Secret Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookies

Secret Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookies are the ULTIMATE chocolate chip cookie that has a crisp outside and chewy center! Simple to make, these may just be your new go to cookies to bake!

Photo byThe Cookin' Chicks

ULTIMATE Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

If you’re anything like me, you’ve tried just about all the chocolate chip cookie recipes out there. I have tried the Tollhouse version, JoAnna Gaines’ recipe, and several others! Don’t get me wrong, I love those recipes, but I also love trying new variations too!

Lately, my go to cookie to make has been the JoAnna Gaine’s recipe from her cookbook. My mom got us hooked and since then, my kids request them frequently!

Last week, I was in the mood to make cookies. Originally, I had planned on playing around with a new double chocolate recipe, but when I realized I was low on cocoa powder, that decision quickly changed. I scanned through Pinterest, gathered lots of tips and ideas, and set out to experiment!

These cookies came together in no time and were a HUGE hit! As in, my family was grabbing them from the cooling rack as I was removing them from the cookie sheet. In fact, I started panicking that I wouldn’t have any cookies left to take pictures of, so had to quickly tell them no more!

You may be wondering what the secret ingredient is, right?! No, its nothing crazy like mustard or some off the wall ingredient. But, I guarantee you won’t have guessed it. Ready?? It’s apple cider vinegar. Don’t scrunch your noses up and click out of the recipe just yet. Trust me, you won’t taste it. In fact, I PROMISE you won’t taste it! The apple cider vinegar is used to activate the baking soda, helping the dough to rise a bit.

This dough requires no chilling, so its literally ready to scoop in under ten minutes! A perfectly crisp outside, chewy inside, and lots of chocolate chips throughout. What more could you ask for, right?!

Why you’ll love this recipe

• No Chilling Needed- my fav part, simply make the cookie dough, scoop onto the baking sheet, and bake! No need to chill!
• Perfectly Soft and Chewy- perfectly golden bottoms, moist and chewy from top to bottom and the perfect balance of fluff and richness.
• Just the right amount of chocolate- each and every bite has the perfect amount of chocolate chips to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth craving.
• Quick and Easy- you can make this cookie dough in under 10 minutes, making satisfying that cookie craving quite easy.
• Freezer Friendly- whether you bake once the dough is made, or freeze for later, this are just as good either way.

Photo byThe Cookin' Chicks

Ingredients Needed to make Secret Ingredient Chocolate Chip Cookies

• Flour- all-purpose
• Baking Soda
• Salt
• Butter- unsalted, softened
• Brown Sugar
• Sugar
• Vanilla- pure versus imitation
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Eggs
• Chocolate Chips- I use semi-sweet, any type works

How to make the BEST Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the butter, brown sugar, white sugar, vanilla extract, and apple cider vinegar using a mixer.
3. Add in the egg and mix until just combined.
4. Add in the flour mixture, stirring until just combined.
5. Fold in the chocolate chips.
6. Using a cookie scoop, drop cookie dough onto a cookie sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart.
7. Place cookie sheet in preheated oven and bake 7-9 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly before moving to cooling rack.

Photo byThe Cookin' Chicks

Soft Chocolate Chips Cookies

Soft versus crispy cookies have been a debate around for many generations. To me, the choice is a simple one and always resorts in me picking soft. Something so mouthwatering about an ooey, gooey, melt in your mouth cookie that is loaded with chocolate chips.

Luckily, these cookies fit both varieties and include a nice and soft middle cookies, with a slight crispness to the outer edges. Win win for all!

How to store Chocolate Chip Cookies

Although fresh from the oven cookies are my FAV, you can also store these cookies in an airtight container/bag at room temperature up to 3 days.

Refrigerator- you can store these up to 5-7 days.

Freezer- once baked and cooled completely, place in a freezer safe container up to 3 months.

Cookie Dough can be Frozen for up to 3 Months: Scoop the dough into balls, let set on a baking sheet in the freezer, then place in a sealed bag and press out as much air as possible. Bake as needed directly from the freezer. (Allow 1 to 2 minutes longer in the oven.)

Photo byThe Cookin' Chicks

Tips for the best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

• Make sure you use brown sugar in addition to granulated sugar. A combination of the two sugars results in chewier cookies, while cookies made with only white sugar will be much crispier.
• Don’t over-bake these cookies. The key is to take them out just before fully baked, so they stay ooey gooey good!
• Swap out different chips to fit tastes. Dark, white, semi-sweet, peanut butter, and milk are all great options!
• If you have refrigerated or frozen these, be sure to allow to return to room temperature OR microwave a bit to enjoy the melted chocolate throughout.
• Don’t grab just one of these cookies, go in for at least two…or three. Yes, they are THAT good!

Exact Ingredients

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• 2 cups flour *all purpose
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter *slightly melted, but not fully liquid
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 egg
• 2 cups chocolate chips *I used 1 cup semi sweet, 1 cup dark chocolate chunks