What sets these chocolate chip cookies above the rest? They’re the best freezer chocolate chip cookies!! You make the dough, put it in the freezer and then when you’re ready to enjoy a chocolate chip cookie (or 4) all you do is take some cookie dough balls out of the freezer, pop them in the oven, and voila, the best freezer chocolate chip cookies!
I don’t throw around the term ‘the best’ lightly, as you may know from my best salted caramel chocolate chip cookies recipe (which has over 100 5 star reviews and over 2,000 favorites!).
When I do say something is the best, it’s because I’ve made it dozens of times and I haven’t come across something quite as good.
I know with chocolate chip cookies, everyone has their favorite. Some like a chewier cookie, some a crispier cookie, some ones with a slightly different brown to white sugar ratio. Some with a mixture of chocolate chips..etc., the list can go on and on.
These cookies were developed based on my best salted caramel chocolate chip cookies recipe and the famous New York Times chocolate chip cookie recipe (a recipe which taught me to put cookie dough in the refrigerator before baking it!)
Here’s the thing though…all the recipes I’ve come across have you making dozens of cookies after making the batter. Which is great and all, but as life gets crazy and last minute things come up, I was finding I needed cookies last minute. I don’t always have time to make the batter and then wait for it to rest in the refrigerator and then bake it.
There are plenty of times when a recipe like this makes sense:
- When I (or the kids) want cookies, I want them pronto!
- When I had family/friends stopping by last minute, I wanted to serve cookies (but not make them on the spot).
- If someone had a last minute celebration, I wanted to drop off some cookies.
So I created these freezer chocolate chip cookies. You make the dough, scoop it into cookie dough balls, and then freeze the dough balls.
When you’re ready for a chocolate chip cookie, you open the freezer, grab out however many cookies you want. Then, follow these simple steps:
- Put them on a parchment paper lined (or silicone baking mat lined) cookie sheet
- Preheat the oven to 350
- Bake them for 10 minutes.
It’s as simple as that!! And if you want to bake the dough right after making it, it’s still amazing. These are all-around the best chocolate chip cookies.
I remember, as a kid, getting frozen cookie dough from the store (like the kind in the tube) or nowadays, they even have it portioned out into bite size pieces. Just think of this recipe as making your own, way better, version of pre-made cookie dough.
Plus, this is another great recipe that you can make with kids in the kitchen, which is always a bonus at my house!
I’ve made these cookies countless times and have learned some things along the way. Here are some tips for success:
- Use slightly melted butter – it results in a softer, chewier cookie vs. room temperature butter
- Use quality ingredients – I use Ghirardelli chocolate chips and Maldon sea salt flakes
- The best tools for making chocolate chip cookies – it all starts with creaming the butter and sugars, don’t skip this step! I use a hand mixer when I’m making smaller batches (this recipe can easily be halved) and a stand mixer when I’m making the full recipe. When mixing in the chocolate chips I’ve been told to always use a wooden spoon– this could very well be an old wives tale, but I follow it!
- I use a cookie scoop (like this one) when measuring out the cookie batter – it helps make consistently sized cookies – it also happens to be one of my favorite kitchen utensils.
- When freezing cookie dough – scoop cookie dough balls onto a piece of wax paper, a little space in-between, 12 per rectangle of wax paper, carefully stack wax paper with cookie dough balls on top of each other into a freezer safe storage bag. Freeze flat, when frozen, then you can store differently and just take out however many dough balls you want at a time.
- Lastly let’s talk about silicone baking mats….when my grandma-in-law gave me these silicone baking mats as a gift I thought nothing of it…until I used them for the first time. They are life changing! They make baking cookies a breeze, I would definitely definitely suggest getting some for your kitchen!
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear how it stacks up against all of your other favorites!
If you want to stock up on all of the best baking products, you can shop below:
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened (2 sticks)
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar packed
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 1/2 tsp flakey sea salt
- 2 cups chocolate chips or chocolate chunks
Instructions
- Start by softening the butter (I do this by microwaving it for 30 seconds to 1 minute until it has just started to melt).
- "Cream" the butter and sugar. Using a hand or stand mixer, beat the butter and brown sugar and granulated sugar together until well combined and almost 'creamy' looking. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and beat to combine.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and flakey sea salt.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients, stir well.
- Using a wooden spoon, stir in chocolate chips/chunks.
- Prepare a freezer bag or container labeled 'chocolate chip cookies' and the date. Cookies are good up to 3 months in the freezer. Lay out rectangles of wax paper (that will go into the freezer bag once dough balls are on it.
