Read our affiliate disclosure here.

Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies:
Just 5 Ingredients (Maybe 6!)

These Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies are a tweak to the classic recipe, but with fewer ingredients making the recipe simple and quick to put together.

It surprises many people to know that you don’t absolutely need to add vanilla, salt, baking powder – or for that matter, baking soda – to the cookie dough in order to make great chocolate chip cookies.

Having said that, The Elf’s version of this stripped-down recipe calls for baking soda, mainly so that the cookie surfaces have bends and crinkles on top. If you’re in a hurry or if you’re a minimalist, you can simplify the recipe even further to just 5 ingredients if you eliminate the baking soda and substitute the all-purpose flour with self-rising flour … or simply eliminate the baking soda altogether and let six ingredients become just five.

Two cups of chocolate chips may seem like a lot for a simple chocolate chip cookie recipe, but no one says this version should taste simple. Wait until you bite into the result.

Prep time: 15 minutes

Bake time: 10-12 minutes

Makes about 2-3 dozen cookies

Ingredients

¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) butter or margarine, room temperature

1 ¼ cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

12 ounces (2 cups) chocolate chips – your preference: semi-sweet chocolate, milk chocolate, bittersweet chocolate, or chocolate chunks

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350º F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
   
   
2. In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, cream butter and  brown sugar together until light and fluffy, scraping the bowl continually. Beat in the egg
   
   
3. Measure and mix together the flour and baking soda. Mix the dry ingredients into creamed mixture in two iadditions, combining until well blended. Do not over beat. Add chocolate chips to the dough.
   
   
4. Use an ice cream scoop or cookie scoop to drop rounded teaspoonfuls onto the prepared baking trays, 2 inches apart.
   
   
5. Bake 10-12 minutes until cookies are lightly brown around the edges.
   
   
6. Remove cookie sheets from the oven. Allow cookies to sit for 5 minutes before using a spatula to transfer them to a wire rack. Cool completely.
   
   
7. Store cookies in an airtight container.

More Easy Cookie Recipes from The Elf

3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies: easy cookie recipe and gluten-free ...

Chocolate Chip Bar Cookies: moist and soft, quick recipe ...

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies: chocolate chip cookie variation ...

Chocolate Chip-Peanut Butter Squares from Bake-Off #38 ...

Cinnamon Toffee Pecan Cookies: just 6 ingredients ...

Easy Brownies: simpler than using a mix ...

Oreo Krispie Treats: easy no-bake cookie recipe ...

Smores Bars: easy, no-bake cookies, fun for kids ...

More Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes from The Elf

Chocolate Chip Cookie FAQs: baking tips for America's favorite cookie ...

Best Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe ...

Chocolate Chip-Peanut Butter Squares from Bake-Off #38 ...

Chocolate Chip Shortbread recipe ...

Fran's Cherry Chocolate Chip Cookies ...

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies: Just 7 Ingredients ...

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe ...

Praline Chocolate Chip Cookies: a variation of the classic recipe ...

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies: easy variation ...

Strawberry Chocolate Chip Cookies: easy cake mix cookie recipe ...

A quick history of chocolate chip cookies ...

All about different chocolate chip varieties ...

Return from Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies to The Cookie Elf home