The Best Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe: Easy, One-Bowl Perfection
Is there anything more comforting than a warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie straight from the oven? Absolutely – a giant one! This ultimate recipe delivers an incredibly soft, wonderfully chewy, and intensely chocolatey jumbo cookie that’s designed to conquer even the most intense sweet cravings. Forget making a whole batch; this easy one-bowl marvel is perfectly portioned for one, making it ideal for a personal treat, or you can cut it into generous wedges to share with a lucky friend. If the thought of having two dozen cookies tempts you too much, this single-serve, oversized delight is your perfect solution. Get ready to experience pure cookie bliss with minimal effort and maximum satisfaction!
Soft, chewy, and bursting with rich chocolate – there’s so much to adore about classic chocolate chip cookies, and this one giant cookie encapsulates all that goodness. When a specific cookie craving hits, but you know yourself well enough not to have an entire batch lingering, this jumbo cookie recipe is your absolute best bet. It’s a delightful indulgence without the commitment of endless leftovers.
Why This Is the Best Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
- Super Quick & Easy: This isn’t just a claim; it’s a promise! This single chocolate chip cookie recipe is a true small-batch wonder, designed for ultimate convenience. Crafted entirely in just one bowl, it eliminates the need for multiple dirty dishes. The magic lies in using melted butter, which means you can skip the electric mixer entirely. No more waiting for butter to soften, no more lugging out heavy appliances – just simple stirring for a perfectly blended dough in minutes. It’s the ideal solution when a cookie craving strikes and you need a delicious fix, fast.
- Uses Everyday Ingredients: You won’t need a special trip to the grocery store for obscure items. This recipe relies on staple ingredients you likely already have in your pantry and fridge, like flour, sugar, butter, and an egg. This accessibility makes it a spontaneous treat, ready to be whipped up whenever the mood strikes, without any fuss or advanced planning. It’s comforting to know that a gourmet-quality cookie is just a few common ingredients away.
- Incredibly Versatile: While designed to create one magnificent GIANT chocolate chip cookie, this recipe offers delightful flexibility. If you prefer, you can easily divide the dough in half before baking to create two substantial, perfectly-sized cookies – ideal for sharing with a loved one or saving one for later. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure in cookie form, always delivering a satisfying result whether you go jumbo or simply very, very large!
- No Special Cookie Cake Pan Required: Don’t let the “giant cookie” name intimidate you into thinking you need specialized equipment. This recipe is wonderfully accommodating. You simply form the dough into a large ball and place it directly on a standard baking sheet. While it bakes into a delightful size that can certainly be sliced and served like a mini cookie cake, it’s fundamentally just one gloriously big chocolate chip cookie that fits perfectly into any home kitchen setup.
- Perfect for Portion Control (or Indulgence!): This recipe caters to both mindful eaters and those ready to fully embrace their sweet tooth. By making just one large cookie, you avoid the temptation of an entire batch, ensuring you get your cookie fix without excess. Yet, its generous size means it feels incredibly indulgent, offering a deeply satisfying experience that a small cookie simply can’t match.
Ingredient Notes & Tips
- Egg Yolk for Ultimate Chewiness: This is a crucial secret to our giant cookie’s incredible texture! By using only the egg yolk and not the entire egg, we achieve a richer, chewier cookie. The yolk adds essential fat and emulsifiers, contributing to a tender crumb and a satisfyingly dense texture, while omitting the egg white prevents the cookie from becoming too cake-like or dry. Don’t discard the egg white, though; save it for another recipe!
- Butter – Melted for Ease and Texture: The recipe calls for melted butter, which is a fantastic shortcut as it eliminates the need for an electric mixer and the waiting time for butter to soften. Melted butter also contributes to a chewier cookie by preventing too much air from being incorporated into the dough. Ensure your melted butter isn’t scorching hot, but rather cooled slightly, to prevent scrambling the egg yolk.
- Brown Sugar vs. Granulated Sugar: The combination of brown and granulated sugars is key to the cookie’s flavor and texture. Brown sugar, with its molasses content, adds moisture, depth of flavor, and contributes significantly to that desirable chewiness. Granulated sugar, on the other hand, provides sweetness and helps with crisping the edges. You can use either light or dark brown sugar; dark brown sugar will give a slightly richer, more pronounced caramel flavor and a deeper color.
- Chocolate Chips & Their Melty Magic: The choice of chocolate can significantly impact your cookie experience. Classic semi-sweet chocolate chips are always a winner, holding their shape well. For an extra decadent, “puddle-y” chocolate experience, opt for a chopped chocolate bar or gourmet chocolate gems (like Hu Chocolate Gems, as pictured below). These melt beautifully, creating pockets of intense chocolate goodness. If using salted chocolate varieties, remember to adjust or omit the added salt in the recipe to maintain balance. Feel free to experiment with milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or even white chocolate chips!
