Jacques Torres' Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Chocolate

by: Posie (Harwood) Brien

June4,2021

4

20 Ratings

  • Prep time 24 hours
  • Cook time 15 minutes
  • Makes 2 1/2 dozen large cookies

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Author Notes

Beloved for good reason, these epic cookies are packed with gooey puddles of melted chocolate. Cake flour, bread flour, and a 24-hour rest give them an exceptional chewy but firm texture. —Posie (Harwood) Brien

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 2 cupsminus 2 tablespoons cake flour
  • 1 2/3 cupsbread flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoonsbaking powder
  • 1 1/4 teaspoonsbaking soda
  • 1 1/2 teaspoonscoarse salt
  • 1 1/4 cups(2 1/2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
  • 1 1/4 cupspacked brown sugar
  • 1 cupplus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoonsvanilla extract
  • 1 1/3 poundsbittersweet chocolate discs
  • flaky sea salt, for sprinkling
Directions
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the cake flour, bread flour, baking powder, baking soda, and coarse salt. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
  3. Add the eggs, one at a time, to the butter/sugar mixture and beat well. Add the vanilla and mix thoroughly, scraping down the sides of the bowl as you go.
  4. Add the flour mixture gradually, beating until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds.
  5. Fold in the chocolate using a spatula.
  6. Press a piece of plastic wrap against the surface of the dough and refrigerate for at least 24 hours, or up to 72 hours.
  7. When you're ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350° F.
  8. Scoop large spoonfuls of dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet (I did about 1/4-cup spoonfuls). Sprinkle with the flaky sea salt and bake for 13 to 15 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to brown and the middle still looks soft.
  9. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Tags:

  • Cookie
  • Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • American
  • Chocolate
  • Snack

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Dawn

  • Petite fee

  • Tracy

  • Debbie

  • lacrema

Popular on Food52

45 Reviews

Christine February 3, 2023

So I see you didn't post my well-written review...only the effusive stuff, eh?

I'll find a way.

CtyGrl December 4, 2022

The absolute best chocolate chip cookie recipe! Butter temperature is critical and do not over beat. I make the dough into balls, then refrigerate for 48 hours before baking or freezing

UMMIE8 October 15, 2022

Best I've tried by far! Came out perfectly, buttery and soft but prefer I do prefer AP flour over using the bread flour because the first time I tried the recipe I had no bread flour so had to use AP and turned out brilliantly.
Then I purchased bread flour and made them again and I wasn't very happy with the results. They seemed a little dry.

I'm gonna try for a 3rd using half bread half AP along with cake and report back.

But I think ultimately I will just stick with the AP.

JoyGim August 7, 2023

Thanks, I only have AP flour at moment and will try :)

sjl November 22, 2021

By far the BEST chocolate chip cookie recipe I've ever made. LOVE THESE!!!

Keenan May 23, 2021

We have chocolate chip cookie bake offs in my apt... trying to find the best homemade version (we are big fans of Levain cc cookies). They have to be crisp on the outside but very soft and gooey on the inside... so far these are the winners. We continue to try out new recipes but these have yet to be beat.

ydonaldson September 11, 2019

Can't wait to make these. Salted or unsalted butter? Or does it matter? I usually use unsalted for baking.

Posie (. September 11, 2019

Unsalted!

Dawn April 17, 2019

Finally a chocolate chip cookie that is perfect at high altitude!! This is the best cc cookie I have ever had...YUM

chudson07 January 13, 2020

Can I what altitude you are baking at? I'm at 6,600 ft and am wondering if I should make adjustments. I typically do but if this recipe worked for you at a higher altitude then it could work for me too! (fingers crossed)

Petite F. November 16, 2018

As said, crispy outside, moist inside...perfect!

Thank you for sharing...

Tracy May 17, 2018

I think these are the best cookies i have ever baked! Something about the texture, chewy and crunchy! Thank you!

Debbie March 20, 2018

These are OUTSTANDING! I made the dough this afternoon and baked only 2 cookies. One to try now (because I'm completely impatient) and another to save for tomorrow to test next to the ones that have rested/chilled for 24 hours. So this review is only based on the immediately baked cookie - it really was sooooo good! I'm so excited to try them tomorrow! I used 12oz large chocolate chips instead of 1⅓ lb bittersweet discs -- I prefer less chips in my cookies. Happy baking!

