The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes

Few desserts hold the same nostalgic magic as the chocolate chip cookie. No matter the variation you prefer, these chocolate chip cookie recipes from McCormick® deliver bakery-quality results from your own kitchen. Each recipe builds on timeless flavor foundations — real butter, rich chocolate, and the unmistakable aroma of McCormick® Vanilla — while offering its own delicious twist.

Get ready to preheat the oven and fill your kitchen with that irresistible, just-baked scent — here’s your ultimate cookie lineup.

The Classics

You can’t go wrong with the originals. These classic cookies capture everything you love about homemade baking. They’re perfect for bake sales, lunch boxes, or those nights when you need something sweet and familiar.

Vanilla Rich Chocolate Chip Cookies

When you think classic, this is it — the cookie that started it all. Soft in the center, lightly crisp at the edges, and full of rich vanilla flavor, it’s the perfect balance of texture and taste. McCormick All Natural Pure Vanilla Extract brings out the buttery sweetness of the dough and deepens the flavor of the chocolate chips for that signature homemade aroma everyone loves. Each bite melts into the perfect combination of buttery richness and semi-sweet chocolate.

For a little extra crunch, fold in chopped walnuts before baking. Bake them golden for a classic finish — or pull them a minute early for that soft, melt-in-your-mouth magic.

Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you’re team chewy, this version is your ultimate cookie comfort zone. These cookies bake up thick and soft, with just the right amount of gooey in the center — the kind that bend instead of crumble when you break them in half. The secret? A touch of cornstarch in the dough, which keeps the texture tender and helps every bite stay perfectly moist.

Chilling the dough for a few hours is worth the wait — allowing the flavors to deepen and the butter to firm up, ensuring each cookie bakes evenly. McCormick All Natural Pure Vanilla Extract rounds out the sweetness and adds the warm, nostalgic aroma that fills your whole heart. A light sprinkle of sea salt on top brings the flavor full circle, creating the perfect contrast of sweet and salty in every bite. The result? A cookie that’s equal parts cozy and indulgent — one you’ll reach for again and again.

Sweet Twists & Seasonal Flavors

Love a good classic but craving something new? These recipes take the timeless chocolate chip cookie and give it a little extra flair — with spices, textures, and seasonal ingredients that make every batch feel fresh and exciting.

Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Cookies

There’s something about the scent of cinnamon and chocolate mingling in the air that instantly feels like home. McCormick Ground Cinnamon adds a subtle spice and cozy warmth to every bite, transforming the cookie from a classic treat into something extra special. The cinnamon enhances the natural sweetness of McCormick All Natural Pure Vanilla Extract, creating a deep, layered flavor. The texture is soft and chewy with perfectly melted chocolate chips throughout, while the cinnamon adds a delicate warmth that lingers just long enough to make you want another bite.

Perfect for fall gatherings, holiday cookie exchanges, or any cozy afternoon, these cookies strike that dreamy balance between comfort and surprise — familiar enough to feel classic, yet just different enough to make them unforgettable.

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

For the cookie connoisseurs who crave something a little more refined, this recipe is your moment. Browning the butter before mixing it into the dough adds a rich, nutty flavor that instantly elevates a simple chocolate chip cookie into something extraordinary. As the butter melts and slowly turns golden, the milk solids toast and release a warm, toffee-like aroma that fills the kitchen.

McCormick Vanilla Bean Paste brings another layer of sophistication, infusing each bite with smooth, aromatic vanilla flecks that perfectly complement the deep caramel notes of the butter and the bittersweet richness of the chocolate. Together, they create a cookie that feels indulgent, yet effortlessly balanced.

Once baked, the edges turn crisp and buttery while the centers stay soft and tender, with pools of melted chocolate running through. A light sprinkle from a McCormick Sea Salt Grinder before baking or just after pulling them from the oven heightens every flavor — the sweet, the nutty, the slightly smoky — creating a bakery-style finish that’s truly unforgettable.

A New Take on Tradition

Classic doesn’t always mean conventional. These cookies keep the same comforting flavors you know but introduce fun, creative techniques and mix-ins that modern bakers will love.

Cranberry Chocolate Chunk Air Fryer Cookies

Yes — your air fryer can bake cookies, and not just any cookies. These are chewy, rich, and packed with the perfect balance of sweet, tart, and chocolatey flavor. This clever recipe proves that homemade baking doesn’t require a hot oven.

Dark chocolate chunks, Ocean Spray® Craisins® Dried Cranberries, and McCormick All Natural Pure Vanilla Extract combine to create layers of flavor that keep each bite interesting — the deep richness of the chocolate, the bright pop of tangy cranberry, and the smooth sweetness of vanilla. The result is a cookie that feels both modern and nostalgic, balancing comfort with creativity.

The air fryer’s circulating heat ensures a beautifully crisp exterior and a soft, doughy center — that perfect contrast cookie lovers crave. Bake them in small batches whenever the craving strikes, so you always get that “just out of the oven” freshness. Toasted pecans add a subtle nuttiness and crunch, while an extra handful of chocolate chunks takes them into pure indulgence territory.

Whether you’re experimenting with your air fryer for the first time or just want a quick, no-fuss way to satisfy your sweet tooth, these cookies are proof that innovation can be just as delicious as tradition. Once you try them, you might never go back to conventional baking again.

The Secret to Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

Every cookie lover has their preferences — but a few simple techniques make all the difference:

• Use quality vanilla. McCormick® Vanilla Extract and Vanilla Bean Paste add depth, warmth, and that signature bakery aroma.
• Chill your dough. Resting it allows the butter to firm up, helping cookies hold their shape and develop richer flavor.
• Mind your bake time. Pull your cookies just before they look done; they’ll continue to set as they cool.

Sweet Finishes & Storage Tips

Whether you’re baking for a holiday exchange, after-school treat, or late-night craving, fresh chocolate chip cookies are always a good idea. Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days — or freeze the dough in pre-portioned scoops for on-demand baking. Just pop them straight into the oven and enjoy that freshly baked taste any time.

From the simple nostalgia of a classic chocolate chip cookie to the indulgent flavor layers of brown butter or cinnamon, each recipe proves that there’s more than one way to create perfection — as long as you start with McCormick.

Final Bite

No matter which version you bake first, these cookies are bound to become repeat favorites. They’re proof that a timeless recipe can still surprise you. So, grab your mixing bowl, preheat the oven (or air fryer), and get ready to bake up the best batch yet. Because when it comes to chocolate chip cookies, there’s always room for one more.