Golden Chocolate Chip Cookies: The Ultimate 1-Stick Butter Recipe
Golden Chocolate Chip Cookies: The Perfect 1-Stick Butter Recipe
There’s something magical about golden chocolate chip cookies that brings comfort and joy to any occasion. These cookies for days chocolate chip cookies are the ultimate homemade chocolate chip dessert that will have your kitchen smelling like a professional bakery. What makes this recipe special is our secret ingredient: cake flour! This creates a tender, delicate texture that perfectly complements the rich chocolate chips.
Using just 1 stick of butter recipes like this one makes baking accessible and economical. Whether you’re looking for choc chip recipes easy enough for beginners or want to master how to make home made cookies that have that perfect crispy edge, this guide has you covered. The result? Hard chocolate chip cookies with a satisfying crunch that stay fresh for days.
Ingredients
- 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cups cake flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prepare Your Ingredients
Ensure your butter is properly softened at room temperature. This is crucial for achieving the perfect cookie texture. Measure all your ingredients accurately – baking is a science!
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter with both granulated and brown sugars until light and fluffy. This should take about 2-3 minutes with an electric mixer.
Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients
Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure everything is evenly mixed.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking soda, and salt. The cake flour is what gives these cookies their distinctive tender texture.
Step 5: Mix Dry into Wet
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
Step 6: Fold in Chocolate Chips
Stir in the chocolate chips by hand until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Step 7: Chill the Dough
Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This step is essential for preventing cookies from spreading too much.
Step 8: Bake to Perfection
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown around the edges.
Step 9: Cool and Enjoy
Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Expert Tips for Perfect Cookies
- Butter Temperature: Butter should be soft but not melted – it should hold an indent when pressed but still be cool to the touch
- Cake Flour Magic: Cake flour creates a finer crumb and more delicate texture than all-purpose flour
- Don’t Overbake: Cookies continue to cook on the hot baking sheet – remove when edges are golden but centers still look slightly underdone
- Chilling Matters: Chilled dough results in thicker cookies with better flavor development
- Cookie Size: Use a cookie scoop for consistently sized cookies that bake evenly
FAQ
Why use cake flour instead of all-purpose flour?
Cake flour has a lower protein content, which creates a more tender cookie with a delicate crumb that complements the chocolate chips perfectly.
Can I make these cookies crispy?
Yes! Bake them for the full 12 minutes and let them cool completely on the baking sheet for extra crispiness.
How long do these cookies stay fresh?
Stored in an airtight container, these cookies will stay fresh for up to 5 days – hence the name “cookies for days”!
Can I freeze the cookie dough?
Absolutely! Scoop the dough onto a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake from frozen, adding 1-2 minutes to the baking time.
Golden Chocolate Chip Cookies: The Perfect 1-Stick Butter Recipe
Ingredients
Method
- Prepare Your Ingredients – Ensure your butter is properly softened at room temperature and measure all ingredients accurately
- Cream Butter and Sugars – In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter with both granulated and brown sugars until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes with an electric mixer)
- Add Wet Ingredients – Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl
- Combine Dry Ingredients – In a separate bowl, whisk together the cake flour, baking soda, and salt
- Mix Dry into Wet – Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined
- Fold in Chocolate Chips – Stir in the chocolate chips by hand until evenly distributed throughout the dough
- Chill the Dough – Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to prevent cookies from spreading too much
- Bake to Perfection – Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C), drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets spaced 2 inches apart, bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown around edges
- Cool and Enjoy – Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely
