These Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies topped with sea salt flakes are the absolute BEST! They’re indulgent and delicious without being too heavy. Using classic chocolate chip cookie ingredients, the edges are crisp with a gooey and soft center.

Softly Baked Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies topped with flaky sea salt.

I’ve never made a better chocolate chip cookie in my life!

The sweet and salty chocolate combination is an absolute dream and what brings this cookie recipe to the next level. This is because the salt helps to bring out the delicious dark chocolate flavor.

These cookies have a perfectly crisp outer edge while remaining chewy, soft and slightly under baked in the middle.

Ingredient Notes

While these are the ingredients you will need to make this recipe, you can find the full details and their measurements in the recipe card towards the end of this blog post. 

Also, please note that this recipe can also be made gluten-free friendly using the flour I link below.

Chocolate Chip Cookies are one of those things that really could never be bad, but some are better than other!

This recipe in particular is truly one of the BEST cookie recipes I have ever had.

The edges are perfectly crisp while still have a soft, doughy and slightly gooey center.

The perfect touch to these cookies is adding some flake sea salt right on top after you remove the cookies from the oven.

Helpful Tips for Making the Perfect Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies

  • Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy
  • Don’t over-mix the batter after adding in the dry ingredients
  • Chill the cookie dough. This is an important step in getting a perfect cookie.
  • Always underbake your cookies rather than risk overbaking them. The cookies will continue to bake on the tray once removed from the oven. Plus, who wants to eat a burnt cookie?!
  • Add flaky sea salt on top. You won’t regret it! It’s the perfect combination of salty and sweet.

How to Make these Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies with Sea Salt

The full-detailed instructions are written out in the recipe card below. Use these images to help guide you as needed while following the instructions.

Wet ingredients in a bowl to make Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Mix wet ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
Add in the egg and vanilla extract using a hand mixer.
Add in the egg and vanilla extract.
Adding in the dry ingredients to make the Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Fold in the dry ingredients until just combined.
Adding chocolate chips and chocolate chunks to the cookie dough.
Add in the chocolate chips and chocolate chunks of choice.
Scoop the cookie dough into even sized balls and place spread out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake the cookies!
Softly Baked Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies topped with flaky sea salt.
Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes chocolate chip cookies hard vs. soft?

A high moisture content makes the perfect chewy and soft cookie. That means lots of butter and using brown sugar to make them extra moist – which to me, makes the perfect cookie!

What will happen if I use cold butter in this recipe?

Using cold butter will create a crunchier cookie. I personally like my cookies soft and under baked in the middle.

Can I use melted butter instead of softened?

You can, however, this will most likely just create a denser, chewier cookie! And there’s nothing wrong with that – it will still be delicious.

Why does this recipe use both baking soda and baking powder?

Both ingredients are incredibly important for this recipe. The baking powder helps create the ultimate chewy cookie. On the other hand, the baking soda contributes to keeping the cookie light and not too dense.

What is the best way to store these Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies?

Store in an airtight container at room temperature to preserve softness. You can also store them in the refrigerator for longer shelf life but won’t stay as soft. 

For longer storage, freeze the cookies in freezer-safe bags, ideally with wax paper between layers, for up to 3 months.

Freshly baked Salted Chocolate Chip cookies with chocolate chunks and flaky sea salt.
Freshly baked Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies with a soft and gooey center.
5 stars (9 ratings)

Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe with Sea Salt

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
cooling time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 33 minutes
Yield: 24 cookies
These Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies topped with sea salt flakes are the absolute BEST! They're indulgent and delicious without being too heavy. Using classic chocolate chip cookie ingredients, the edges are crisp with a gooey and soft center.
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Ingredients
 

  • 1 cup salted butter, softened
  • 1 cup white granulated sugar
  • 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3 cups all purpose flour, or gluten-free all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 cup dark chocolate chunks/chips, plus extra for topping
  • sea salt flakes, for topping

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line a baking pan with parchment paper and set aside
  • In a large mixing bowl, add in your softened butter and sugar
  • Cream together with a hand or stand mixer until fully combined
  • Beat in the eggs and vanilla until fluffy
  • Add in the flour, baking soda and baking powder (incorporate slowly, mixing in a little bit at a time)
  • Fold in the chocolate chips/chunks until mixed evenly throughout the batter
  • Scoop about 2 tbsp of dough at a time. Roll into equal-sized balls if not using a cookie dough scooper
  • Place on the parchment paper, evenly spaced about 1-2 inches apart (I usually bake 6-8 cookies per tray, one tray at a time)
  • Bake for 8-10 minutes until the edges are golden but not a dark brown
  • Immediately, add the flake sea salt on top of each cookie once removed from the oven
  • Let the cookies sit on the tray for 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie, Calories: 198kcal, Carbohydrates: 29g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 34mg, Sodium: 123mg, Potassium: 37mg, Fiber: 0.4g, Sugar: 17g, Vitamin A: 256IU, Calcium: 19mg, Iron: 1mg
Author: Jessica Selensky
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keywords: baking, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Cookie Recipe, Dessert, Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies

If you try this recipe, please consider leaving a rating and comment at the end of this blog post. It is incredibly helpful to my small business and to your fellow readers!

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