Soft Cookies
These soft and chewy cookies deliver a tender, buttery texture with a balanced sweetness and a hint of vanilla. Perfect as a comforting snack or dessert, they remain delightfully soft even after cooling.
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Medium mixing bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Electric mixer or stand mixer
- Spatula
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper
- Cooling rack
Ingredients
- Dry Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups 280 g all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Wet Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup 170 g unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- 1 cup 220 g, packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup 100 g granulated sugar
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 1 egg yolk at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat & Prep:
- Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Line your baking sheet(s) with parchment paper.
- Mix Dry Ingredients:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- Combine Wet Ingredients:
- In a large bowl, mix the melted butter with the brown and granulated sugars until smooth and well blended.
- Add the egg and extra egg yolk, then stir in the vanilla extract until fully combined.
- Form the Dough:
- Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Mix just until combined—overmixing can make the cookies tough.
- Portion the Dough:
- Using a tablespoon or a small cookie scoop, drop about 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing the cookies about 2 inches apart.
- Bake:
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes. The cookies should look set around the edges but still slightly underdone in the center; they will continue to firm up as they cool.
- Cool & Enjoy:
- Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Details:
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10–12 minutes
- Total Time: ~27 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
- Keywords:
- Soft, Chewy, Cookies, Dessert, Snack, Buttery, Brown Sugar, Vanilla, Homemade, Quick Treat
- Nutrition (per cookie, approx. 40 g serving):
- Calories: ~150 kcal
- Sugar: ~13 g
- Sodium: ~50 mg
- Total Fat: ~6 g
- Saturated Fat: ~3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: ~3 g
- Trans Fat: ~0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: ~22 g
- Fiber: ~0.5 g
- Protein: ~2 g
- Cholesterol: ~30 mg
- Note: These nutritional estimates are approximate and can vary based on specific ingredient brands and measurements.
Notes
Baking Tip: For extra-soft cookies, be sure not to overbake; they may look slightly underdone when you remove them from the oven, but they will set as they cool.
Customization: Feel free to stir in mix-ins such as chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit for additional flavor and texture.
Storage: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. If they begin to harden, a few seconds in the microwave can help soften them again.
Dough Chill (Optional): Chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking can help prevent spreading if you prefer a thicker cookie, though this may result in a slightly less soft texture.
Customization: Feel free to stir in mix-ins such as chocolate chips, nuts, or dried fruit for additional flavor and texture.
Storage: Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. If they begin to harden, a few seconds in the microwave can help soften them again.
Dough Chill (Optional): Chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking can help prevent spreading if you prefer a thicker cookie, though this may result in a slightly less soft texture.