- Using a cookie scoop, scoop cookie dough balls and slightly press them down on prepared wax paper rectangle, 12 per sheet, slightly spaced out.
- Put wax paper containing dough balls into the freezer bag and lay flat in the freezer until they solidify.
- To bake, remove however many dough balls you want to bake and place on a silicone mat lined (or parchment paper lined) baking sheet. Put cookies 2 inches apart (12 per baking sheet)
- Preheat oven to 350, the dough will thaw when the oven is preheating.
- Bake for 10 minutes, or until starting to slightly brown around edges.
- Remove from oven, allow to cool a few minutes before transferring on to a wire cooling rack. Enjoy!
Jessica Fout says
So many cookies to choose from! As long as there aren’t raisins, I am probably going to enjoy them! 😉 If I have to choose a favorite, though, I would probably go with Chai Tea Cookies. I got the recipe from a former student who gave them as teacher gifts each year. They are somewhere between spice cookies & sugar cookies. You put chai tea and pumpkin spice in the dough & they are SO YUMMY – not too sweet & perfect for the holidays!
Sweetphi says
Hahhaah as long as there’s no raisins, I’m with you all the way!! And oooh yum, chai tea cookies sound amazing!
Keshia says
I can’t live without pumpkin cookies! In my little hometown, the local grocery store makes the most delicious pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting.
Sweetphi says
Those cookies sound amazing!!
Sara Williams says
My all time favorite cookie is made by a company called Hope’s Cookies. It’s called Hope’s Royale, and it’s got macadamia nuts, semi-sweet chocolate, and coconut. Such a tasty combo!
Alice Mathis says
Brownie cookies! They are like chocolate chip cookies with chips and walnuts, but made from a box of brownie mix instead of flour and sugar! For true chocoholics only!
Kate says
Favorite cookie – Classic chocolate chip with walnuts!
Sweetphi says
YUM – I had my first chocolate chip cookies with walnuts the other day and omg so good!
Sarah A says
I’m a sucker for a good and chewy oatmeal raisin cookie with a hint of cinnamon in them. But who am I kidding, I won’t pass up many cookie varieties, because they are cookies!!!!
Sweetphi says
I love a good oatmeal cookie too, but you’re so right, who can pass up a good cookie?
Jeffrey says
I’m a sucker for the classic chocolate chip cookie with semisweet and dark chocolate chips. On occasion I’ll toss in some walnuts or pecans, especially when I’m feeling nutty! I’m a dunker and normally go with chocolate milk instead of white.
Sweetphi says
Hahaha, loved your ‘when I’m feeling nutty’ comment 😉 You know, I’ve never had chocolate chip cookies with nuts before? Definitely need to try that!
Aysel says
Gosh, choosing a favourite cookie definitely isn’t easy (I mean, they’re all amazing!) – but my favourite cookie would probably be the Girl Scouts ‘samoa’ cookie. I know it’s more of a ‘kid’ type of cookie, I’m just a huge fan of chocolate, caramel and coconut 🙂
Sweetphi says
Ooooh now that’s a unique answer!!! I don’t know if I should tell you this…but Aldi has a knockoff version that is so so good…I had a few too many this weekend lol
Elizabeth says
My favorite are the traditional chocolate chip, but a close second is a soft and chewy snickerdoodle!
Sweetphi says
Yum and yum to both of those!!
Kelly Heslip says
Without a doubt, Snickerdoodle is the best cookie!
Sweetphi says
Yummm you know, I haven’t had a snickerdoodle in years, now I’m craving one.
Cassie says
My favorite cookie is a thick, chewy chocolate chip cookie!
Sweetphi says
Yum, I love a good thick chewy chocolate chip cookie…now I’m thinking about cookies and definitely craving them!
Gale Litt says
My favorite cookie is a well made sugar cookie…plain and simple with plenty of vanilla and almond extract!
Sweetphi says
Oh yum – and I love the mention of almond extract too, I think that really elevates sugar cookies.
Cheri says
Just wanted you to know these cookies aren’t lasting in the freezer. I decided to add a little fiber by grinding up steel cut oats to make a flour. And used half all purpose and half oat flour. It gives them a really nice nutty flavor. Added dark chocolate chips and I had some dried cranberries so I added a heaping half cup of them. They turned out amazing. The hard part is leaving them in the freezer! Thanks for an awesome recipe!
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for the comment Cheri. Wow, those modifications you made sound amazing. Oat flour and cranberries and dark chocolate…yum!
Shelli shanti says
I make this recipe and add vanilla bean, chili powder and pecans! I love your site and little fam! Much joy and blessings in your new home
Sweetphi says
Ooooh I love the additions, thank you so much for the sweet comment too 🙂
Leann says
Costco chocolate chip cookies are the best!
