There’s something magical about the perfect chocolate chip cookie—soft, chewy, and packed with rich chocolate goodness. The deep caramel notes of brown sugar and sprinkle of flaky sea salt in this cookie transform it into a next-level treat that’s impossible to resist. I'm a sucker for a good sweet/salty combo, and the salty crunch on top of these cookies creates a flavor and texture contrast that keeps you coming back for more.
Everyone needs a go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe in their back pocket, because you never know when you’re gonna need to impress someone, fix a bad day, or just eat your feelings in the most delicious way possible. These cookies are the ultimate sweet-and-salty indulgence, perfect for cozy afternoons, sharing with friends, or savoring all on your own (highly recommend!).
Let’s be real—no bad mood stands a chance against a warm cookie straight out of the oven. If you're looking to bake up some magic, I highly recommend my chai-spiced banana bread or ultimate soft and fluffy cinnamon rolls to go along with these fabulous cookies!
Jump to:
Why You'll Love These Cookies
- Easy - You'll have warm, bakery-worthy treats in no time—no advanced skills required!
- Delicious - I'm a bit of a chocolate chip cookie connoisseur, and these are literally the best I've ever had. I'm talking chewy centers, crisp edges, melty chocolate in every bite, and that glorious hit of sea salt that makes you feel like a fancy dessert chef.
- Budget Friendly - These cookies are gourmet quality, but cost a fraction of what you'd pay at a bakery.
- Impressive - Your friends will lose their minds when you show up with these sea salt chocolate chip cookies—they’ll think you secretly went to pastry school, but nope, you’re just that good!
Ingredients
Soft chocolate chip cookies with brown sugar and sea salt combine simple, rich ingredients for a perfect balance of flavors and textures.
- AP flour - Forms the sturdy base of the dough.
- Brown sugar - Adds a deep molasses sweetness and ensures a soft, chewy interior.
- Granulated sugar - Contributes sweetness and helps create the right structure and texture.
- Butter - Provides fat for flavor and moisture to help the cookies rise.
- Eggs - Add protein to help bind the ingredients as well as richness and moisture.
- Vanilla - Enhances all of the other flavors.
- Baking powder - Acts as a leavening agent, creating air bubbles that cause the cookies to rise and achieve a light, fluffy texture.
- Baking soda - Another leavening agent to help the cookies rise.
- Table salt - Cuts the sweetness and enhances flavor.
- Chocolate chips - Add a distinct flavor and contrasting texture to the cookies.
- Sea salt flakes - Adds more flavor and extra crunch!
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies
The process of making these chocolate chip cookies is straightforward, but the results are anything but ordinary. Get ready for compliments and people asking, “What’s your secret?” Spoiler: it’s love…and salt.
- Preheat the oven to 350 F (180 C). In a mixing bowl combine softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy (2-3 minutes).
- Beat in the eggs and vanilla until fully incorporated.
- Whisk together the flour, table salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Be careful not to overmix.
5. Stir in the chocolate chips with a wooden spoon.
6. Grease a baking sheet or line with parchment paper. Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop rounded portions of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
7. Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes. They will still appear slightly underbaked, but this cooking time will lead to extra-soft cookies. Immediately after removing the cookie sheet from the oven, sprinkle a pinch of sea salt flakes over each cookie. Let the cookies sit on the cookie sheet for another 5-10 minutes, until they can be lifted off with a spatula without falling apart.
8. Move the cookies to a wire rack until cool enough to handle. The warm cookies will be extra gooey and delicious! Or let them cool completely and store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Hint: If you love your cookies extra soft and gooey (like I do), stick with the cooking time of 8-10 minutes. If you want your cookies more crunchy, keep them in the oven a few minutes longer.
Mix It Up
If you want a more classic chocolate chip cookie, skip the sea salt sprinkle at the end. These will still be phenomenal!
