If you know me, you may know that thick, frosted, and decorated sugar cookies are my specialty; I’ve spent years perfecting the detailed baking and decorating processes. 

However, I can’t deny that every once in a while, I crave a nice soft-on-the-inside, crispy-on-the-outside chocolate chip cookie with flaky salt and perfectly chopped chocolate chunks. 

The only problem– I have never found a recipe that I like. They are always too cakey, too thin, burn too easily, or don’t have enough flavor. 

Consequently, I have decided to start my search for the best chocolate chip cookie recipe to help me refrain from throwing out batches of gross cookies from average recipes (I have high standards for baked goods, I’ll admit).

Trial #1

The first recipe I tried was made for a softer middle and a cakier texture. It made for a lighter cookie with a more subtly sweet taste. Personally, I liked the cookie, but it was nothing special. It tasted like an average store-bought cookie that you eat at a banquet. I rate this recipe a 6/10.

Trial #2

In the next recipe, I tried a new technique- browning the butter. This is supposed to give the cookie more of a toffee-like, toasted flavor that bakers swear by. The distinct taste makes the cookie stand out. And let me tell you, it works. 

This cookie was much more flavorful than the first one. The flavor was an 8/10, but the texture of the cookie was a 5/10 in my opinion. The cookies barely spread out and didn’t flatten for that soft center, crispy outside I was looking for. Overall, this recipe was a 6.75/10. 

Trial #3 

The last recipe I tried during this trial was my favorite. It had a perfect texture that spread out evenly in the oven, but also maintained a chewy, dense center. I packed them with a mixture of dark chocolate, milk chocolate and semisweet chocolate chips, which also really improved the flavor. 

This cookie definitely had the best rating out of the three: 7.5/10. However, I still tasted that “store bought cookie” flavor, so I’m not WOW-ed by this recipe. 

Even with the messes I created in my kitchen and colossal amount of cookies I forced my family to critique, I’m still stuck with average cookies. 

So this series will continue until I find THE cookie. Stay tuned!