Everything you want in a chocolate chip cookie —crispy on the outside, chewy in the middle, and with puddles of gooey dark chocolate.
I’ve been working tirelessly on this recipe trying to nail down the perfect chocolate chip cookie minus the eggs and dairy. After the seventh and final test…I did it.
I wanted a cookie that wasn’t too soft yet still retained its integrity. I wanted it to be chewy and crispy, but not flat as a pancake or as crisp as a cracker.
The edges are perfectly crispy, the center is chewy and soft, and every bite comes with gooey dark chocolate.
The secret to these cookies and why they will be your new go-to?
Melted butter
I’ve tested this recipe with multiple measurements of room temperature butter and although they yielded a delicious cookie the texture wasn’t chewy or crispy enough. Adding melted butter added moisture to the cookie and when the dough is refrigerated overnight it adds chewiness to the final product.
Brown sugar and granulated sugar ratio
Dark brown sugar is the key component to achieve a chewy cookie. It’s because it holds high hygroscopic characteristics. In other words, it has a high ability to hold water yielding a moist cookie with a chewy texture.
Dark chocolate
Chocolate chips won’t cut it for this recipe. If you’re looking for those gooey puddles of rich chocolate then you’ll want to roughly chop up a quality dark chocolate bar. HIGHLY suggest this above any other options.
Vanilla extract
Yes, this recipe calls for 2 tsp of vanilla extract, and yes it makes a difference. What’s with all these recipes calling for 1 tsp? Vanilla extract adds so much flavor to cookies!
Refrigeration
If you really want a high quality, rich chocolate chip cookie you must refrigerate it overnight.
This is key for a chewy and very flavorful cookie.
Once the batter is done, portion it out using a cookie scoop onto a lined baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Once you’re ready to bake it in the morning evenly space out the dough and bake away.
You will be baking at a higher temperature, but this will allow the cookie to get perfectly crisp on the outside.
Freezing
These cookies are also delicious from frozen! Once the batter is done, portion it out using a cookie scoop onto a lined baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for up to 6 weeks.
Bake at 330F for 13 minutes until edges are golden brown. The middle may look a bit underdone, but that’s ok. It will continue to set as it cools.
These Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies are…
- Crispy and chewy
- Filled with pools of dark chocolate
- Simple and easy
- Dairy & egg-free
- Oh so delicious
Everything you want in a chocolate chip cookie —crispy on the outside, chewy in the middle, and with puddles of gooey dark chocolate.
- ½ cup vegan butter, melted (1 stick of butter, melted)
- ¾ cup packed dark brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp non-dairy milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- 4-5 oz. bittersweet (60-70%) chocolate bar, roughly chopped
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In a large mixing bowl, use a handheld mixer to cream together butter and sugars until fluffy. Beat in the non-dairy milk and vanilla extract.
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Add flour, baking soda and powder, and salt. Combine on low speed until a soft dough forms. Fold in chocolate. Use a small cookie scoop to portion out dough on to a lined baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
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Preheat the oven to 375°F. Evenly space out cookie dough on to two lined baking sheets. Allow cookies to sit at room temperature for 35 minutes before baking.
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Bake for 13-14 minutes until tops are golden brown. Allow cooling on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack.
Storage + Freezing:
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temp. for up to a week. Alternatively, store portioned cookie dough in the freezer for up to 6 weeks.
When baking from frozen, bake at 330F for 13 minutes until edges are golden brown. The middle may look a bit underdone, but that’s ok. It will continue to set as it cools.
Hi!!! What a beautiful recipe! One question : do you flatten the cookies with your palm before pitting them in the oven? Or just leave them ball-shaped and they flatten themselves once in the oven? Thanks
Author
Great question, Giorgia! No you don’t need to flatten them before they go in the oven. They will flatten while baking 🙂
The best chocolate chip cookies. Thank you for this great recipe.
Author
So happy to hear, Sara!