I have a huge sweet tooth and love all things sugary and chocolatey. When it comes to wanting dessert after dinner, my answer is always a resounding YES (something chocolate please!) In my mind, the ultimate dessert are these best chocolate chip cookies that are warm and oozing with chocolate.

Milk and Cookies

Personally, nothing beats a cold glass of milk with cookies. Fresh oven-baked cookies are preferable, but I am just as content with a pack of Double Stuf Oreos.

If you haven’t checked it out, Ben & Jerry’s has a Milk & Cookies ice cream that is so worth trying! It’s vanilla ice cream stuffed with cookie chunks and swirled together in a chocolate swirl.

My mouth is watering as I speak, I digress.

Baking the best chocolate chip cookies

I dabble in baking occasionally and am always searching for amazing cookie recipes. Whether I am planning on making them or just drooling over the pictures, it’s not uncommon for me to dive into Pinterest to see what I can find.

Mint chocolate chip cookies are always a great hit for St. Patrick’s day and double chocolate chip peppermint cookies are a must around the winter holidays.

Throughout all my cookie-making, I can attest that these melt in your mouth chocolate chip cookies live up to their name and are the BEST cookies I have ever made. Hands down.

Right out of the oven the cookies are soft and chewy and the chocolate is gooey. Perfecto.

Patience is such a hard virtue to have when the smell of cookies wafts through your house.

secret ingredient to make the Best chocolate chip cookies

Growing up, my mom and grandma never made cookies with this ingredient. They had used applesauce frequently or sometimes mayonnaise (this the South, after all) but using this ingredient in cookies was unheard of to me. Turns out, it is the key to soft and moist cookies.

*drum roll*

Cream cheese! This rich spread is used in a small amount but packs a big punch in chocolate chip cookies. The cookies are soft and chewy with crispy edges.

how to: prep the wet ingredients (and sugars)

My stand mixer takes the ease of this recipe to the next level. If you’re considering purchasing one, I would highly recommend it. I will never go back to a hand mixer after using a stand mixer that’s so hands off and doesn’t tire out your arms (you’re already working hard enough in the kitchen right??)

best chocolate chip cookies wet ingredients and sugars

Soften a stick of butter and 2 tbsp of cream cheese. Add to the stand mixer bowl with egg, vanilla, and sugars. We’ll use both brown sugar and granulated sugar, about half and half.

Mix on speed 6 (medium high) for 3-4 minutes until the mixture is light and creamy.

how to: prep the dry ingredients

Add flour, cornstarch, and baking soda to the dough.

Mix on low for less than a minute, until combined. Be sure to not overmix. The dough should be a very thick consistency.

Fold in one 12oz bag of chocolate chips by hand. Scoop into moderate sized balls of dough and refrigerate.

Bake at 350 for 10 minutes exactly, or until the edges are flat and light brown and the center is still light.

The chocolate should be oozing out of the cookies. YUM. Try to be patient and let cool before diving in!