The WORST Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (2024)

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.

Jump to RecipeJump to VideoPrint Recipe

Go no further! This chocolate chip cookie recipe will ruin your life.

Consider yourself warned.

The WORST Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (1)

I can only assume that something must have gone horribly wrong to bring you here today.

Amidst a cherry-picked Pinterest Sea of “perfect chocolate chip cookies”, a Google Forest of the “best chocolate chip cookie recipe”, and dog-eared cookbooks of “award winning” and family favorite chocolate chip cookie recipes, you have somehow found yourself here, face-to-cookie with the actual worst chocolate chip cookie.

Oh, I know what you’re thinking: It’s just a cookie, right?

I mean, sure, they look innocent enough. Golden with melty chocolate chips, crinkled edges and melt-in-your-mouth interiors… but one bite and you’re positively ruined for life.

These cookies will consume your life, shrink your jeans, and steal your boyfriend (I wouldn’t put it past them, anyway).

They even contain a secret ingredient.

A Secret Ingredient You’ll Wish You Never Discovered

The WORST Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (2)

How obnoxiously cliche, and, even more obnoxiously, intriguing.

I won’t drag it out. The secret ingredient is maple syrup. And sure, pure maple syrup (priced per ounce nearly the same as gold) would work just wonderfully here. But, if you have a sticky bottle of Aunt Jemima in your cabinet (as I happened to when I set out on the unholy quest for a secret ingredient for the best-turned-worst chocolate chip cookie recipe), that will work just fine, too.

What kind of self-respecting cookie doesn’t demand purity and quality?

Only the worst kind.

The WORST Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (3)

I credit (or, rather, blame) this “secret ingredient” for being the greatest offender in this positively worst chocolate chip cookie recipe. It gives the cookies a subtle, caramelized flavor as well as long-lasting chewiness and softness (these cookies stay soft for days, and the cornstarch helps with that as well), and the flavor is to die for.

And, while anyone who takes a bite will be able to detect the extra richness of flavor, not a single taste-tester was able to identify exactly what the secret ingredient was. Just that they were enjoying “really, really good cookies”.

OK, so what’s so bad about really good chocolate chip cookies?

The WORST Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (4)

How about the fact that they will consume you as you consume them? I’m not kidding about them wrecking your relationships.

Mom’s favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe? Ditch it. You will snub your nose at every “favorite” cookie (chocolate chip or not) of the past and struggle to hold back scornful laughs at anyone who comments on any other “delicious” cookie. Nobody likes a cookie snob, and yet here you are.

Here comes that girl again, the one who’s too good for Chips Ahoy.

A Cookie Recipe for Ruining Your Life

The WORST Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (5)

Be prepared for weight gain. It creeps up slowly, the cookies gently embracing you at first, then clinging to your thighs, your stomach, tighter and tighter until yoga pants are your only way out of the house. If you’re worried about your significant other noticing, don’t bother. They don’t notice anything anymore, only whether or not there are more chocolate chip cookies readily available for consumption.

Perhaps worst of all is that this chocolate chip cookie recipe can be made so easily. There’s no stand mixer or even an electric hand-held one required. They can be stirred by hand, dirtying only two bowls.

They do need to chill for 30 minutes, which would only serve as a deterrent if 25 of those minutes weren’t spent sneaking copious chunks of cookie dough from the refrigerator.

The WORST Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (6)

If you’ve made it this far, I fear it may already be too late for you.

It’s too late for me, sadly, and I’ve made these cookies nearly a dozen times in the past two weeks. I’m swapping gym time for cookie time to keep my refrigerator well-stocked with dough, and the photo shoot for this post took three times as long as it should have because I kept eating the subjects.

If you can, stick to the “best ever” cookies. Stick to Grandma’s chocolate chip cookie recipe and the old family favorites. Those cookies are safe, your friends, made to be consumed by you.

These cookies will consume you, instead.

Good luck out there. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.

The WORST Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (7)

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my cookies spread too much?

Did you run into cookies that spread all over the baking sheet in the oven? Here are your most likely culprits:
The butter was too hot when you added your sugar, causing the sugar to melt and creating a greasy cookie dough that never stood a chance.
You didn’t add enough flour. If the flour was under-measured, your cookies could spread when baking.
Your baking powder/baking soda was bad. These need to be stored properly and often will expire after 6 months, if yours is old, that could be the problem.
The dough didn’t chill long enough. If your dough is still very sticky after 30 minutes, let it chill longer.
You put your cookie dough on a hot cookie sheet. It actually starts to melt before it can even begin baking.

Why didn’t my chocolate chip cookies spread in the oven?

