Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies
This chocolate chip sugar cookie recipe has been passed down from generation to generation. It’s a classic cookie recipe to have in your recipe box and perfect to make during the holidays.
The chocolate chips weren’t in the original recipe, I added those for a little charm! You can frost these sugar cookies, or leave them simply adorned with chocolate chips.
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What are Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies
Chocolate chip sugar cookies are simply a classic sugar cookie recipe (like what you would make for Christmas cookies, with some mini chocolate chips added for a little texture!
These adorable cookies have so much charm and are perfect for the holidays, cookie boxes, and gifts. You’ll love the simplicity of the ingredients, and the old-fashioned methods for making them.
Equipment You’ll Need
Classic sugar cookie equipment is needed for these chocolate chip sugar cookies.
- A stand mixer or hand mixer are optional, but make life much easier when making these chocolate chip sugar cookies.
- Cookie cutters or canning lid. Or these charming cookie stamps that I used.
- Rolling pin
Recipe Highlights
These charming sugar cookies with chocolate chips will be such a hit at holiday gatherings, birthday parties, or even just as a sweet gift. Here are some highlights:
- Soft and chewy
- Minimal chill time
- Classic sugar cookie recipe with a twist
- Heirloom recipe
- Crispy edges with a soft chewy center
- Simple ingredients
- Perfect for the holidays
- Customizeable
How to Make Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies
Keep this chocolate chip sugar cookie recipe in the family and be sure to make them for the holidays! Have the little ones in your family frost them and adorn them with sprinkles.
The crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside texture of these cookies make them the best sugar cookies for the holidays.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Powdered sugar – sifted powdered sugar will yield the best results. You can make your own powdered sugar by blending granulated sugar in a food processor or coffee grinder until powdery white.
- Salted Butter – your butter should be room temperature, not melted. Any other fat just wont do for this recipe. If you’re using unsalted butter, add a pinch of salt to the recipe.
- Egg – the egg binds the cookies together and it helps if it’s room temperature as well.
- Vanilla extract – adds subtle flavor to these sugar cookies.
- Almond extract – almond extract gives these classic sugar cookies that familiar flavor, just like grandma made them!
- Flour – all-purpose flour is best, and be sure to measure by spooning the flour into the measuring cup, then using the flat side of a knife to level it off.
- Baking soda – leavens the dough, creating a soft and fluffy sugar cookie.
- Cream of tartar – the cream of tartar helps with the soft and fluffy texture of sugar cookies as well as prevents too much browning.
- Mini chocolate chips – mini chocolate chips are best for this recipe since they make it easier to roll out the dough.
Step by Step Instructions (with photos)
Cream sugar and butter until very creamy (about 1- 2 min). Add egg and extracts and cream again for a minute.
Whisk flour, baking soda and cream of tartar together in a separate bowl, then slowly add to the wet mixture and blend until just combined.
Add your chocolate chips and blend until combined.
Refrigerate the dough for 1 hour. If you refrigerate for more than an hour, you’ll want to let your dough sit out for about 30 minutes to soften just a bit.
Roll out the dough and cut the cookies into desired shapes, then place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Bake for 7-8 min at 375F, then let cool on the cookie sheet for several minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack.
Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies Storage Instructions
Storing chocolate chip sugar cookies is easy and they taste great days later! Store your cookies at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 7 days.
*tip: if you frost them, the frosting will hold the moisture in the cookies and they will stay softer longer.
Make-Ahead Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies
Freeze your chocolate chip cugar cookie dough so you can simply bake them when you need them.
To freeze, simply wrap the dough in plastic wrap then pop it in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 30 days.
When you’re ready to bake, either thaw at room temperature for 1-2 hours, or thaw overnight in the refrigerator and pull out about 30 minutes prior to rolling out.
Tips
Although this classic sugar cookie recipe is fairly simple, there are a couple tricks that make your cookies turn out much better!
- Sift the sugar – sifting the sugar gives you light and fluffy cookies.
- Spoon and level the flour – this gives you the perfect amount of flour for this recipe.
- Room temperature ingredients – be sure your egg and butter are room temperature to control the spread of the cookies in the oven.
- Mini chocolate chips – using larger chocolate chips will make it very hard to roll the dough to the correct thickness.
- Chill the dough – chilling the sugar cookie dough helps control the spread. If you chill longer than an hour, be sure to pull the dough out of the fridge about 30 minutes prior to rolling so it can soften a bit.
- Cream butter and sugar – be sure to cream the sugar and butter for a good 1-2 minutes until very creamy prior to adding the egg and extracts. This gives the best texture for your chocolate chip sugar cookies.
How to Make Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies Healthier
Cookies are cookies no matter how healthy you try to make them – however, you can use quality ingredients to ensure your cookies are of better quality.
- Use grass-fed butter
- Pasture-raised eggs
- Organic powdered sugar
- Organic, unbleached flour
- Pure extracts
Serving Suggestions
There are so many occasions to make these chocolate chip sugar cookies!
- Christmas cookie platter
- Holiday cookie gift box
- Cookie decorating activity for children
- Birthday parties
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More Cookie Recipes
Pecan Meltaways (Christmas Snowballs)
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Pin it For Later – Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies
Print the Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies Recipe
Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
Method
- Sift your powdered sugar and measure.
- Cream sugar and butter until very creamy (about 1- 2 min).
- Add egg and extracts and cream again for a minute.
- Whisk flour, baking soda and cream of tartar together in a separate bowl, then slowly add to the wet mixture and blend until just combined.
- Add your chocolate chips and blend until combined.
- Refrigerate the dough for 1 hour.
- Preheat your oven to 375F.
- Roll dough to 3/16th inch on a lightly floured surface (don’t forget to flour your roller too).
- Use a cookie cutter (or canning lid) to cut the cookies and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 7-8 min, then let cool on the cookie sheet for several minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack.
Video
Notes
Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies Storage Instructions
Storing chocolate chip sugar cookies is easy and they taste great days later! Store your cookies at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 7 days. *tip: if you frost them, the frosting will hold the moisture in the cookies and they will stay softer longer.Make-Ahead Chocolate Chip Sugar Cookies
Freeze your chocolate chip cugar cookie dough so you can simply bake them when you need them. To freeze, simply wrap the dough in plastic wrap then pop it in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 30 days. When you’re ready to bake, either thaw at room temperature for 1-2 hours, or thaw overnight in the refrigerator and pull out about 30 minutes prior to rolling out.Tips
Although this classic sugar cookie recipe is fairly simple, there are a couple tricks that make your cookies turn out much better!- Sift the sugar – sifting the sugar gives you light and fluffy cookies.
- Spoon and level the flour – this gives you the perfect amount of flour for this recipe.
- Room temperature ingredients – be sure your egg and butter are room temperature to control the spread of the cookies in the oven.
- Mini chocolate chips – using larger chocolate chips will make it very hard to roll the dough to the correct thickness.
- Chill the dough – chilling the sugar cookie dough helps control the spread. If you chill longer than an hour, be sure to pull the dough out of the fridge about 30 minutes prior to rolling so it can soften a bit.
- Cream butter and sugar – be sure to cream the sugar and butter for a good 1-2 minutes until very creamy prior to adding the egg and extracts. This gives the best texture for your chocolate chip sugar cookies.
About Me
Thanks for trying out these adorable chocolate chip sugar cookies! Let me know what you think below.