The Best Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies: Thin, Crunchy, and Absolutely Irresistible
If you love your chocolate chip cookies thin, golden, and perfectly crispy with every bite, this recipe will become your new favorite. These cookies bake up beautifully flat with crisp edges and just enough chew in the center. They are simple to make, require no chilling, and are ready in under 30 minutes from start to finish.
Whether you’re serving them with a glass of cold milk or packing them into a cookie tin, these homemade crispy chocolate chip cookies are sure to impress.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
- Perfectly Thin and Crispy: The combination of butter-flavored shortening and butter gives the cookies that ideal crunch.
- Quick & Easy: No dough chilling required. Just mix, scoop, and bake.
- Classic Flavor: Balanced sweetness with plenty of melty semi-sweet chocolate chips in every bite.
- Great for Storage: These cookies stay crisp and fresh for days when stored properly.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup (48 g) butter-flavored shortening
- 1/4 cup (57 g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1/3 cup (57 g) light brown sugar, packed
- 1/3 cup (70 g) granulated white sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup (120 g) all-purpose flour (sifted)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup (120 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips (mini or regular)
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheet
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
2. Cream the Fats and Sugars
In a large mixing bowl, combine the butter-flavored shortening, unsalted butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the mixture on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
3. Add the Egg and Vanilla
Beat in the egg until fully incorporated, then add the vanilla extract and mix until smooth.
4. Incorporate Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed just until a soft dough forms.
5. Fold in Chocolate Chips
Gently stir in the semi-sweet chocolate chips, ensuring they’re evenly distributed throughout the dough.
6. Portion and Flatten
Using a small cookie scoop (about 1 tablespoon of dough per cookie), scoop dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing each portion at least 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Lightly press each ball of dough to flatten slightly—this helps them spread into thin, even circles.
7. Bake
Bake in the preheated oven for 7-8 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers look set.
8. Cool and Crisp Up
Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to rest on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. The cookies will continue to crisp as they cool.
9. Store
Once completely cooled, store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week to maintain their crisp texture.
Pro Tips for Success:
- Measure Accurately: For the perfect thin and crispy texture, it’s important to measure your flour correctly. Lightly spoon flour into the measuring cup and level off with a knife.
- Use Both Shortening and Butter: The combination ensures crispiness (from shortening) and rich flavor (from butter).
- Flatten Before Baking: Don’t skip lightly pressing the dough; this helps create that beautiful thin spread.
- Monitor Baking Time Closely: Thin cookies bake fast. Overbaking can make them overly hard.
Serving Suggestions:
- Serve with a glass of cold milk, hot coffee, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Perfect addition to cookie platters, bake sales, or as edible gifts for the holidays.
This crispy chocolate chip cookie recipe proves that sometimes simple really is best. With pantry-friendly ingredients and no complicated steps, you’ll be making batch after batch of these delightful cookies all year round!