If you have a sweet tooth that craves something warm, gooey, and utterly irresistible, this Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe is exactly what your kitchen needs. Imagine biting into a golden-brown cookie that’s crisp around the edges, soft and slightly chewy in the center, and bursting with melty chocolate chips. It’s the perfect crowd-pleaser and an absolute joy to bake because it comes together with simple ingredients yet delivers an indulgence that feels special every time. Whether it’s a cozy night in or you’re gathering friends, this skillet cookie turns any moment into a celebration of pure comfort and sweetness.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of this Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe lies in its straightforward ingredient list. Each component plays a crucial role in building flavor, texture, and that lovely golden hue that makes the cookie so inviting. Getting these basics right sets you up for baking magic.
- Unsalted butter: Using high-quality butter enhances richness and helps achieve the perfect chewy and slightly crisp texture.
- All-purpose flour: Provides structure, ensuring the cookie holds together while maintaining a tender crumb.
- Baking soda: Acts as a gentle leavening agent for a delicate rise without overwhelming the cookie.
- Dark brown sugar: Adds moisture and a deep, caramelized flavor that complements the butter beautifully.
- Granulated sugar: Balances sweetness and promotes crisp edges on the cookie.
- Pure vanilla extract: Infuses the dough with warm, aromatic notes that elevate the cookie’s flavor.
- Kosher salt: Enhances the sweetness and contrasts the chocolate chips for a perfectly balanced bite.
- Egg and egg yolk: Bind ingredients together and add richness while contributing to the cookie’s tender texture.
- Semisweet chocolate chips: Classic chocolate pieces that provide melty pockets of sweet delight.
- Milk chocolate chips: Add a creamier, sweeter chocolate element, giving the cookie extra complexity.
How to Make Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare Your Skillet
Start by adjusting the oven rack to the upper-middle position and preheating your oven to 350°F. This setup ensures even baking and a soft center. Next, generously butter your 12-inch cast-iron skillet and spray it with nonstick cooking spray. This double layer prevents sticking and helps create the perfect golden crust.
Step 2: Mix Dry Ingredients
Combine the all-purpose flour and baking soda in a medium bowl and whisk them together. Keeping this mix ready lets you add it smoothly later on, preventing overworking the dough and keeping your cookie tender.
Step 3: Brown the Butter
Melt 9 tablespoons of butter over medium heat in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Swirl continuously as it bubbles away to brown it until it turns a dark golden brown and fills your kitchen with a nutty aroma. This deep, rich butter flavor is the secret weapon of the Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe. Carefully watch to avoid burning, then pour the browned butter into a heat-proof bowl and stir in the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter until melted.
Step 4: Combine Sugars, Salt, and Vanilla
To the melted butter, whisk in dark brown sugar, granulated sugar, kosher salt, and pure vanilla extract. Adding these all at once guarantees they dissolve evenly and helps build that silky cookie dough base. Then whisk in the whole egg and egg yolk until smooth. Let the mixture rest for 3 minutes to allow it to thicken, and repeat whisking and resting 3 more times. This process is key for that luscious, shiny dough that bakes up chewy and soft.
Step 5: Add Flour Mixture
Gently fold the flour and baking soda mixture into the wet ingredients until there’s no visible flour left. Mixing just until combined keeps gluten formation minimal, making your skillet cookie tender instead of tough.
Step 6: Stir in the Chocolate Chips
Lastly, fold in semisweet and milk chocolate chips just until evenly distributed. This ensures every slice of your skillet cookie will have luscious patches of melty chocolate goodness.
Step 7: Bake to Perfection
Press the dough evenly into your prepared skillet, then pop it into the oven. Bake for 23-28 minutes, rotating the skillet halfway through for even cooking, until the center is just set but still soft. This balance keeps the cookie chewy in the middle with crisp edges—the definitive hallmark of this Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe.
Step 8: Cool and Slice
Let your cookie cool for 5-10 minutes after baking. This resting period allows the cookie to firm up slightly for clean slicing but keeps it warm and gooey perfect for enjoying immediately or sharing.
How to Serve Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
Elevate your serving with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt or a handful of chopped nuts for extra crunch and a sophisticated twist. A drizzle of caramel or a dusting of powdered sugar can turn this skillet cookie into a decadent dessert centerpiece.
Side Dishes
A scoop of vanilla bean ice cream pairs flawlessly with the warm cookie, melting into rich pockets as you dig in. Fresh berries or a small bowl of whipped cream offer a refreshing contrast while still keeping things simple and sweet.
Creative Ways to Present
Serve your skillet cookie straight from the pan for a rustic charm, or plate individual slices with a drizzle of chocolate sauce and a sprig of mint for a restaurant-worthy look. For gatherings, consider mini skillet cookies or use ramekins for personalized servings that wow your guests.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Wrap the leftover skillet cookie tightly in plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container at room temperature. It will stay fresh and soft for up to three days, making it easy to enjoy later without sacrificing flavor or texture.
Freezing
You can freeze the whole skillet cookie or individual slices by wrapping them firmly in cling film and placing them in a freezer-safe bag or container. Frozen, your cookie will keep well for up to two months—perfect for planning ahead or surprising friends with homemade goodies.
Reheating
Warm the cookie briefly in a preheated oven at 300°F for about 5-7 minutes or microwave individual slices for 20 seconds to revive that just-baked softness and melty chocolate feel. It’s like bringing back the magic of freshly baked, every time.
FAQs
Can I use a different type of skillet for this recipe?
While a cast-iron skillet is ideal for even heat distribution and that irresistible crust, you can use any oven-safe skillet. Just adjust the cooking time slightly and keep an eye on the cookie to prevent overbaking.
What if I don’t have both semisweet and milk chocolate chips?
Feel free to use just one kind of chocolate chip or even mix in chunks of your favorite chocolate bar. This Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe is forgiving and flexible, so your personal chocolate preference will still shine.
Why does the recipe use both an egg and an egg yolk?
Using both gives you the best of both worlds—enough moisture and structure from the egg white, and extra richness and tenderness from the yolk, resulting in a soft and chewy texture that’s truly next-level.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can prepare the dough and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. Let it come to room temperature before spreading it in the skillet to ensure even baking.
How do I know when the skillet cookie is done?
Look for lightly golden edges and a center that is just set but still looks slightly soft. It will continue to firm up as it cools, so don’t overbake if you want that perfect chewy middle.
Final Thoughts
This Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe is a wonderful way to bring people together with something warm, sweet, and wonderfully nostalgic. Once you try it, you’ll understand why it’s a favorite for both casual treats and special occasions. Trust me, the combination of browned butter and chocolate chips in this skillet masterpiece is something you’ll want to make again and again.
Print
Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 8 slices
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe delivers a rich, gooey, and visually impressive dessert perfect for gatherings or cozy nights in. Made in a cast-iron skillet, the cookies are browned with nutty-flavored butter, resulting in a deep, complex flavor enhanced with a mix of semisweet and milk chocolate chips. The technique involves melting and browning butter, incorporating sugars and eggs with careful whisking and resting to develop an irresistibly smooth dough before baking to perfection in the oven.
Ingredients
Butter
- 13 tablespoons unsalted butter (184 grams), divided (1⅝ stick)
Dry Ingredients
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour (210 grams)
- ½ teaspoon baking soda (3 grams)
- 1½ teaspoons kosher salt (5 grams)
Sugars
- 1 cup dark brown sugar (213 grams)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar (50 grams)
Wet Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract (8 grams)
- 1 large egg (50 grams)
- 1 egg yolk (14 grams)
Chocolate Chips
- ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips (85 grams)
- ½ cup milk chocolate chips (85 grams)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Adjust the oven rack to the upper-middle position and preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) to ensure even baking of the skillet cookie.
- Prepare Skillet and Dry Mixture: Butter a 12-inch cast-iron skillet with 1 tablespoon of butter and spray it with nonstick cooking spray. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and baking soda; set aside.
- Bake the Brown Butter: Melt 9 tablespoons of butter in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Continuously swirl the pan until the butter melts and turns dark golden brown, producing a nutty aroma, about 3-5 minutes. Carefully watch the last minute to prevent burning. Transfer the browned butter to a large heat-proof bowl. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter and stir until fully melted and combined.
- Mix Sugars and Eggs: Add dark brown sugar, granulated sugar, kosher salt, and vanilla extract to the browned butter. Whisk until combined. Add the whole egg and egg yolk, whisking for about 30 seconds until smooth. Let the mixture rest for 3 minutes. Repeat whisking for 30 seconds followed by resting for 3 minutes three more times (total of 4 cycles) until the batter is thick, smooth, and shiny.
- Incorporate Flour: Add the flour and baking soda mixture to the wet ingredients. Stir gently just until no dry flour remains to avoid overmixing, which keeps the cookie tender.
- Add Chocolate Chips: Fold in the semisweet and milk chocolate chips just until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Shape and Bake: Evenly press the cookie dough into the prepared cast-iron skillet, smoothing the surface. Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake for 23 to 28 minutes, rotating the skillet halfway through baking (after about 13 minutes) for even cooking. The cookie is done when the center has barely set but still looks slightly undercooked.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cookie to cool in the skillet for 5-10 minutes to set further. Slice into 8 wedges and serve warm for the best gooey texture.
Notes
- Be attentive when browning the butter, as it can go from perfect to burnt quickly.
- Resting and whisking the batter multiple times enhances texture and sheen.
- Do not overbake; the cookie should still be soft in the middle when removed from the oven.
- Use a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet for best results and easy release.
- This recipe yields 8 large slices perfect for sharing.
