There’s something truly magical about a freshly baked Levain-style chocolate chip cookie. These cookies are thick, chewy, and packed with melty pools of chocolate in every bite. With a golden, crispy exterior and a soft, gooey center, they’re the ultimate treat for chocolate lovers.
Unlike traditional cookies, these bakery-style chocolate chip cookies are made with cold butter, resulting in a dense, tender texture that stays soft for days. Whether enjoyed fresh from the oven or slightly warmed up, these cookies deliver a rich, buttery flavor that’s impossible to resist. Perfect for sharing (or keeping all to yourself)!
Full Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cake flour
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the cold butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until smooth and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cake flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined.
- Fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts, ensuring they are evenly distributed.
- Divide the dough into large portions (about 6-ounce balls), placing them onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each cookie.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown while the centers remain soft.
- Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 12 minutes | Total Time: 27 minutes
Kcal: 480 kcal | Servings: 8 large cookies
Levain-Style Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies – The Ultimate Bakery-Style Treat
Levain-style chocolate chip cookies have gained worldwide popularity for their incredible texture and indulgent flavor. These cookies are thick, soft, and packed with melty chocolate chunks, making them the perfect homemade treat for anyone who loves classic chocolate chip cookies with a gourmet twist.
Unlike regular cookies that are flat and crispy, Levain-style cookies are famous for their dense and gooey interior. They are baked at a high temperature, allowing the edges to turn golden brown while the inside remains deliciously soft. This method creates an irresistible contrast of textures that has made these cookies a favorite among dessert lovers.
The Origins of Levain-Style Cookies
Levain Bakery, a famous bakery in New York City, is credited with creating these iconic cookies. They became known for their extra-large, ultra-thick cookies, often weighing around 6 ounces each. What makes them unique is the cold butter method, which ensures a rich and dense texture while still keeping them soft and chewy on the inside.
The bakery initially made these cookies as a high-energy snack for endurance athletes, but their deliciousness quickly gained attention, and they became one of the most popular cookies in the world. Today, many home bakers attempt to replicate these famous cookies, resulting in Levain-inspired recipes that bring the bakery experience into home kitchens.
What Makes These Cookies Special?
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Thick and Gooey Texture
The most defining characteristic of Levain-style cookies is their thickness. The combination of cake flour, all-purpose flour, and cornstarch helps create a structure that stays thick while baking. The result is a crispy outer layer and a warm, gooey center. -
Cold Butter Method
Instead of using softened butter, these cookies are made with cold cubed butter. This method helps prevent excessive spreading in the oven, keeping the cookies tall and chunky. -
Loaded with Chocolate
Levain-style cookies are known for their generous amount of chocolate chips. Some recipes even use chocolate chunks instead of chips to create large, melty pools of chocolate in every bite. -
Minimal Spreading
Unlike traditional cookies that spread into a thin layer, these cookies maintain their height due to the unique butter and flour combination. This gives them a signature thick and rustic appearance. -
Perfect Balance of Sweet and Savory
A touch of sea salt enhances the flavor of these cookies, balancing the sweetness and making the chocolate stand out even more.
Baking Tips for Perfect Levain-Style Cookies
To achieve bakery-quality cookies at home, it’s essential to follow a few key techniques. Here are some expert tips to ensure your cookies turn out thick, gooey, and absolutely delicious every time.
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Use a Combination of Flours
Many Levain-style cookie recipes use a mix of all-purpose flour and cake flour to create a soft yet sturdy structure. The cake flour makes the cookies more tender, while the all-purpose flour provides strength. -
Chill the Dough
Although these cookies can be baked immediately after mixing, chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes enhances the flavor and improves the texture. Chilled dough prevents excessive spreading and intensifies the cookie’s taste. -
Bake at a High Temperature
These cookies are baked at 400°F (200°C), which is higher than most traditional chocolate chip cookies. The higher temperature helps develop a crisp outer crust while keeping the inside soft and gooey. -
Do Not Overmix the Dough
Overmixing the dough can lead to tough cookies. It’s best to mix the dough just until the ingredients are combined, ensuring a tender and chewy texture. -
Use High-Quality Chocolate
Since chocolate is one of the main ingredients, using high-quality semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips will make a noticeable difference in taste. Opt for chocolate chunks for a more luxurious, melty texture. -
Size Matters
Levain-style cookies are known for their large size. Most recipes call for 6-ounce dough balls, roughly the size of a tennis ball. This ensures a thick cookie with a gooey center. -
Let the Cookies Rest Before Serving
Freshly baked Levain cookies are best enjoyed warm, but allowing them to rest for 10 minutes after baking helps the flavors develop and makes them easier to handle.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Gourmet Quality at Home – These cookies taste just like the famous Levain Bakery cookies without requiring a trip to New York.
- No Mixer Needed – You can easily mix the dough by hand, making this a simple recipe for home bakers.
- Endless Variations – You can customize these cookies by adding nuts, different types of chocolate, or even peanut butter chips.
- Perfect for Any Occasion – Whether you’re baking for a party, a gift, or just a personal treat, these cookies will impress everyone.
Best Additions and Variations
While classic Levain-style cookies are made with semi-sweet chocolate chips and walnuts, there are many ways to customize this recipe to suit your taste.
- Double Chocolate Chip Cookies – Replace half the flour with cocoa powder for a rich, fudgy chocolate cookie.
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies – Add ½ cup of peanut butter to the dough for a nutty flavor.
- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies – Mix in ½ cup of rolled oats for a heartier texture.
- White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies – Swap out the chocolate chips for white chocolate chunks and macadamia nuts.
- S’mores Cookies – Add mini marshmallows and crushed graham crackers for a fun twist on classic s’mores.
Storage and Freezing Tips
One of the best things about these cookies is that they store well and can even be frozen for later.
- Room Temperature Storage: Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 days to maintain their freshness.
- Refrigeration: The dough can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours before baking, which helps develop the flavor.
- Freezing: Freeze unbaked dough balls in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Bake directly from frozen, adding 1-2 extra minutes to the baking time.
- Reheating: Warm baked cookies in the oven at 300°F (150°C) for 5 minutes to restore their gooey texture.
Conclusion
Levain-style chocolate chip cookies are the ultimate indulgence for cookie lovers. With their thick, gooey centers, crispy edges, and melty chocolate chips, these cookies offer a bakery-quality experience right at home. Their unique cold butter method and high-temperature baking result in a perfect balance of textures and flavors that make them stand out from traditional chocolate chip cookies.
Whether you enjoy them fresh out of the oven or save them for later, these cookies are guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth. Plus, with so many customization options, you can easily tailor them to your preferences, making this a must-have recipe for any home baker.
If you’re looking for the perfect thick and gooey chocolate chip cookie, this Levain-inspired recipe is one you’ll want to bake again and again. Give it a try, and enjoy the ultimate chocolate chip cookie experience!