Debbie May 18, 2018

update...They are good straight away. But they are AMAZING if you let them rest. Very rarely do we let them rest for 72 hours (I'm not that good of a planner). We usually make it somewhere between 3-24 hours. People now ask me to make these for them. :) So delicious!

ymelda August 25, 2018

Thanks for testing because of your impatience! Will make this NOW!♥

tersher July 10, 2017

I've just separated all the "extra" cookies in a freezer bag for a later session and am about to pop round one of these babies in the oven....my amendment is the addition of hazelnut flour!! I am so freaking excited. Will update!

tersher July 10, 2017

okay update! They are fantastic! The texture has a crunch, but then immediately gives into this soft, chewy inner body....just fantastic! I could have used more vanilla though and more chocolate chips, and maybe some almond extract to enhance the hazelnut flour....but all in all, I am extremely happy with the turn out. Also, I forgot to mention, I didn't have bread flour, but I did have semolina...so I threw that in to compensate for the lack of protein the the APF....def something to the cake/bread flour combo! Great share!

Debbie December 1, 2016

to all those asking about the flour amounts.. Its ABSOLUTELY CORRECT !! I've made these dozens of times and this is BY FAR the most decadent delicious PERFECT Chocolate chip cookie on the earth. NO LIE! I will admit I have played with the recipe a bit but the flour mixtures are imperative... ive split half butter half coconut oil with very good results some actually liked it better for the subtle coconut flavor. But this recipe is the gold standard!!

Shelley P. July 24, 2016

Any thoughts/feedback on the Torres flour quantity mentioned by Kate? I am a newbie baker and don't want to goof it up. shelley

Kathy L. July 22, 2016

I notice that neither recipe mentions adding walnuts. In my opinion, walnuts MAKE the cookie! It's not worth going to all the effort without them. I'm going to try the Jacques Torres recipe WITH walnuts...yum!

kate July 22, 2016

These sound fabulous - but I'm confused (and more confused that no one has asked about this yet!). In the introduction, it says that the Torres recipe calls for about 2 1/3 cups of flour (combo), but the recipe calls for about 3 1/3 (which sounds like a lot). Help! ;)

Lisa K. July 24, 2016

Agreed! That's A LOT of flour...

D.J. May 30, 2016

Posie, when the New York Times first published this recipe in the summer of 2008, I was a teacher on summer break who thought it'd be fun to make homemade cookies. It sparked something in me and I'm now a professional pastry chef. It all started with these amazing cookies. Thanks for exposing this recipe to the masses again!

lacrema April 18, 2016

My go-to for chocolate chip cookies. I use Ghirardelli 60% cocoa chips and add a bit of rum (I'm cooking at high altitude and somehow the liquid seems to help-- plus the taste blooms a bit). They're beyond amazing.

Jacqueline H. August 14, 2016

I started my own vanilla extra a couple of years ago now with (I don't even remember what brand...) rum. While I've switched the beans out a couple of times and it's very clearly vanilla extract, the rum smell is definitely still there. I'm wondering if that is the little extra "something" that people comment on in my baked goods that I've just taken for granted! Food for thought. :)

Connie April 17, 2016

When I stumbled on this recipe, I couldn't imagine bothering with a chocolate chip cookie recipe that required a 24 hour resting period. It seemed awfully fussy--bread and cake flour? special chocolate? flaked sea salt? C'mon! I have been baking cc cookies since I was a kid! How could these be that much better? I stand corrected. As promised, the cookies are slightly crunchy outside and oh, so tender inside. They have a perfect balance of salty and sweet, gooey and crunchy, humble and transcendant. My husband and son are chocolate chip cookie snobs and each have their own favorite recipe. Both of them declared these delightful. Going forward, I will always have these gems portioned out in my freezer, ready to bake in the time it takes to preheat my oven. Thank you, Food52 and Jacques.

Posie (. April 17, 2016

Ooh this comment so made my day! Happy you went out on a limb and tried them. It's a more intense cookie for sure, but really a worthwhile recipe to have when you want a SERIOUS dessert! (I have two bags of dough balls in my freezer right now -- you're a wise woman.)

Courtney C. April 7, 2016

These are perfect - seriously. Make them and devour them.

Hemz7781 April 6, 2016

I adore this recipe; it's the only chocolate chip cookie recipe I use. I do, however, find that it has way too much chocolate. So instead I use a 16 oz bag of ghirardelli mini chocolate chips.