- Measure Accurately for Small Batches: Precision is paramount when working with small-batch recipes like this one. With larger recipes, there’s more room for slight measurement errors, but when quantities are small, even a minor deviation can alter the final texture and taste. Using a kitchen scale for flour and sugar is highly recommended for the most consistent and perfect results, ensuring your cookie turns out just right every time.
- Make it Gluten-Free! For those with dietary restrictions, this giant cookie can easily be made gluten-free without sacrificing flavor or texture. Simply substitute the all-purpose flour with a blend of ¼ cup gluten-free 1-to-1 all-purpose flour and ¼ cup almond flour. The almond flour is particularly helpful here, as it adds moisture and fat, preventing the gluten-free cookie from becoming dry or crumbly and ensuring it retains its delightful chewiness.
How to Make Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies:
Creating this magnificent giant chocolate chip cookie is a straightforward and rewarding process. While we’ll provide a detailed overview here with helpful tips and photos, remember you can always jump down to the full recipe card for precise measurements and instructions.
Step 1: Prepare Your Perfect Cookie Dough
Begin by melting 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a microwave-safe mixing bowl. Allow it to cool for a minute or two to prevent cooking the egg yolk. Once slightly cooled, stir in 4 tablespoons of light brown sugar and 2 teaspoons of granulated sugar until well combined. The melted butter and sugars should form a smooth, glistening mixture. Next, incorporate the large egg yolk, followed by ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract, ¼ teaspoon of baking soda, and ¼ teaspoon of salt. Mix these wet ingredients thoroughly until everything is evenly distributed. Finally, add ½ cup of all-purpose flour, stirring gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough, as excessive stirring can develop gluten, resulting in a tougher cookie. Gently fold in ¼ cup of your chosen semi-sweet chocolate chips, distributing them throughout the dough.
Expert Tip: Overmixing is the enemy of a tender, chewy cookie! Stir just enough until no dry streaks of flour remain. A few lumps are perfectly fine and often lead to a better texture.
Step 2: Shape Your Jumbo Cookie
Once your dough is ready, use your hands to gently shape it into a large, uniform ball. This is your chance to get creative! For a bakery-style appearance, press a few extra chocolate chips directly onto the surface of the dough ball. This ensures beautiful pools of melted chocolate will be visible on top of your baked cookie. Place the dough ball onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. This prevents sticking and makes for easy cleanup. If you’re opting to make two smaller (but still huge!) cookies, simply divide the dough in half and shape each portion into a ball.
Step 3: Bake to Golden Perfection
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Carefully place the baking sheet with your giant cookie dough into the preheated oven. Bake for approximately 14 to 16 minutes. The key to that perfect chewy texture is to slightly under-bake the cookie. You’re looking for edges that are lightly golden brown and appear set, while the center still looks a bit soft and perhaps slightly underdone. For a truly gooey center, I found 15 minutes to be just right. Don’t be alarmed if the middle seems a little raw when you pull it out!
Crucial Tip: The cookie will continue to bake from the residual heat of the hot baking sheet after it’s removed from the oven. This carry-over cooking is essential for achieving that ideal soft and chewy interior while ensuring the edges are perfectly cooked. Patience during this cooling phase is rewarded!
Step 4: Indulge and Enjoy!
Once baked, allow your magnificent giant chocolate chip cookie to cool on the baking sheet for at least 10-15 minutes before attempting to move it. This cooling period is vital; it allows the cookie to fully set and firm up, especially the soft center. If you try to move it too soon, it might break apart. After cooling, you can either enjoy it as a truly epic single-serve jumbo chocolate chip cookie, perhaps with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or cut it into delicious wedges to share the joy with friends and family. A warm cookie with a glass of cold milk is an unbeatable combination!
Serving Tip: The inside will appear quite doughy and delicate until the cookie has cooled sufficiently. Resist the urge to cut into it immediately for the best texture and structural integrity!
Essential Equipment for Your Giant Cookie
Good news! You don’t need a lot of fancy gadgets to make this fantastic giant chocolate chip cookie. Most of what you’ll need are standard kitchen items:
- Mixing Bowl: A medium-sized microwave-safe bowl for melting butter and mixing ingredients.
- Spoon or Spatula: For stirring. No electric mixer necessary!
- Measuring Cups & Spoons: For accurate ingredient proportions.
- Baking Sheet: A standard baking sheet will do.
- Parchment Paper or Silicone Mat: To prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
Tips for the Ultimate Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie
- Don’t Overbake: This is the golden rule for chewy cookies. Slightly underbaked is perfect, as it continues to cook on the hot pan.
- Add Extra Chocolate on Top: For that irresistible, bakery-style look, press a few extra chocolate chips onto the top of your cookie dough before baking. They’ll melt beautifully and create tempting chocolate puddles.
- Chill the Dough (Optional but Recommended): While not strictly necessary for this recipe, chilling the dough for 30 minutes can help deepen the flavors and create a slightly thicker cookie by preventing it from spreading too much.
- Freshness is Key: For the best flavor, use fresh ingredients, especially your baking soda.