It could be that your flour was over-measured. Never scoop your flour directly into your measuring cup, it packs the flour into the cup and you end up with way more than the recipe actually calls for. Instead, use a scale (this is the scale that I use) or use a spoon to pour the flour into your measuring cup and then level off the top with a straightedge (like the back of a knife).

Can I substitute something else for the maple syrup?

Honey or light or dark corn syrup would work instead of the syrup, just note that the flavor will be slightly different.

Let’s bake together!I’ll be walking you through all the steps in my written recipe andvideobelow! If you try this recipe, be sure to tag me onInstagram, and you can also find me onYouTubeandFacebook

The WORST Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (8)

The WORST Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

My apologies, it seems you've somehow stumbled upon the absolute worst chocolate chip cookie recipe. Turn back now or you'll end up like all the commenters on this post.

4.90 from 2338 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Cookies, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 13 minutes minutes

Chilling Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 58 minutes minutes

Servings: 32 large cookies

Calories: 223kcal

Author: Sam Merritt

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter melted and then cooled until no longer warm to the touch (see note)
  • 1 ½ cups (300 g) light brown sugar firmly packed
  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs room temperature preferred
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup (60 ml) maple syrup²
  • 3 ¼ cups (415 g) all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups (340 g) chocolate chips I used half regular semisweet chips and half mini semisweet chips

Recommended Equipment

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, stir together melted butter and sugars.

    1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, 1 ½ cups (300 g) light brown sugar, ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar

  • Add eggs, one at a time, stirring until combined.

    2 large eggs

  • Stir in vanilla extract and maple syrup.

    1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ¼ cup (60 ml) maple syrup²

  • In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

    3 ¼ cups (415 g) all purpose flour, 2 teaspoons cornstarch, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt

  • Gradually add flour mixture to wet ingredients, stirring until completely combined.

  • Stir in chocolate chips.

    2 cups (340 g) chocolate chips

  • Cover bowl with clear wrap and allow to chill for at least 30 minutes (chilling!? I told you, this recipe is the worst.)

  • While the dough is chilling, preheat oven to 350F (175C) and prepare cookie sheets by lining with parchment paper (if you don’t have parchment paper, you can bake directly on an ungreased cookie sheet).

  • Scoop about 2 Tablespoons of cookie dough and roll into balls, making them slightly taller than they are wide. Place them at least 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheet.

  • Bake about 13 minutes (cookies will appear to be a bit underdone, but edges should be just beginning to turn golden brown).

  • Allow cookies to cool completely on cookie sheet.

    If desired, gently press a few chocolate chips on top of the warm cookies.

  • Keep unbaked cookie dough in fridge while waiting to put the next batch in the oven, and do not place cookie dough on a hot cookie sheet.

Notes

¹Butter

You do not want your butter to be too hot or it may melt the sugar and you’ll have a very runny dough. Best practice would be to cut the butter into about Tablespoon-sized pieces, microwave in 10-second increments (stirring after each) until it is just completely melted, and then allow it to sit for 5 minutes. If your butter is too hot it could make your cookie dough or resulting cookies greasy.

²Maple Syrup

I don’t recommend leaving out the maple syrup, it is critical to the flavor and is what makes these truly the “worst” chocolate chip cookies. In a pinch, honey or even corn syrup or golden syrup will work as a substitute to give you the same texture, but the flavor will not be the same. Pure maple syrup and imitation “pancake syrup” both work just fine here, the former lends itself to slightly flatter cookies and the latter to slightly thicker ones.

Storing

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. Cookie dough may be chilled, scooped, individually wrapped in plastic wrap and then frozen in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Gluten Free

A number of readers have commented that this recipe works well when substituting the flour 1:1 with Cup4Cup Gluten Free Flour, but I have not tested this myself.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 223kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 119mg | Potassium: 12mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 500IU | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1.3mg

Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!

Related Cookie Recipes That are Also Pretty Terrible But Not As Bad:

  • The BEST Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe (Seriously!)
  • Oatmeal Cookies
  • Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
  • Easy Sugar Cookie Recipe (With Icing!)

I originally published the worst chocolate chip cookie recipe on 3/21/16. I have since updated it to include new photos and a video, but the recipe has remained unchanged.

The WORST Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can you over beat cookies? ›

Unless you want extra-crispy cookies, avoid overmixing your dough. "Overmixing your dough will result in flatter, crispier cookies," Cowan said. If you overmix, you will end up aerating (adding air to) the dough, which causes the cookies to rise and then fall, leaving you with flat cookies.

