Southern Living’s BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies aren’t just a recipe; they’re a culinary revelation that has consistently delighted my discerning family. Prepare for a cookie experience that is perfectly chewy, wonderfully thick, and bursting with rich chocolate flavor!

Throughout the years, our family has embarked on countless quests for the ultimate chocolate chip cookie. We’ve sampled myriad variations, from bakery delights to homemade experiments, but these thick, incredibly delicious Chewy Chocolate Chunk Cookies, inspired by Southern Living, consistently emerge as the undisputed champions. They don’t just satisfy a craving; they create a moment of pure joy for everyone lucky enough to try them.

A white bowl brimming with Southern Living's BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies, thick and perfectly golden, sits next to a refreshing glass of milk.

The Ultimate Quest for Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

For many, the chocolate chip cookie holds a special place in their heart – a nostalgic taste of childhood, a comforting treat, or a go-to dessert. But what truly defines the “best” chocolate chip cookie? Is it the crisp edges, the gooey center, or the perfect balance of sweet and salty? For our family, and especially my husband, who proudly considers himself a chocolate chip cookie aficionado, the answer is unequivocally chewiness, coupled with a generous, almost excessive, chocolate-to-dough ratio.

My husband’s journey has taken him through countless bakeries and mall kiosks across the country, always with one strict criterion: no nuts. He seeks those substantial pockets of melted chocolate within a tender, buttery dough. While classic Nestle Toll House cookies once set the gold standard for buttery chewiness, our search for an even more extraordinary version continued. When this particular recipe from Southern Living serendipitously landed in my inbox, I knew it demanded an immediate test batch. The results? These Chewy Chocolate Chunk Cookies weren’t just a hit; they were an instant legend in our kitchen.

Why These Chewy Chocolate Chunk Cookies Are a Must-Make

This recipe isn’t just another chocolate chip cookie; it’s a carefully crafted masterpiece designed for maximum flavor and texture. Here’s why these cookies will become your new favorite:

Explosive Chocolate Pockets: Unlike standard chocolate chips, using chocolate chunks or discs creates magnificent pockets of rich, melted chocolate throughout each cookie, ensuring a decadent experience with every bite.
Unrivaled Softness and Moisture: The secret lies in dark brown sugar. Its higher molasses content provides superior moisture, which is crucial for achieving that irresistible soft and chewy texture that lasts.
A Tried-and-True Legacy: This recipe is rooted in the culinary expertise of Southern Living, a renowned authority in home cooking and baking. Their seal of approval means you’re starting with a foundation of excellence, guaranteeing a successful bake every time.

The combination of these elements culminates in a cookie that doesn’t just meet expectations but exceeds them, delivering a truly superior chocolate chip cookie experience that even the most demanding palates will adore.

Three perfectly baked Chewy Chocolate Chunk Cookies, rich with melted chocolate, arranged on a pristine round white dessert plate.

Mastering the Art of Chewy Chocolate Chunk Cookies

To achieve perfection with these chewy chocolate chip cookies, attention to detail truly makes all the difference. Our family has a fondness for generously sized cookies, so I opt for a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to ensure each cookie is substantial and satisfying. This also contributes to a thicker cookie that retains its chewiness longer.

When it comes to chocolate, I often splurge on premium chocolate wafers, such as Guittard’s semisweet version. These wafers melt beautifully, creating those desirable pools of chocolate. You can often find high-quality chocolate wafers or discs at specialty food stores, high-end markets, or kitchenware retailers like Williams-Sonoma and Sur la Table, sometimes at a better price point than online. While chocolate chips work, the larger surface area of chunks or wafers makes a noticeable difference in the final texture and taste.

The secret to keeping these chocolate chunk cookies wonderfully chewy is a slight under-baking. We prefer a soft, yielding texture over a crisp one in our household, so I carefully monitor the baking time. The edges should be set and lightly golden, but the centers should still look slightly underdone when you pull them from the oven. They will continue to cook and set on the baking sheet as they cool, resulting in that perfect chewiness we all crave. I wholeheartedly encourage you to try this recipe and discover if these are indeed the BEST chewy chocolate chip cookies you’ve ever tasted. If you have a different favorite, I’d love to hear about it! For those who lean towards a thinner, yet still delightfully chewy cookie, my Thin and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies are an excellent alternative. And if you’re up for an adventure, Jacques Torres’ Secret Chocolate Chip Cookies are a true masterpiece, though they do require extended refrigeration and yield a massive batch!

