Chocolate Chip and Chunk Cookies

These Chocolate Chip and Chunk Cookies are a delightful twist on the classic favorite, combining the nostalgic charm of semi-sweet chips with the indulgent richness of chocolate chunks. With golden edges that offer a slight crunch and soft, melty centers, these cookies strike the perfect balance of textures and flavors. Whether you’re baking for a party, a cozy night in, or just because you deserve something sweet, these cookies deliver bakery-style results from the comfort of your home kitchen. Pair with a cold glass of milk or warm coffee, and you’ve got yourself a timeless treat that satisfies every sweet craving.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

• 1 large egg

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

• 3/4 cup chopped semi-sweet chocolate chunks

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.

3. Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring just until combined.

5. Fold in the chocolate chips and chunks evenly throughout the dough.

6. Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to drop dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart.

7. Bake for 10–12 minutes or until the edges are golden and the centers are just set.

8. Remove from oven and let cookies cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 12 minutes | Total Time: 27 minutes
Kcal: 210 kcal per cookie | Servings: 18 cookies

The Ultimate Guide to Chocolate Chip and Chunk Cookies

Few desserts evoke the same sense of nostalgia and universal love as a chocolate chip cookie. With a slightly crisp exterior and a soft, gooey center, the perfect cookie is a masterpiece of texture and flavor. When you add chocolate chunks into the mix along with the classic chips, the result is a luxurious, indulgent twist on an already iconic treat.

These Chocolate Chip and Chunk Cookies offer the best of both worlds melty chips dispersed throughout the dough and generous bites of chocolate from larger chunks. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion, filling a cookie jar at home, or gifting a batch to someone special, these cookies are always a crowd-pleaser.

Why Use Both Chocolate Chips and Chunks?

At first glance, adding both chocolate chips and chocolate chunks might seem redundant, but in the world of cookie-making, it’s a game-changer.

• Chocolate Chips are formulated to hold their shape when baked, giving you small, uniform bursts of chocolate in every bite. They’re the go-to choice for consistency.

• Chocolate Chunks, on the other hand, are irregular in shape and size, and often melt into pools of chocolate that distribute differently throughout the cookie. This variation in texture creates richer, more decadent bites.

Combining both ensures that every cookie has a complex chocolate profile melty in some spots, firm in others offering a gourmet bakery-style experience.

The Texture Factor: Crispy Edges + Chewy Centers

What makes a cookie irresistible? It’s all about texture. The ideal chocolate chip cookie balances crispy edges with soft, chewy centers. This contrast is achieved by fine-tuning the fat-to-flour ratio and the baking time.

In this recipe, the butter and sugar are creamed to aerate the dough slightly while still creating enough density for chewiness. A slightly higher brown sugar content also contributes to a softer center due to its higher moisture content and acidity, which affects gluten development.

By baking just until the edges are golden and the center looks slightly underdone, you allow residual heat to finish the cooking process without drying out the center. The result is a cookie that’s crispy at first bite, then deliciously gooey in the middle.

The Science Behind the Ingredients

Every component in this cookie dough plays a key role, not just in flavor, but also in structure and chemistry.

• Butter: Provides fat and flavor. Softened butter is creamed with sugars to incorporate air, aiding in lift.

• Sugars: A mix of white and brown sugars helps with both caramelization and moisture retention.

• Egg: Acts as a binder and provides moisture.

• Flour: The backbone of the dough, providing structure through gluten development.

• Baking Soda: A leavening agent that works with acidic brown sugar to give cookies lift and tenderness.

• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances flavor complexity.

• Vanilla Extract: Offers aromatic warmth and depth to the cookie base.

• Chocolate: The star of the show, providing rich, indulgent bursts of cocoa with each bite.

Tips for Baking the Best Cookies Every Time

Perfect cookies are within reach if you follow a few key practices:

1. Use Room Temperature Ingredients
   This ensures better emulsification when creaming the butter and sugars and leads to a more consistent dough.

2. Don’t Overmix
   Once the flour is added, mix just until combined. Overmixing can lead to tough cookies due to excess gluten development.

3. Chill the Dough (Optional but Recommended)
   While not required in this specific recipe, chilling cookie dough for even 30 minutes can enhance the flavor and help prevent excessive spreading during baking.

4. Use a Cookie Scoop
   Uniform size ensures even baking, resulting in consistent texture and appearance.

5. Don’t Overbake
   Cookies continue to bake on the hot sheet even after being removed from the oven. For that signature soft center, take them out when they look slightly underdone in the middle.

Cookie Storage & Freezing

Storage:

Once cooled completely, cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Adding a slice of bread to the container helps keep them soft longer, as the bread releases moisture which the cookies absorb.

Freezing:

These cookies freeze beautifully. You can either freeze the baked cookies for up to 3 months or freeze the unbaked cookie dough balls. For the latter, freeze them on a tray until solid and then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. When ready to bake, place frozen dough balls on a baking sheet and bake a minute or two longer than the original time no thawing needed.

Creative Variations to Try

Want to mix it up? Here are some fun and delicious ways to customize this recipe:

• Sea Salt Finish: Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top right after baking for a sweet-salty contrast.

• Nutty Crunch: Fold in chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds for added texture.

• Espresso Powder: Add 1/2 teaspoon of instant espresso to intensify the chocolate flavor.

• Peanut Butter Swirl: Mix in a few spoonfuls of peanut butter for a chocolate-peanut butter fusion.

• Stuffed Cookies: Insert a square of chocolate or a spoonful of Nutella in the center of each dough ball before baking for an indulgent surprise.

When to Serve These Cookies

Honestly? Any time is cookie time. But these particular cookies shine in a few specific scenarios:

• Bake Sales: Their visual appeal from the large chocolate chunks makes them irresistible on display.

• Holiday Gifts: Package them in a decorative tin or box for a thoughtful, homemade gift.

• After-School Treats: Perfect with a glass of milk or a hot chocolate.

• Special Occasions: Birthdays, family dinners, picnics these cookies fit right in.

• Self-Care Sundays: Because you deserve a little luxury baked into a cookie.

Why This Recipe Stands Out

In the sea of cookie recipes online, this one distinguishes itself through balance and texture. It’s simple enough for beginner bakers but delivers a polished, bakery-style result that impresses every time. The dual chocolate approach ensures maximum cocoa impact in every bite, while the chewy-meets-crisp texture keeps you coming back for another.

Many chocolate chip cookie recipes focus heavily on either softness or crunch but this version embraces both. It doesn’t sacrifice flavor for texture or vice versa. It’s the kind of cookie you’d expect at a high-end coffee shop or boutique bakery, yet it’s easily achievable in your own kitchen with pantry staples.

Conclusion:

Chocolate Chip and Chunk Cookies offer the comfort of a childhood favorite elevated by the luxury of extra chocolate and refined baking techniques. They’re approachable yet impressive, making them a fantastic go-to for any baker who wants maximum reward with minimal fuss.

Whether you’re baking them for your family, giving them as a heartfelt gift, or just indulging in a late-night craving, these cookies deliver satisfaction in every bite. Keep this recipe in your rotation you’ll find it’s one of those dependable, delicious staples that never goes out of style.