1. Chill (or Freeze) Your Dough for Best Results
Let’s start with one of the most important tricks: chilling or freezing your cookie dough before baking. When the dough is cold, it doesn’t spread as much in the oven, which means thicker cookies with a gooey center. Try freezing your pre-scooped dough balls for at least 30 minutes, or chill the dough in the fridge for a couple of hours. If you’re really serious about flavor, let it chill overnight—the flavors will deepen, and the texture will be spot on.
2. Don’t Skimp on the Chocolate Chips (Or Chunks!)
More chocolate equals more deliciousness—it’s simple math! Use high-quality chocolate chips, or chop up your favorite chocolate bars for larger chunks and varied textures throughout. A mix of milk, dark, and semi-sweet chocolate will give your cookies that dreamy, melty bite in every mouthful. And remember: if you think you’ve added enough chocolate, add a little more. You can never have too much chocolate!
3. Use a Stand Mixer for Perfectly Creamy Dough
If you want that thick and gooey texture, a stand mixer is your best friend. It allows you to cream the butter and sugar until it’s light and fluffy, which helps create air pockets in the dough for that thick, tender bite. Mix on medium speed for about 3-4 minutes until the mixture is pale and creamy. Your cookies will thank you!
4. Measure Your Flour Properly
Too much flour can ruin your cookies, making them dry and dense instead of thick and gooey. To avoid this, use the “spoon and level” method: spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a flat edge. This ensures you get just the right amount of flour for the perfect consistency.
5. Let Your Dough Chill Before Baking
If you’re baking straight from the freezer, let the dough sit out for about 30 minutes to thaw slightly. This helps the cookies spread just the right amount in the oven, ensuring a thick, gooey center with crisp edges.
6. Always Use Room Temperature Eggs
Cold eggs can cause the dough to clump up, leading to uneven cookies. Make sure your eggs are at room temperature so they blend seamlessly into the dough, helping to create a smooth, consistent texture. If you’re in a hurry, you can place your eggs in a bowl of warm water for 5-10 minutes to bring them up to temp.
6. Top with a Pinch of Sea Salt
Just before baking, sprinkle a tiny bit of sea salt on top of each dough ball. This touch adds a burst of flavor that perfectly complements the sweetness of the chocolate and brings out the cookie’s richness.
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Now that you know all the secrets to baking the best thick and gooey chocolate chip cookie, it’s time to put these tricks into action! Get ready to impress family and friends (and maybe even yourself) with the ultimate cookie indulgence.
Want to try it out? Shop our thick and gooey chocolate chip cookie recipe and start baking the cookies of your dreams today! 🍪
Great tips, Rebecca! Thank you!