Original Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (2024)

Chocolate | Cookies

ByAngelina Papanikolaou

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Everybody has a favorite cookie recipe that brings them comfort, and for many, theToll House Cookie Recipeis that go-to recipe. It’s not just a recipe; it’s a piece of nostalgia dating back to the Toll House Inn and the culinary brilliance of Ruth Wakefield.

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Original Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (1)

Why This Recipe Works

The Toll House cookie recipe is the original recipe, and it holds its place as the most popular cookie for a good reason. The blend of white sugar and brown sugar in the recipe gives a unique flavor and contributes to the perfect texture – a crispy edge with a chewy center.

The balance between the dry ingredients such as all-purpose flour and baking soda and the wet ingredients including room temperature butter and vanilla extract results in the perfect cookie. The semisweet chocolate chips add the perfect touch, ensuring these are the best chocolate chip cookies you’ll taste.

For more chocolate chip cookie recipes, check out these Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies, Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies, and these Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Original Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (2)

Ingredient Notes

Be sure to check out the full recipe for ingredient measurements.

  • Brown Sugar: In the Nestle Toll House cookie recipe, the brown sugar contributes to the chewiness and gives a slight molasses flavor.
  • All-purpose Flour: The backbone of the cookie, all-purpose flour lends structure to our cookies. Be sure to accurately measure using a measuring cup or scale.
  • Unsalted Butter: Ensure your butter is at room temperature. Cold butter won’t mix well, and overly melted butter can lead to flat cookies.
  • Chocolate Chips: We prefer semisweet chocolate chips, but you can also use white chocolate chips or a mixture of both for variation.
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Step-by-Step Directions

  1. Preheat your oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. This is best done with an electric mixer.
  3. Beat in the large eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
Original Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (4)
Original Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (5)
  1. In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, baking soda, and a teaspoon of salt. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Stir in the Nestlé semisweet chocolate chips. If the dough is too stiff, use a wooden spoon.
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Original Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (7)
  1. Drop cookie dough balls onto the prepared cookie sheet using a cookie scoop.
  2. Bake until edges are golden brown. Let cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks.
Original Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (8)
Original Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (9)

Pro tip: Remember, every oven is different, so keep an eye on your batch of cookies!

Expert Tips

  • Avoid overmixing the dough once the flour mixture is added to keep your cookies soft and chewy.
  • Use an ice pick or similar tool to break a semisweet chocolate bar into small pieces if you do not have chips.
  • Once baked, store cookies in an airtight container. Place a single layer of parchment paper between each layer of cookies to keep them fresh.
  • If you have remaining dough, scoop it into balls and freeze. You can bake these directly from frozen; just add a few extra minutes to the baking time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make these Toll House Chocolate Cookies gluten-free?

Yes, you can replace the all-purpose flour with most gluten-free flours or free flour blends. Be mindful that this may alter the texture slightly.

Is it better to use butter or shortening for chocolate chip cookies?

Butter, especially unsalted butter, is the preferred fat for chocolate chip cookies because of its flavor and melt-in-the-mouth quality.

What makes chocolate chip cookies flatten?

Too much spread can be caused by a few different reasons.

1. The baking temperature was too low
2. Not enough flour
3. Too much sugar
4. Over creaming the butter and sugar
5. Adding too much leavener (baking powder or baking soda)
6. Too much liquid in the dough

To prevent flat cookies, make sure that you measure all of the ingredients accurately and bake the cookies in a preheated oven.

Why are my chocolate chip cookies so hard?

The main reason chocolate chip cookies are hard is because there is too much flour in the dough. Another reason may be that the cookies are overbaked.

Why did my cookies spread too much?

Your butter might have been too warm, or your flour measurement was off. