Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients in Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookies

• Unsalted Butter – Room temperature is key! Think soft, not melted. Let it sit out for about 30 minutes before using.
• Granulated White Sugar
• Light Brown Sugar
• Large Eggs
• Vanilla Extract
• All-Purpose Flour
• Baking Soda & Baking Powder
• Kosher Salt or Sea Salt
• Mini Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips – I swear by minis! But hey, you do you. (More on mix-ins later!)

Equipment You’ll Need

• Stand mixer with paddle attachment (or a hand mixer)
• Mixing bowls
• Cookie scoop (trust me, it’s a game changer! This helps get that bakery-perfect size!)
• Large baking sheet
• Wire rack
• Parchment paper

How to Make Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookies

1. Cream the butter and sugars – This is what gives the cookies their soft texture. Mix until light and fluffy.
2. Add eggs and vanilla – One at a time, so everything gets evenly combined.
3. Mix dry ingredients separately – Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt before slowly adding to the wet ingredients.
4. Add chocolate chips – Be generous! No one ever complained about too many chocolate chips.
5. Scoop (and chill) the dough – Scoop with a cookie dough scoop or small ice cream scoop. For extra thick cookies, chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking.
6. Bake at 325°F for 8-9 minutes – Don’t over-bake! Take them out when they still look slightly underbaked! They’ll set perfectly as they cool.

The Bakery Secret for Perfectly Sized Cookies

Ever wonder how bakeries get those perfectly uniform cookies? The trick is a cookie scoop. I bought mine at a local restaurant supply store, but you can find them online too.

At the bakery, we’d put on gloves, grab a big chunk of dough, and use the scoop to create even-sized balls. If you want to be extra precise, roll them in your hands to smooth them out before baking. The result? Perfect, Instagram-worthy cookies every time.

Fun Mix-In Ideas

Want to mix things up? Try swapping out the chocolate chips for:

• Peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips, or white chocolate chips
• Mini M&Ms
• Raisins
• Chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans are great!)
• Chopped candy bars (think Snickers, Twix, or Reese’s)
• Pretzels (for a sweet and salty combo)
• Sprinkles (because why not!?)
• Cherry chips (these can be hard to find but they were my favorite from the bakery where we grew up)

Tips and Tricks for Perfect Cookies Every Time

Don’t overbake – 8-9 minutes is usually the right amount of time for perfectly chewy cookies, but experiment with your cookies and oven and note the amount of time that works best for you. Pull the cookies out when they still look slightly underdone. They’ll set up as they cool, keeping them soft and chewy.

Use quality chocolate – Semi-sweet or dark chocolate works best since the dough itself is sweet enough.

Chill the dough – This helps the flavors meld together and gives the cookies that rich, bakery-style texture.

Drop the pan trick – Right after pulling them from the oven, lift the baking sheet a few inches and let it drop onto the counter (this works best on a granite countertop). This flattens the cookies slightly and creates that signature bakery-style look.

Reviews From Our Readers

Over the years, we’ve had thousands of people make this recipe. Here’s what a few of them had to say.

“These cookies have a great look to them, just like bakery cookies. They came out perfectly round with soft crackly tops, and they stay nice and soft. My family really enjoyed these.” – Nicole

“Great cookies! Made for the first time the other night and the family was super pleased thank you so much! After 3 days the cookies are still soft and taste great .” – Michelle

“I found this recipe around 2 years ago, I made it for the first time and fell in love – and have been using it ever since!” – Katie

Questions About Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookies

Other Cookie Recipes to Try

These Chocolate Chip Cookies are so classic. It is one of those must-have family-favorite cookie recipes, much like our cut-out sugar cookies, easy no-bake cookies, or our classic peanut butter cookies. If you are a cookie fanatic like me, you should also try:

• Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Cookie
• Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies
• Peanut Butter Cookies
• Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Homemade Oreo Cookies
• Turtle Cookies
• Snickerdoodle Cookies
• Grandma’s Soft Sugar Cookie Recipe

And there you have it—the ultimate bakery chocolate chip cookie recipe. Whether you’re baking for a crowd or just treating yourself, these cookies will not disappoint!