stop mixing as soon as you see no more streaks of flour. It's totally okay if there are a few tiny specks; they'll disappear during baking.
05 - This is the fun part! Fold in those chocolate chips with a spatula. I like to use a generous amount, because who doesn't love a cookie loaded with chocolate? Make sure they're evenly distributed throughout the dough. Sometimes I get a little messy here, with chocolate chips escaping the bowl, but it's all part of the charm of making homemade cookies at home. Don't be afraid to get your hands a little sticky!
06 - Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving some space between them. Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown but the centers still look soft and slightly underbaked. That's the secret to gooey easy chocolate chip cookies! Let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack. They’ll firm up as they cool, so don’t worry if they seem too soft at first.

# Notes:

01 - Don't overmix the dough! I learned the hard way that tough cookies are no fun.
02 - Chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes makes a huge difference in texture and flavor.
03 - Underbake them just slightly for that truly gooey center – trust your gut on this one!
04 - Adding a sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top before baking enhances the chocolate flavor beautifully.

# Equipment Needed:

01 - Electric mixer
02 - large mixing bowls
03 - measuring cups and spoons
04 - spatula
05 - baking sheets
06 - parchment paper
07 - wire rack

# Nutrition (Per Serving):

Calories: 180
Total Fat: 10g
Total Carbohydrate: 22g
Protein: 2g

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