Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe 🍪
If you’re craving a cookie that’s thicker and chewier than the usual Tollhouse variety, you’ve come to the right place! After perfecting this recipe, I’ve created a cookie that’s tender all the way through, thanks to a secret ingredient: shortening. Don’t let that scare you away; it’s what makes these cookies irresistibly soft and delightful. With just the right amount of chocolate and a hint of cinnamon, these cookies have become a hit in my household. Everyone agrees—these are the best chocolate chip cookies they’ve ever tasted!
Total Time: 35 minutes
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 cup shortening
- 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
Instructions
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Preheat the Oven: Begin by setting your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a cookie sheet with canola oil pan spray or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking. This will ensure that your cookies bake evenly and don’t stick to the sheet.
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Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir lightly to mix these ingredients together, ensuring that the leavening agent is evenly distributed throughout the flour.
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Cream the Shortening Mixture: In a larger mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the shortening, dark brown sugar, and white sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This process incorporates air into the dough, giving the cookies a tender texture.
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Incorporate Eggs and Vanilla: Crack the eggs into the creamed mixture one at a time, beating well after each addition. Make sure each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. Once all the eggs are mixed in, add the vanilla extract and mix until everything is well combined.
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Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet mixture, about 1/4 or 1/3 at a time. Thoroughly blend each addition of flour into the shortening mixture before adding the next. This step ensures that the flour is evenly distributed and helps prevent lumps in the dough.
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Add Cinnamon (Optional): For a subtle touch of flavor, stir in 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. This step is optional but adds a lovely hint of spice that complements the sweetness of the chocolate chips without overpowering the cookie flavor.
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Mix in the Chocolate Chips: Fold in the chocolate chips until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough. Make sure each bite of cookie has a good amount of chocolatey goodness!
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Scoop the Dough: Use a spoon or a cookie scoop to drop golf-ball-sized mounds of dough onto your prepared baking sheet. Aim for about 12 cookies per tray to give them enough room to spread while baking.
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Bake: Place the cookie sheet in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 10 minutes. Start checking after 8 minutes to ensure they don’t overbake. The cookies are done when the centers are just set but still soft, and the edges are beginning to brown.
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Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the tray for about 5 minutes. This allows them to firm up slightly. If you have a cooling rack, transfer the cookies to the rack to cool completely. If not, a plate will work fine—just avoid stacking them until they are fully cooled to keep them from sticking together.
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Enjoy: Once your cookies are cool, they’re ready to be enjoyed! These cookies are perfect with a glass of milk or just on their own as a sweet treat.
Serving Suggestion
For a fun twist, try serving these cookies with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an indulgent dessert. You can also add a sprinkle of sea salt on top of each cookie before baking for a delicious salty-sweet combination.
These Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies are sure to be a hit in your home. Enjoy the perfect balance of sweetness and chewiness with each bite, and savor the deliciousness of your homemade treats!
Happy baking! 🍪👩🍳🍫
