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This is the best crispy chocolate chip cookie recipe. After multiple attempts and countless batches of cookies, I’ve finally found the winning combination for the ultimate, crunchy chocolate chip cookie and you’re going to LOVE them!

large stack of chocolate chip cookies.


BEST Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have spent years trying to find the perfect recipe for crispy chocolate chip cookies so, trust me when I say that this is seriously the best crunchy chocolate chip cookie recipe. All it took were several attemps and a little bit of cookie science.

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • I have tested this recipe extensively so you know they’ll work
  • I have special ingredient tweaks to make them turn out flat and crunchy 
  • These chocolate chip cookies are SO crunchy!
  • They’re even better than Tate’s cookies – I promise.
ingredients in crispy chocolate chip cookies.

Ingredients Needed

  • Cornstarch: When I was testing my cookbook I realized adding a bit of cornstarch can help with making a crunchy cookie. America’s Test Kitchen uses cake flour, but we all know I forget to buy that, so a combination of all-purpose flour and cornstarch are one trick.
  • Baking soda: this leavener helps with spread, so I have a little more than my regular cookie recipe.
  • Butter: As usual, I used melted butter. But since these are supposed to spread there is no chill time!
  • Sugar: I used both granulated sugar and light brown sugar for these cookies. 
  • Egg yolk: this is the another secret trick to getting the ultimate crunchy cookie. I left the egg white out so there would be less structure to the cookie, allowing them to flatten in the oven.
  • Nonfat milk: or any milk but if you want to achieve the best crispy chocolate chip cookies, use nonfat milk. It helps mix our dry ingredients together without adding too much creamy fat from the milk, which in turn keeps the cookie batter dry for a crumbly cookie. 
  • Chocolate chips: I think mini chocolate chips work best in flat cookies. That way there is chocolate in every bite!

Click to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!

How to make crispy chocolate chip cookies

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F and line your prepared baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper.
  2. Mix your dry ingredients in a medium size bowl. Add flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine then set aside.
  3. Stir melted butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until smooth.
  4. Add egg yolk, milk, and vanilla extract and stir together until evenly combined.
  5. Mix your dry ingredients with wet ingredients.
  6. Stir in your mini chocolate chips.
  7. Scoop cookie dough balls onto prepared cookie sheets, leaving space between each cookie ball for room to spread.  
  8. Bake for 16-20 minutes or until they’re a rich golden brown all over the top and not glossy. 
  9. Cool at room temperature or at least 10 minutes before removing it from the cookie sheet. Cookies will get crunchy as they cool.
large stack of chocolate chip cookies.

Tip From Dorothy

Expert Tips

  • Dough will be soft when scooping, but should not flatten on the cookie sheet. If dough is too soft, allow to sit at room temperature for 5 minutes before scooping cookies.
  • Mini chocolate chips allow the cookies to flatten correctly and ensure that you’ll have chocolate in every bite. I don’t recommend regular-sized chocolate chips in this recipe, but you can chop up baking chocolate if you can’t find mini chips.
  • You can use any fat content milk or nondairy milk, but a higher fat content might change the texture a little bit, but it shouldn’t be noticeable.
  • You can freeze cookie dough balls but allow them to thaw and come to room temperature before baking.
  • Freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months in an airtight container. They’re good even from the freezer!

FAQs

What makes crispy chocolate chip cookies?

To achieve a crispy and crunchy cookie, add cornstarch and use nonfat milk. Doing so thickens up the batter, and keeps the cookie dough dry. 

How to store crispy chocolate chip cookies?

Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. 

Can you freeze chocolate chip cookie dough?

Yes. You can freeze your chocolate chip cookie dough balls in a sealed bag. Once you’re ready to bake them, allow your dough balls to thaw out for about an hour at room temp and they’re ready to drop in the oven!

large stack of chocolate chip cookies.

Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies

4.70 from 56 votes
These are your classic chocolate chip cookies but with an extra crunch and a delicious taste!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Yield 26
Serving Size 1 serving

Ingredients
 

  • 1 ¼ cups (155g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons (16g) cornstarch
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter melted
  • ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • cup (67g) packed brown sugar
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 2 tablespoons nonfat milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (160g) mini chocolate chips
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Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Line cookie sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper.
  • Place flour in a medium size bowl. Add cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Whisk to combine then set aside.
  • Stir melted butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until smooth.
  • Add egg yolk, milk, and vanilla extract. Stir until smooth.
  • Stir dry ingredients into wet ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips.
  • Scoop 1 tablespoon sized cookie dough balls onto prepared cookie sheets, 3 inches apart.
  • Bake for 16-20 minutes or until they’re a rich golden brown all over the top and not glossy.
  • Let cool at least 10 minutes before removing from the cookie sheet. Cookies will get crunchy as they cool.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

  • Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
  • Freeze baked cookies for up to 2 months.
  • You can freeze cookie dough balls but allow them to thaw and come to room
    temperature before baking.
  • Dough will be soft when scooping, but should not flatten on the cookie sheet. If dough is too soft, allow to sit at room temperature for 5 minutes before scooping cookies.
  • Mini chocolate chips allow the cookies to flatten correctly and ensure that you’ll have
    chocolate in every bite. I don’t recommend regular-sized chocolate chips in this recipe, but you can chop up baking chocolate if you can’t find mini chips.
  • You can use any fat content milk or nondairy milk, but a higher fat content might change the texture a little bit, but it shouldn’t be noticeable.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 119kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 83mg | Potassium: 14mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 137IU | Vitamin C: 0.04mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Dessert
Cuisine American

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Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

4.70 from 56 votes (34 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




45 Comments

  1. These cookies were lovely and crisp
    Have been looking fir a recipe that gave me this crispy cookie for ages. All other recipes the cookies were very soft. Will keep this as my go to recipe from now on.
    Thank you

  2. This recipe is just what it says it is, the best crispy chocolate chip cookie. The first tray spread out, but the second did not. I believe this is because I added nuts to the batter and therefore changed the recipe. They are still crispy, just not spread out. I’ll use this recipe from now on.

  3. Dorothy, you hit a home run here. I love crispy, crunchy cookies. These are the best ever and not oily like some. and are so good I am throwing away all my other recipes including the original Hershey’s. By the comments, I think you are under-appreciated. But then I think most Americans just eat, with little attention to quality ingredients and are unable to differentiate between good cooking and bad cooking, especially since cooking at home is becoming one of the ‘lost arts.’ Two examples: We have a Mexican restaurant that is extremely busy and people rave about. The chicken is cooked hard and dry like jerky and the ‘steak’ is extra, extra well done – both flavorless and hard to chew. We also have an ice cream soft-serve store that people wait in long lines for and the online reviews – there are hundreds of “the best ever.” I would give it a 3 or 4 out of 10.

  4. I made these flavorful cookies however they did not spread out as I thought they would
    I checked my measurements and ingredients as I normally do, don’t know what the issue was, but were delish anyway!!