How to bake the softest chocolate chip cookies! You’ll love this soft and fluffy classic chocolate chip cookie recipe. A delicious cookie recipe that comes out of the oven perfect every time!

Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies Stacked on each other.
Soft Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

The Softest Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Want to bake the most perfect soft and fluffy chocolate chip cookies? After making this easy recipe, we promise these amazing chocolate chip cookies will be a staple in your house.

We love desserts with chocolate chips and have a friend who makes the fluffiest, softest cookies. But when we would try to make cookies like hers, they would come out flat.

After a lot of baking and testing our cookie dough recipe, we’re happy to have figured out the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe to share with you!

If you have ever had cookies come out flat, then you must try this recipe for the softest chocolate chip cookies. Believe me, you won’t be disappointed.

Soft chocolate chip cookies

How to Make the Softest Chocolate Chip Cookies

I swear these cookies are so good, you absolutely have to try them! It’s been our go-to recipe for years now. 

Softest chocolate chip cookies recipe
The Softest Chocolate Chip Cookies

Fluffy Chocolate Chip Cookie Ingredients

These soft and fluffy cookies come out of the oven perfect every time! Jump to the recipe for full directions and to print this recipe.

  • flour
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • unsalted butter
  • sugar
  • brown sugar
  • instant vanilla pudding mix
  • vanilla
  • egg

What Makes a Cookie Hard or Soft?

I’ve always wondered what makes a chocolate chip cookie soft and fluffy and why my cookies always turned out hard and flat.

After all of my cookie baking tests, the answer seems to be due to one secret ingredient.

By adding my additional “secret” ingredient of instant pudding mix, the cookie dough batter is thicker than usual. You can easily roll the batter into balls before baking.

Amy Locurto Lifestyle Food Blogger smiling wearing pink shirt

Pro Tip: Refrigerate your cookie dough for 30-60 minutes before baking to insure your cookies come out of the oven extra soft.

How to Store and Keep Chocolate Chip Cookies Soft

This cookie recipe is fluffy, but they can also begin to get hard and crumbly if you leave them out overnight.

To keep these chocolate chip cookies soft, I recommend storing them in an airtight container or zip-lock bag with a piece of bread wrapped in a paper towel.

The container will help slow moisture loss, and the bread will provide moisture to help the cookies stay extra soft. It’s like magic! After the slice of bread gets hard, replace it with a fresh slice of bread.

softest chocolate chip cookies stacked on top of each other

How to Decorate the Softest Chocolate Chip Cookies

I love to decorate these cookies for Christmas with Rolo candy and holiday sprinkles. You will find this recipe in many of my party food ideas here on Living Locurto!

Rolo Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies

These chocolate chip cookies come out soft, fluffy and perfect every time! Basically, this is a classic chocolate chip recipe with a special twist. Enjoy!

Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies Stacked on each other.
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4.92 from 12 votes

Softest Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

A recipe for the BEST and softest chocolate chip cookies! Soft fluffy cookies that come out perfect every time. A classic chocolate chip cookie recipe.
Total Time18 minutes
Yield: 24 cookies
Author: Amy Locurto

Equipment

Calories: 230kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 ¼ cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • 1 small package instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 egg
  • 1 ½ cups chocolate chips
  • ½ cup nuts optional

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°
  • Mix baking soda, flour and salt in a large bowl and set aside.
  • Combine butter, sugars and pudding mix into a mixing bowl, beating until fluffy.
  • Add vanilla and egg, then beat until smooth.
  • Add flour mixture to the cookie batter and mix well.
  • Stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
  • Shape into one inch balls and place on a cookie sheet.
  • Bake for 8-10 minutes.
Plan To Make This?Please share if you do. Mention @LivingLocurto or tag #LivingLocurto on Instagram. We’d love to see!
CLICK HERE -> To Leave a Comment
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: baking, chocolate, chocolate chip, cookies, dessert

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 230kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 174mg | Potassium: 44mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 270IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 0.9mg

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Originally published on June 4, 2009 – Updated 2025

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63 Comments

  1. These look delicious! Just added to my list this week!

  2. 5 stars
    Our cookies turned out incredible! This is an amazing recipe!!

  3. What is pudding mix in the uk?

  4. The smaller pack. You can add as many chocolate chips as you like. No limit:-)

  5. the directions say 1/2 pack of choc chips is that a 12 oz pack aore a 24 oz pack.

  6. Jana Morrow Henderson says:

    How many cookies does this make?

  7. Karla Kurtz says:

    5 stars
    These were sooo yummy!! Thank you!

  8. @Cathy,

    Sorry about that! I think they are crumbly but mine always turn out really soft. All other cookies I make in my oven spread out to be too much and practically flat. I was never able to get the cookie to be fluffy and soft. I like how they don’t spread that much. I really do think it depends on a person’s oven also. Thanks for trying them!

  9. I just made these and found the dough to be crumbly and dry and the cookies didn’t spread much when they baked…

  10. 5 stars
    I use chocolate pudding mix and it is AMAZING too!

  11. Anonymous says:

    @Gaby, Just dump the pudding mix straight from the box!

  12. I was wondering the same thing. Have you received an answer? Do we make the pudding or just dump the pudding mix straight from the box?

  13. 5 stars
    I once went on a quest to make the perfect cc cookie. I read that if you let the dough sit cover in the refrigerator for 12-36 hours the butter and flour react in a way that makes the cookies brown beautifully and the flavor deepens. I also heard cake flour makes the texture really nice. Love your blog! Keep up the great work!

  14. sounds great! I’m going to try them this weekend

  15. Ok, this may be a dumb question but, Do you just open the pudding mix up and dump it in or do you actually make the pudding and then add it? Also, how big of a box of pudding mix??

  16. Mmmm, since I love soft chocolate chip cookies, I do believe I will have to try making these soon RT @livinglocurto http://bit.ly/3myYhY

  17. 5 stars
    These chocolate chip cookies are by far the BEST chocolate chip cookies i have ever made and I have made many different recipes! The secret really is the pudding! LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!!! thanks for the recipe!!

  18. My favorite cookie is one that I put together myself. I use the oatmeal raisin cookie recipe on the lid of the Quaker Oats box, omitting the raisins and cinnamon and adding dried cranberries and vanilla chips making cranberry oatmeal vanilla chip cookies.
    And oatmeal is healthy, right? So I totally eat these for breakfast (and snacks throughout the day!).

    April @ Doggie Bloggieโ€™s last blog post..Another Swap from Mamarazzi? Awesome!

  19. Tamara B. says:

    I just love blueberry cheesecake swirl muffins

  20. I love lemon muffins but I am in a chocolate chip muffin mood. They just look REALLY good right now lol.

  21. 5 stars
    I am DEFINATLY trying these. My cookie recipe hasn’t been turning out too well lately and I’m awfuly disapointed. That cookie fairy must be skipping over my house. I’m printing your recipe right now!

    I love blueberry muffins…or lemon cranberry…delish!!!

  22. Your timing is impeccable! I’m putting together a cookie bar for my niece and nephew’s graduation and my chocolate chip cookies always turn out flat too. Thanks for the recipe!

  23. I love most muffins— Banana nut is a favorite. Little Debbie’s cranberry orange muffin sounds good though. mmmmm!

  24. The cookie recipe looks great! I can’t wait to try it. My favorite muffins are also chocolate chip. Thanks!

  25. Yummmmmm!! I seriously have not found a recipe for chocolate chip cookies that don’t end up flat as pancakes. Yeah, my pancakes are not fluffy, either. Maybe it’s just me? Anyway, sending this to del.icio.us RIGHT NOW!!

    keliโ€™s last blog post..you capture :: feel

  26. My toddler and I both love their blueberry muffins! We’ll have to try the chocolate ones soon, those look yummy! ๐Ÿ™‚

  27. Hey thanks for a great choc. chip recipe. I can’t wait to make it…I’m serious!
    I once won a giveaway from you, so please run over to my place before noon tomorrow to sign up for mine. 2nd post down. : ) I’m giving away three seperate things.

    M.L.@the house of whimsyโ€™s last blog post..Wednesdays With My Mom (and giveaway reminder)

  28. Well, I must confess, I never met a muffin I didn’t like (hardy har). LindaSonia

  29. The cookies look yummy, can not wait to try your recipe. Those lemon muffins look might tasty. My favorite muffin of all time would be pumpkin, with lemon a very close second. Hope I win, I’ve never tried the little debbie muffins.

  30. The lemon ones look delicious, but then chocolate chip look yummy, too! ๐Ÿ™‚

  31. Little Debbie says:

    Free Little Debbie Muffins (and a great cookie recipe!) from @livinglocurto: http://bit.ly/lEj3l Go get ’em!

  32. I would definitely choose the blueberry. I have not tried the LD muffins before. Thanks for the chance to win!

    LaVonneโ€™s last blog post..WFMW: Summer Edition

  33. i, too, was a horrible chocolate chip cookier baker! until i found a recipe on allrecipes.com that are THE BEST EVER! i’ll have to try your recipe. thanks…

  34. Sign me up for the double chocolate muffins. (I’ve already tweeted @LittleDebbie to suggest that these NOT be limited edition!) Mommy Bloggers, unite!

    Julieโ€™s last blog post..Earn Money with PineCone Research!

  35. OMG….Lucky you! I love little debbies. I really love the chocolate muffins and also the lemon ones.

    As for that awesome Cookie Recipe you just shared I am so trying that this weekend for the kiddies! You know what, with the Thanks, Youโ€™re Sweet Baggie Labels it’s the perfect gift to give out.

    Thanks so much.

    LaQuitaโ€™s last blog post..The Kids Are out of School, Now What?

  36. 5 stars
    ohhh my gosh. those cookies are making my mouth water…and i don’t have any chocolate chips right now! AHHH!!!!!!

    um, excuse my drooling…

    anyways, my favorite muffins are by far chocolate chip muffins from tim hortons, or the pumpkin pie filling muffins my momma makes. i honestly did not know little debbie made muffins, so i hope this still counts as an entry! ๐Ÿ™‚

  37. I love muffins, so I would really enjoy these. My favorite kind of muffin is orange cranberry.

    Danaโ€™s last blog post..Printable Coupon Roundup

  38. Yum! This post makes my mouth water! I love muffins of all kinds, but I tend to stick with blueberry for “healthy” or chocolate chip if I’m not considering being healthy. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Magnolia Momโ€™s last blog post..WMFW

  39. Those cookies look so yummy. My kids love to bake. We are gonna have to try these this summer. Great giveaway too. Free Muffins! I love banana nut muffins.

    Nanetteโ€™s last blog post..Muffin Makinโ€™ Time

  40. I’m a sucker for a good cookie recipe- I plan on making those-
    Thanks for sharing-
    It’s a Happy Day when I make cookies.

    Teresaโ€™s last blog post..Glimpse

  41. Those cookies look perfect. I am printing the recipe right now. Can’t wait to make/eat them tonight.

  42. The cookies look excellent! One day I’ll try them, I don’t cook sweets that much but I’m guessing it’s in my future with my little boy ๐Ÿ˜‰
    I know he’ll love one of those muffins!

    Darielaโ€™s last blog post..Blog out Loud! in Los Angeles

  43. Hee! You are such a stinker Amy. I’m hoping that I’ll get to eat a few of them before the kids inhale them. We are going to LOVE them!

    Thank you lady. ๐Ÿ™‚

    theArthurClanโ€™s last blog post..A Birthday Non-Surprise.

  44. Wow! Those chocolate chip cookies look divine!!! I think my favorite muffins are honey bran but I also love blueberry or the kind that have sweet cheese in them. yummmm!!!!!

    Jessicaโ€™s last blog post..Neglect Much?

  45. I heard a long time ago, one of the secrets to making your cookies “fluffier” is to have all of your ingredients room temp – so try taking your egg(s) out to warm up a bit before you make them

    That recipe sounds yummy! I’ll have to give it a try! never heard of putting pudding mix in cookie dough! yum!

    As for the muffins, I’d have to say i ? chocolate! YUM!

    ~TidyMom

    Tidymomโ€™s last blog post..I’m on I ? Faces today!

  46. I totally love any type of muffin really
    BUT
    My fav would be chocolate chocolate chip.
    My 2yo favors blueberry or choc. choc. chip…he’s not picky, well he is but only with veggies!

    meghanโ€™s last blog post..

  47. Thanks for the cookie recipe. I have been wanting some and will try this one TONIGHT!

    My favorite muffins are Lemon and Chocolate.

    Thanks for the opportunity to win some yummy goodness.

    Andrea in NC

    Andrea Hollomanโ€™s last blog post..Left Brain Grocery List

  48. I was just going to leave a comment saying thanks for the recipe- I can’t wait to try it out. But with a giveaway it’s a double feature! I love Costco muffins best!

    Amy Martinezโ€™s last blog post..four

  49. MMMM!! Yummy! Blueberry for me please!! ๐Ÿ™‚

  50. Kristi R. says:

    I can’t wait to try your recipe. The instant vanilla pudding kinda threw me off at first.

    Oh and I’m absolutely in love with Banana Nut Muffins. I could eat them for breakfast every day!

  51. Well…considering my name is Debbie (but I’m not little…in age, or size)…but I do love me some cookies and muffins…fav muffin…probably blueberry!!!
    Thanks for the sweet give-a-way..and the recipe!!!

    Debโ€™s last blog post..Books and Rainbows and Quotes…..

  52. Thanks for the recipe! I *love* chocolate chip cookies – who doesn’t?? Basically anything with chocolate chips is fine by me – speaking of…that’s my favorite Little Debbie muffin too! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Melindaโ€™s last blog post..Day 1 of Meatless Month

4.92 from 12 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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