- Serve Warm: While delicious at any temperature, a warm giant cookie with slightly molten chocolate is truly incomparable.
Delicious Variations & Customizations
This classic giant chocolate chip cookie is perfect as is, but don’t hesitate to get creative and customize it to your liking! Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Nutty Delight: Add a tablespoon or two of chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds to the dough for an extra crunch and earthy flavor.
- Double Chocolate Dream: Swap out some of the semi-sweet chocolate chips for white chocolate chips or dark chocolate chunks.
- Spice It Up: A pinch of cinnamon or a tiny dash of nutmeg can add a wonderfully warm complexity to your cookie.
- Candy Surprise: Fold in some M&M’s, chopped peanut butter cups, or other favorite candy pieces for a fun twist.
- Salty-Sweet Perfection: Sprinkle a touch of flaky sea salt over the top of the cookie before baking to enhance the chocolate and sweetness.
Storage & Freezing Tips for Your Giant Cookie
To keep your jumbo chocolate chip cookie tasting fresh and delicious for as long as possible, follow these simple storage guidelines:
- Storing at Room Temperature: Allow the cookie to cool completely before storing. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container. It will stay wonderfully soft and chewy at room temperature for up to 3 to 4 days.
- Freezing Baked Cookies: If you’ve baked your giant cookie and want to save some for later (or if you made two!), it freezes beautifully. Once completely cooled, wrap it securely in plastic wrap, then again in aluminum foil, or place it in a freezer-safe bag or container. It will keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months. To enjoy, simply thaw at room temperature or gently warm in the microwave for a few seconds until soft.
- Freezing Dough: You can also prepare the dough and freeze it unbaked! Form the dough into a ball, wrap it tightly, and freeze for up to 2 months. When ready to bake, thaw the dough in the refrigerator overnight, then proceed with baking as directed, adding a minute or two to the bake time if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Achieving the perfect giant cookie involves a delicate balance of baking. The key is to slightly under-bake it to ensure a wonderfully soft and chewy center. When it’s done, the very center won’t appear entirely set, and that’s exactly what we’re aiming for. Instead, focus on the edges of the cookie: they should look firm, dry, and just beginning to turn a beautiful golden brown. The residual heat from the baking sheet will continue to cook the cookie after you remove it from the oven, setting the center to perfection as it cools. Trust your eyes on the edges, and don’t worry if the middle still looks a bit soft!
While this recipe for a jumbo chocolate chip cookie is substantial and can certainly be sliced and shared like a “mini cookie cake” amongst a few people, it’s not quite large enough to serve a big crowd. Its charm lies in being a generously proportioned single-serve (or small-group) treat. If your goal is to bake a truly giant chocolate chip cookie cake designed to feed a larger gathering, we recommend exploring dedicated cookie cake recipes. Check out these fantastic options for a truly impressive centerpiece: homemade cookie cake recipe, a grand double layer cookie cake, or an effortless sheet pan cookie cake.
Both light brown sugar and dark brown sugar can be successfully used in this giant cookie recipe, and your choice will subtly influence the final result. Light brown sugar will produce a cookie with a milder, sweeter flavor and a softer texture. Dark brown sugar, however, contains more molasses, which imparts a deeper, more pronounced caramel-like flavor, a richer color, and contributes to an even chewier, moister texture. If you’re seeking that extra depth of flavor and a truly dense, chewy bite, dark brown sugar is often the preferred choice for cookies.
Using melted butter in this recipe is a deliberate choice for convenience and texture. It eliminates the need to wait for butter to soften, making the recipe quicker and easier to prepare. More importantly, melted butter contributes to a denser, chewier cookie because it prevents too much air from being incorporated into the dough during mixing. This results in a cookie that spreads more evenly and has that desirable, rich, fudgy texture rather than a light, cake-like crumb.
For more small batch recipes…
- 5 Minute Scotcheroo Bars
- Single Serving Glass of Lemonade (Freshly Squeezed!)
- Homemade Star Crunch Cookies
- Iced Pumpkin Chai Latte
Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie
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Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ cup light brown sugar (4 tablespoons)
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt omit if you’re using salted butter, a salted chocolate bar or Hu chocolate gems
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Before you begin! If you make this, will you do me a huge favor and leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe? This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350ºF.
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Melt unsalted butter (3 tablespoons) in a microwave-safe mixing bowl. Stir in the granulated sugar (2 teaspoons) and light brown sugar (¼ cup), followed by the egg yolk (1 large), vanilla extract (½ teaspoon), baking soda (¼ teaspoon), and salt (¼ teaspoon). Add the all-purpose flour (½ cup) and stir until just incorporated. Fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips (¼ cup).
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Use your hands to form the dough into a giant ball.
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Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until the edges are set, but the center looks under-baked. The cookie will continue to bake from the residual heat on the pan after you remove it from the oven.
Last Step! Please leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe! This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
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Notes
Nutrition auto calculated and based on the entire giant cookie.