You can easily customize your chocolate chip cookies by swapping the semisweet chocolate chips for milk chocolate, chocolate chunks, white chocolate, or different flavored chips (peanut butter chips would be amazing with the crunchy hit of sea salt!).
Equipment
Basic kitchen equipment is all you will need for this recipe. Here's a rundown:
- Mixing bowl
- Electric hand mixer or stand mixer (unless you want a killer arm workout!)
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Tablespoon or cookie scoop for measuring out the dough
- Baking sheet
- Spatula
- Parchment paper to line the baking sheet (optional)
How to Store Chocolate Chip Cookies
To store homemade chocolate chip cookies, let them cool completely before transferring to an airtight container. For the best freshness, you can layer the cookies with parchment paper to prevent them from sticking. Keep the container at room temperature for up to a week, or freeze them for up to three months. If you want to keep them extra soft, add a slice of bread to the container—its moisture will help the cookies stay fresh!
How to Make Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies
It starts with the ingredients. I use extra brown sugar in this recipe, which retains moisture better, leading to softer cookies. The other super secret to soft cookies is a shorter baking time. The cookies will come out of the oven looking slightly underbaked, but they will end up soft and delicious!
What is Flaky Sea Salt?
Flaky sea salt is like the Lady Gaga of seasonings—sparkly, bold, and impossible to ignore. With its delicate, irregular crystals, it adds more than just a salty punch; it brings texture, drama, and a satisfying crunch. Unlike the fine grains of table salt, these airy flakes dissolve slowly, making every bite a tiny masterpiece. Perfect for sprinkling on cookies, caramel, or even avocado toast, it’s the finishing touch that makes everything feel Extra Fancy™.
If there’s one thing that takes chocolate chip cookies from “yum” to perfection, it’s a sprinkle of sea salt flakes. I’m talking about that perfect moment when sweet meets salty and your taste buds explode with happiness. This cookie uses flaky sea salt sprinkled on top of the cookies, not regular table salt, because the texture is everything. Trust me, once you’ve tried it, plain cookies will feel like you forgot the confetti at the party.
FAQ
It's the extra brown sugar, which locks in moisture, along with the short baking time. Magic!
Flaky sea salt adds texture and bursts of flavor. It doesn’t just dissolve into the dough—it sits on top, creating the perfect contrast to the sweetness. Table salt is fine for mixing into the dough, but sea salt flakes take it to the next level of taste and texture.
Technically, yes, but you’ll lose that deep, rich flavor and the soft chewiness. Brown sugar is the MVP here, so swap with caution!
Store them in an airtight container with a slice of bread. The bread will keep the cookies soft without making them soggy.
Yes, this recipe still makes an awesome classic chocolate chip cookie for the sea salt averse. But I would recommend giving the sea salt a try at least once!
Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking. Cold dough spreads less, giving you thicker, bakery-style cookies.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with soft chocolate chip cookies:
Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies with Sea Salt and Brown Sugar
Equipment
- mixing bowl
- electric hand mixer or stand mixer
- measuring cups and spoons
- tablespoon or cookie scoop
- baking sheet
- spatula
- parchment paper (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 2-½ cups AP flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon table salt
- 2 cups chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F (180 C).
- In a mixing bowl combine butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy (2-3 minutes).
- Beat in the eggs and vanilla until fully incorporated.
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and table salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Stir in the chocolate chips with a wooden spoon.
- Grease a baking sheet or line with parchment paper. Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop rounded portions of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes. They will still appear slightly underbaked when removed from the oven, but this cooking time will lead to extra-soft cookies.
- Immediately after removing the cookie sheet from the oven, sprinkle a pinch of sea salt flakes over each cookie.
- Let the cookies sit on the cookie sheet for another 5-10 minutes, until they can be lifted off with a spatula without falling apart. Move the cookies to a wire rack until cool enough to handle.
- Serve immediately, or let the cookies cool completely and store in an airtight container.
Comments
No Comments