Expert Tips for Making the Best Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Crafting the perfect chewy chocolate chip cookie involves a harmonious blend of the right ingredients, precise technique, and careful baking. Follow these tips to elevate your cookie game:

Understand the Fundamentals: Chewy cookies are a result of specific ingredient ratios, the mixing process, and accurate baking times. Pay attention to each step to ensure success.
Boost Richness with an Extra Yolk: For an even richer flavor and a more pronounced chew, consider adding an extra egg yolk to your dough. This adds fat without extra liquid, enhancing tenderness.
PRO-Tip: Embrace Brown Sugar: Always opt for brown sugar, especially dark brown sugar. The molasses content in brown sugar is a game-changer for moisture, contributing significantly to a soft and chewy texture. This is a non-negotiable for true chewiness.
Butter is Best: For superior flavor and mouthfeel, always use real butter instead of shortening. Butter provides a depth of flavor that shortening simply cannot replicate, and it helps with the cookie’s spread and texture. Ensure your butter is at room temperature for optimal creaming.
PRO-Tip: Avoid Overmixing: This is crucial! Do not overmix your cookie dough, especially once the flour is added. Using a mixer on high speed can aerate the dough excessively, leading to a cake-like consistency rather than a dense, chewy cookie. It also over-activates the gluten in the flour, which can result in tougher cookies. Mix the wet ingredients and then gently incorporate the dry ingredients until just combined, preferably by hand or on the lowest mixer speed. Fold in your chocolate chunks by hand.
Perfect Baking Time is Key: Over-baking is the enemy of chewiness. It dries out the cookies, turning them crisp instead of soft and pliable. Look for edges that are set and lightly golden, with centers that still appear slightly soft. Remove them from the oven at this point, and they will finish baking on the hot sheet pan.

Explore More Irresistible Chocolate Cookie Recipes

If you’re as passionate about chocolate cookies as we are, then you’ll love exploring these other decadent creations from our kitchen:

Layered Chocolate Chip Cookies
White Chocolate Chip Cookies with Dried Berries
Killer Chocolate Chip Cookies
Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Chocolate Toffee Cookies
Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pizza Cookie AKA Pizookies
Discover even more Cookie Recipes

This post was originally shared in December 2013 and has been thoughtfully updated in 2019 with fresh photos and enhanced text to provide you with the best possible baking experience.

The Recipe:

Southern Living’s BEST Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Prep Time
20 minutes

Cook Time
14 minutes

Total Time
34 minutes

Yield
32 cookies

Experience Southern Living’s thick and incredibly chewy chocolate chip cookies, loaded with generous amounts of rich chocolate chunks for an unforgettable treat!

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars based on 10 reviews.

Ingredients

¾ cup butter, at room temperature
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup dark brown sugar
2 eggs
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
2 ¼ cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon salt
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate discs (or high-quality chocolate chunks/chips)

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line several baking sheets with parchment paper for easy cleanup and even baking.
In a large bowl, or using the paddle attachment of a stand mixer, beat the softened butter and both granulated and dark brown sugars at medium speed until the mixture is light and creamy. This can also be easily accomplished by hand with a sturdy whisk.
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract until fully blended into the butter mixture.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed or by hand until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough. Gently fold in the chocolate discs (or chunks/chips) by hand until they are evenly distributed.
Using a 2-tablespoon capacity cookie scoop, drop rounded balls of cookie dough onto the prepared parchment paper-lined baking sheets, leaving enough space between them for spreading.
Bake for 10 to 14 minutes, or until the edges are set and lightly golden, but the centers still look slightly soft. This ensures maximum chewiness. Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool on the sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.

Notes

Adapted from a classic Southern Living recipe, this version emphasizes ultimate chewiness and rich chocolate flavor.

If you don’t have dark brown sugar, you can easily make it: add 1 tablespoon of molasses to a cup of regular light brown sugar. Mix thoroughly until the molasses is fully incorporated and the sugar is uniformly dark, then measure out the amount needed for the recipe.

HOW MUCH DID YOU LOVE THIS RECIPE?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo of your delicious cookies on Pinterest – we’d love to see your creations!

The Ultimate Southern Chocolate Chip Cookies