Fat, fudgy, and supremely chocolatey, these ULTIMATE Chocolate Cookies are loaded with melty chocolate! Made with four different types of chocolate and rolled in a cocoa-sugar topping, these are guaranteed to satisfy even the most hardcore choco-fanatic.
A Chocolate Lover’s Dream
Oh, these chocolate cookies.
I haven’t been so in love with a cookie since my Worst Chocolate Chip Cookies (or maybe just since the last cookie recipe I shared, honestly 🤷🏼♀️). These are a chocolate lover’s dream , rich, gooey chocolate cookies positively loaded with melty chocolate and a cocoa sugar topping… this really is the ultimate chocolate cookie recipe.
They’re thick and chewy (think like my Monster Cookies, minus the oat-y texture) and decadent and fudgy like my favorite brownies, only in cookie form.
And that cocoa sugar topping (with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt) just puts them right over the top 💜
The cookie dough is simple to make — there’s no electric mixer required (thanks to the fact that we’re using melted butter) and only 30 minutes of chilling. You could make the dough up to a week in advance, just store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
The cookie dough is also pretty darn good on its own, though for health reasons I should probably recommend you check out my Edible Cookie Dough instead if you’re looking for a cookie dough fix.
Tips for Making Chocolate Cookies
- Make sure you let your butter cool for at least 10 minutes or until no longer hot to the touch before adding our sugar. Butter that is too hot will melt your sugar and you’ll end up with a greasy mess.
- Light or dark brown sugar will work fine in this recipe. If I have both on hand, I’ll usually use a blend of the two. Dark brown sugar contains more molasses, so it lends a richer, slightly sweeter taste (but the difference is subtle in the finished chocolate cookie).
- The instant coffee in the recipe is optional. Adding it won’t make your cookies taste like coffee, it will just enhance the chocolate flavors that are already present.
- If desired, reserve some chocolate chips for pressing into the tops of the cookies once they’ve finished baking (but while they are still warm). This is completely optional, it just makes the cookies look nicer! They’ll taste the same if you do this step or not!
- These cookies should still be soft and the centers may seem even a little under-done when they come out of the oven. Allow cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet where they’ll finish cooking. This ensures you’ll have nice, soft, chewy cookies even after they’ve cooled.
Enjoy!
More Recipes for Chocolate Lovers
Be sure to check out the How to Make the Ultimate Chocolate Cookies video at the bottom of the recipe! If you enjoy watching, make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel where I’ve already uploaded over 100 recipe videos that you can watch for free!
Chocolate Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter melted and cooled at least 10-15 minutes
- 1 ¼ cups (250 g) light or dark brown sugar firmly packed
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg + 1 large egg yolk room temperature preferred
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (50 g) natural cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoons cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon instant coffee optional
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (85 g) semisweet chocolate chips¹
- ½ cup (85 g) milk chocolate chips
- ½ cup (85 g) mini chocolate chips
Cocoa Sugar (for rolling)
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ Tablespoon cocoa powder
- Sea salt for sprinkling (optional)
Instructions
- Combine melted (cooled) butter and sugars and stir until well-combined.1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, 1 ¼ cups (250 g) light or dark brown sugar, ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- Add egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract and stir well.1 large egg + 1 large egg yolk, 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, cornstarch, instant coffee (if using), baking powder, baking soda, and salt.2 ¼ cups (280 g) all-purpose flour, ½ cup (50 g) natural cocoa powder, 1 teaspoons cornstarch, ½ teaspoon instant coffee, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ¾ teaspoon salt
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet, stirring until completely combined.
- Stir in chocolate chips, if desired reserve approximately ⅓ cup of assorted chocolate chips for pressing into cookies after baking.½ cup (85 g) semisweet chocolate chips¹, ½ cup (85 g) milk chocolate chips, ½ cup (85 g) mini chocolate chips
- Cover dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Once dough has nearly finished chilling, preheat oven to 350F (175C) and line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Prepare cocoa sugar topping by whisking together ½ cup granulated sugar and ½ Tablespoon cocoa powder.½ cup sugar, ½ Tablespoon cocoa powder
- Once dough has finished chilling and oven is preheated, remove dough from refrigerator. Scoop into 1 ½ Tablespoon-sized balls and roll between your palms to form a smooth ball. Roll through cocoa sugar until entirely coated and then transfer to prepared baking sheet. Space cookies at least 2” apart.
- Bake cookies in 350F (175C) oven for 11-12 minutes. If desired, gently press reserved chocolate chips into the tops of warm cookies within 1 minute of removing from oven.Sea salt
- Allow cookies to cool completely on baking sheet before enjoying.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Amelia
Howdy! All I have is Guittard red Dutch process, cocoa powder, is that ok?
Sam
Hi Amelia! If that is all I had on hand, then I would use it, but I can’t say for sure how it would turn out.
Jennifer
This is such a fabulous recipe! I’ve made it as written of course, but today, I tried a variation. Instead of vanilla extract, I added 3/4 tsp of peppermint extract. I stirred in 1/2 cup of semi-sweet and 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips. Then, after baking, I pressed 3 mint M&M’s on top. They’re awesome! So, this recipe is very delicious as-is, but is also quite vercitile! Thanks, Sam, for all your fantastic recipes. I’m a faithful fan!
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed them so much, Jennifer! 🙂
Tracy
Easy to mix up and absolutely delicious! I’ll definitely make these again. Thank you for sharing!
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed them so much, Tracy! 🙂
Christine
Can I make these without chocolate chips if I run out of those?
Sam
Hi Christine! You can omit the chocolate chips if you’d like.
Rose
These were the absolute BEST chocolate cookies I’ve EVER made or TASTED !! Omg am I happy you shared this one … I didn’t add the coffee, and these were just amazing ! Chocolatie gooey yummy 😋👍. I will never lose this recipe…my family will shoot me if I do !!!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
We’re so happy you loved them so much! 🙂
Alyson
This cookie is a winner! Thanks, Sam!
Paige Larson
These turned out perfect and I have the pictures to prove it. My co-workers didn’t vibe with the salt sprinkled on top so next time I’ll only do that to half of the batch.
Carrie
Like brownies in a cookie. Another winner, Sam!!
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed them, Carrie! 🙂
Kacie
Hi Sam! Can I use peanut butter chips with this recipe? Instead of chocolate chip?
Sam
Sure thing! 🙂