Sweetphi says
They truly are!
Linda Bick says
Who can have a favorite cookie? It’s like having a favorite kid! Currently enjoying a s’mores cookie bar! Looking forward to pumpkin oatmeal cookies for fall.
Sweetphi says
Haha, I agree, cookies are just the best!!
Miranda says
Thanks for sharing this recipe! I need to make it! I love using brown sugar in chocolate chip cookies, I feel like it gives it more flavor!!
My favorite cookie would have to be a classic chocolate chip cookie. You can never go wrong. Yum!
Sweetphi says
Oh I love a good brown sugar chocolate chip cookie!
Lisa Burkhart says
My favorite cookies are fresh out of the oven oatmeal chocolate chunk cookies with walnuts. I’m a fan of soft cookies, so I always place a piece of bread in the container to keep them soft. Just don’t use rye bread because the flavor goes in to the cookies. Learned that the hard way. Lol
Sweetphi says
Oh I love that tip for soft cookies Lisa, I’ve never heard that! Thank you for sharing!!!
Jann McKenzie says
I will have to vote for Snickerdoodles too!! Yum!
Sweetphi says
Oh yum, I need to make those (I’ve never made homemade snickerdoodles!!)
Kristy Bark says
I love this recipe for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies that I clipped from the Boston Globe a million lifetimes ago and now make every fall. Soft, a little spicy, and I can pretend I’m eating my vegetables. 🙂 http://archive.boston.com/ae/food/articles/2004/10/13/my_mothers_pumpkin_chocolate_chip_cookies_boston_globe/
Sweetphi says
Ooooh that sounds awesome! I make a pumpkin spice latte chocolate chip cookie recipe in the fall that reminds me of that one, I need to try those too!
Ray Hren says
My favorite cookie is snickerdoodles.
Sweetphi says
Yum, a classic!
Annette says
I love cookies more than other homemade treats, so it’s hard to pick just one. Oatmeal raisin is the recipe I enjoy baking and I use golden raisins. It gives the cookie a smoother (less sharp) flavor.
Sweetphi says
Oh yum, what a neat tip about the raisins!
Mary W says
My favorite cookie is a molasses ginger cookie. Can’t get enough! I also recommend using a vacuum sealer instead of just freezer bags to store your cookie dough in the freezer. Items last a very long time and have no freezer burn. A real time saver!
Sweetphi says
Oh yum, I too love a good molasses ginger cookie! And great tip, I’ll have to look into a vacuum sealer!
Cheri says
Hi Phi!
Made this recipe for this weekend and it’s so awesome! I used dark chocolate and milk chocolate chips brocade that’s what I had. And I cut back on the white sugar to 1/2 cup. Oh my gosh! These are life changing. Whether you just want 1 or need 12 they’re the best. Now I have to excuse to buy them. I can make my own! Delicious and easy. Having the butter that soft does make a difference. Thanks!!
Sweetphi says
I’m so so happy to hear this Cheri, thank you for leaving feedback, so glad you like them!!
Amy Cooley says
My favorite cookie is an Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookie. It’s so impressive to give as a treat to others!
Sweetphi says
Oh my goodness, those sound so decadent!!
Jessica Fout says
We love a good chocolate chip cookie, but my favorite cookies are probably oatmeal scotchies – oatmeal cookies with butterscotch chips! So tasy & I can pretend they’re healthy with all that oatmeal in them! 😉 I also really love your Chewy Brownie Cookies! It’s great that they are a small batch recipe so I don’t need to use much self-control as I would with dozens of cookies around.
Sweetphi says
Ooooh, oatmeal scotchies sound amazing!!! And thank you – those are so so good, now I’m craving them!
Susan L Craig says
I love roll-out sugar cookies. We always make them at Christmas time, but also throughout the year. My favorite cookie cutters were my Mom’s.
Tracey A says
Good Morning!
When my Daddy passed away, (sob) I made a delicious cookie that turned out to be my favorite! Daddy was a big lover of sweets and enjoyed my goodies immensely! Texas Cowboy cookies are so yummy! Definitely can’t live without these! I love to freeze my cookie balls, so handy at Christmas time or when people come to visit and enjoy a warm cookie.
Sweetphi says
Sorry to hear about your dad, I love that you have such a special memory cookie.
Sharon says
My favorite is chocolate chip with lots of walnuts.
Sweetphi says
You know, I can honestly say I’ve never had walnuts in chocolate chip cookies, now I want to make a batch and try that!!