Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (Old Fashioned)
Watch me make these easy, old-fashioned chocolate chip cookies from start to finish.
I use to call these “lunchbox chocolate chip cookies” when I was little. I can remember waking up to the smell of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies, which meant one thing; there would be five wrapped together in saran wrap in my lunchbox. Yeeeeeeah!!!
It would only take my mother about 10 minutes to whip up this dough, and as soon as the preheated oven beeper went off, those cookie dough balls were on the pans and ready to bake.
I use to think she was so awesome to make homemade chocolate chip cookies that fast, now that I have the recipe, I see just how easy it really is (although I still think she’s pretty darn awesome).
This easy, old-fashioned chocolate chip cookie recipe is my go-to when I need a quick, homemade snack to pack in a lunchbox, picnic basket, or when last-minute company drops in. I usually have all of the ingredients in the house, and I’ve even mixed everything in one bowl without using a mixer, and they still come out great. Gotta love recipes like that!
They bake up slightly crisp and chewy on the outside and soft and chocolaty on the inside. It is definitely one of my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipes. (And yes, I plan on listing every one of my many favorite chocolate chip cookies recipes on this blog. I mean, can ya really have too many tasty chocolate chip cookie recipes???? NEVER!)
This easy chocolate chip cookie recipe freezes great. Just shape the cookie dough into balls and place them on a cookie sheet. Place into the freezer until the dough balls are partially frozen. Then transfer them into a freezer-safe bag or container. When you’re ready to bake them, just let them thaw out and bake. They’ll last 9-12 months in the freezer.
Store any leftovers in a super air-tight container.
Getting a Super Soft & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie: The key to a chewy, soft cookie is removing them from the oven before they have had a chance to bake completely. This varies from oven to oven, but you want them to be golden around the edges but still a little gooey and puffy in the center. Remove from the oven and let them sit in the pan for a few minutes. They will continue to cook on the pan. Transfer to a cooling rack to finish the cooling process. This may take some practice to know just when to take them out of the oven, but you’ll quickly learn that crucial timing.
Baking: These cookies always turn out the best in appearance when I bake them on a baking stone. If using a baking stone, you may need to cook it a little bit longer. Just keep an eye on it at the 8 minutes mark. Mine usually takes about 10-12 minutes on a baking stone and 7-10 minutes on a regular cookie sheet.
Cookies not spreading? If you are having trouble getting this cookie recipe to spread for you, here are some things that may help. The cookies do not spread as much on dark, nonstick pans. Also, the dough should be at room temperature and don’t try to substitute the ingredients for lower-fat versions.
Get the Recipe: Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (Old Fashioned)
Ingredients
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/3 cup shortening
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 6 oz package semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F.
- In a medium bowl, sift together flour, salt, and baking soda. Set aside
- In a large bowl, cream together shortening, butter, sugars, egg, and vanilla.
- Gradually mix in half of the flour mixture into the wet ingredients. Use a rubber spatula to incorporate the other half of the flour mixture if the dough gets too thick for the mixer.
- Stir in the chocolate chips.
- Roll the dough into tablespoon sized balls.
- Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, 2 inches apart
- Bake for 7-10 minutes.
- Remove from oven when cookies are slightly golden around the edges and soft on the tops.
- Leave cookies on the pan for 2-3 minutes to continue cooking outside of the oven.
- Transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Serve immediately. Store leftovers in an air-tight container.
Video
Notes
Be careful not to overbake. (see recipe)
Jazz it up! Add oatmeal, m&m's, etc. if desired
Freezes well.
OMG Seriously this is by far thee best cookie recipe I have ever tried and made successfully. I love choc chip cookies and always always ended up making them wrong before, but NOT ANYMORE thanks to this recipe. Before my cookies always came out either too flat, hard or something would just be wrong with them. After trying this recipe for the first time, I will never try another recipe. I bake them for our family, for family functions even make them as gifts as it is the holidays 😀 Ive gotten a ton of compliments on them. Its so funny because I get cookies like how I used to make them before and I just chuckle because I feel like a pro now and its just nice to be able to make something this good and be proud to give it to people lol The good thing too about this recipe is you can mix it up.
These were the best cookies I have ever made! My two year old son kept coming back for more. These were delicious. No more betty crocker in my house.
I love this site, your recipes. I also made you bbq chicken and macaroni and cheese. It was a hit in my house as well.
I LOVE DIVAS CAN COOK!
Hey! i can get hold of any shortening what can i use instead?
hello!!:) do u think u can help
Me convert this into grams instead? Just for te shorteningand butter. I’m suck at converting te measurement! I hope to try out ur recipe soon!! Thank u!!
Hello Monique!
I really want to bake these cookies for my cousin who doesn’t like oatmeal today, bt chocolate chips are verrrrry expensive and hard to come by over here (Nigeria). Could you please tell me how much 6oz of choc chips would be in cups?
I’m new to your blog and have enjoyed what I’ve seen so far….look forward to trying the monster cookies next and the red velvet cake for christmas!
Thanks for responding!
I subscribed to your channel a few weeks ago. I made these cookies today and….THEY TURNED OUT PERFECT!!!! I kept an eye on my oven and 8 minutes was the best time for soft, chewy cookies with crispy edges. My husband and our boys loved them so much. I had to make another batch. Thank you so much for your great recipes!!!