Jacques Torres' Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to chewy cookies? ›

Cornstarch helps product soft and thick cookies. Using more brown sugar than white sugar results in a moister, softer cookie. An extra egg yolk increases chewiness. Rolling the cookie dough balls to be tall and lumpy instead of wide and smooth gives the cookies a bakery-style textured thickness.

What makes chocolate chip cookies spread too much? ›

Excess Sugar and Fat

Measuring is key in baking. If your cookie contains excess sugar or fat, it will spread while baking. If your first batch of cookies spreads, try adding a few tablespoons of flour to help thicken the remaining dough.

How to make store bought chocolate chip cookies taste homemade? ›

No one will even suspect they're store-bought (and we won't tell anyone!).
  1. Add brown sugar. ...
  2. Experiment with extracts. ...
  3. Mix in different candies and snacks. ...
  4. Add espresso or coffee grounds. ...
  5. Deepen the flavors by refrigerating the dough. ...
  6. Salt before baking the cookies. ...
  7. Reduce baking time for extra soft cookies.

Why are my oatmeal chocolate chip cookies so hard? ›

There are a few reasons why your oatmeal cookies may be too hard. Perhaps you left them in the oven a couple of minutes too long. To rectify this, simply bake the next batch for less time. Another reason could be the density of the dough.

How do I make my cookies chewy instead of crunchy? ›

How To Make Cookies Chewy Without Cornstarch
  1. Go heavy on brown sugar. It has more moisture than its granulated counterpart, which means the cookie comes out less crispy. ...
  2. Choose margarine or shortening instead of butter. ...
  3. Use baking powder instead of baking soda. ...
  4. Rest your dough. ...
  5. Shorten baking time.
May 14, 2023

What can I add to box cookie mix to make it better? ›

Substitute Ingredients
  1. Butter Instead of Margarine.
  2. Substitute margarine or shortening for butter using a 1:1 ratio.
  3. Coconut Oil Instead Of Other Fats.
  4. Substitute any fat or oil for coconut oil using a 1:1 ratio.
  5. Maple Syrup Instead Of Granulated Sugar.
  6. Vanilla Extract.
  7. Vanilla Essence Vs. Vanilla Extract.
  8. Almond Extract.

Why do my homemade chocolate chip cookies get 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.

What is the trick to keep baked goods like cookies soft? ›

A good trick I've learned for softer cookies. After they've baked and cooled completely. Store them in an airtight container with a piece of plain white bread overnight. I've blown so many peoples minds with this over the years.

What cookie ingredient will rise and be softer? ›

Eggs, particularly egg yolks. Eggs work to make your cookies soft in two ways: They add a ton of moisture, and the proteins add structure that prevents spreading. Cake flour instead of all-purpose flour. Low in protein and high in moisture, cake flour is used to leaven all sorts of baked goods.

What makes cookies fluffy and not flat? ›

Flour adds fluff and texture to the cookies. Adding too little flour can cause cookies to be flat, greasy, and crispy. Most recipes assume you'll use all-purpose, but if you want a lighter, crumblier cookie texture, choose one with a lower protein content such as cake-and-pastry flour.

How to make cookies softer? ›

Ingredients to Keep Cookies Soft

Butter is more than 15% water, so it plays a role in making cookies soft by adding water and fat, which contributes flavor and tenderness. Melting the butter you're using can make the cookie softer.

What are three factors that contribute to a chewy cookie? ›

Salted butter, softened – I prefer salted butter but you can also use unsalted and add an extra pinch of salt to the dough. Brown sugar – Just brown sugar because we will get the 'granulated sugar' flavor from the corn syrup. Corn syrup – The corn syrup is what makes these cookies CHEWY FOR DAYS.

What makes a cookie chewy and not cakey? ›

White sugar creates crispier cookies and brown sugar creates chewier cookies. Why use melted butter? Melted butter creates cookies with a different texture compared to cookies made with softened or creamed butter. When butter is melted, it coats the flour more evenly, resulting in cookies that are chewier and denser.

Why don't my cookies come out chewy? ›

Brown sugar—particularly dark brown sugar—makes a cookie chewy; white sugar makes it crispy. If your recipe calls for all white sugar and you want a fudgier result, try swapping out some of the white sugar for brown (go for half and half and adjust from there). You can also use honey or molasses for a chewier cookie.

What makes cookies rubbery? ›

Eggs bind the ingredients and make for moist, chewy cookies. Adding too many eggs can result in gummy, cake-like cookies. Adding too few eggs can result in dry, crumbly cookies. Beat each one in separately and thoroughly.

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