Can you beat cookie dough? ›

Realize that most recipes combine the flour and other dry ingredients before adding them to the butter mixture. Raisins, chocolate chips, other "add ins" and, sometimes oats, are added last. Once dry ingredients have been added, don't beat vigorously or overmix. Overmixing can result in tough cookies.

How to make hard cookies? ›

Your cookies will end up chewy when you leave the batter as-is. How can I make my cookies crunchy? Adding more butter to your recipe, baking your cookies longer, and letting them cool on the baking sheet will help give you crunchier cookies.

What is the secret to soft cookies? ›

The lower the protein, the softer your cookies will be. All-purpose flour is a medium-protein flour, making for mediumly-soft cookies. Cake flour is low in protein and you can substitute it into cookie recipes for all-purpose flour 1:1. The results will be very tender cookies.

How to tell if batter is overmixed? ›

Ready-to-go pancake batters and muffin doughs should be delightfully fluffy—don't fear a few lumps! When overmixed, these batters become dense and heavy or liquidy and runny, or visibly slack. Undermixed biscuit and pie dough won't hold together when pressed or squished, and there will be dry, uneven scabby bits.

How many cookies a day is ok? ›

While one cookie a day isn't going to completely derail your diet goals, it's often easy to eat more than one at a time, and soon enough, downing quite a few cookies throughout the day could lead to unwanted pounds.

Is runny cookie dough OK? ›

While it may not be as firm as you'd like, it'll work well enough to bake. (Tip: add a tiny bit of sugar with each tablespoon of flour to keep the sweet taste.) If you're feeling extra hopeless, try adding the flour and then placing the dough in the fridge to harden up.

How to beat cookie mix? ›

Unlike folding, beating means to stir rapidly to blend ingredients into a smooth mixture while also adding a bit of air to the mixture. Beating can be done by hand with a whisk or using a stand mixer with the whisk attachment (or an electric handheld mixer) on medium to high speed.

Can you beat cookie clicker? ›

There is no end to the game, but some believe getting all the achievements is technically seen as "finishing the game".

What is soda powder? ›

Baking soda is a leavening agent used in baked goods like cakes, muffins, and cookies. Formally known as sodium bicarbonate, it's a white crystalline powder that is naturally alkaline, or basic (1). Baking soda becomes activated when it's combined with both an acidic ingredient and a liquid.

How to soften biscotti? ›

The best way to soften up those hard cookies is something you probably already have in your kitchen… bread! That's right, a piece of fresh bread will make those tough treats soft and chewy.

Why are my chewy cookies hard? ›

Cookies become hard when the moisture in them evaporates. This can be caused by leaving them out in the air for too long, baking them for too long, or storing them improperly. The lack of moisture makes the cookies hard and dry, which makes them difficult to enjoy.

Is it OK to use melted butter instead of softened? ›

Softened butter and melted butter are not the same. Using melted butter will change the texture of whatever you're baking. If you only want the butter to soften for spreading, microwave it on the Defrost setting (30%) in 5-second increments until it's softened as desired.

Should I use baking soda or baking powder in cookies? ›

Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

What ingredient makes a cookie chewy? ›

Cornstarch gives the cookies that ultra soft consistency we all love. Plus, it helps keep the cookies beautifully thick. We use the same trick when making shortbread cookies. Egg yolk: Another way to promise a super chewy chocolate chip cookie is to use an extra egg yolk.

How long to beat cookies? ›

I Can Stop Beating, Right? Wrong. "If you don't cream your butter and sugar long enough, your cookies won't be light and fluffy—they'll be flat," says Roman. She recommends beating those suckers for at least 3-5 minutes.

What does beating do to cookies? ›

In pastry-speak, this process is described as "mechanical leavening": physically cramming air into a dough so that it'll puff up in the oven like a hot-air balloon.

Can you over beat butter for cookies? ›

Likewise, it is possible to overbeat your mixture—if it starts to look soupy and oily, you've gone too far. This whole process typically takes between 2 and 5 minutes.

How not to overmix cookie dough? ›

Blend in the eggs until well incorporated, as with the cookie dough, then add the flour and liquid, typically in alternating additions. Once both liquid and flour have been added to the mixing bowl, that's when you need to worry about over-mixing. Beat until the flour streaks disappear, but no more.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kelle Weber

Last Updated:

Views: 6656

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (73 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kelle Weber

Birthday: 2000-08-05

Address: 6796 Juan Square, Markfort, MN 58988

Phone: +8215934114615

Job: Hospitality Director

Hobby: tabletop games, Foreign language learning, Leather crafting, Horseback riding, Swimming, Knapping, Handball

Introduction: My name is Kelle Weber, I am a magnificent, enchanting, fair, joyous, light, determined, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.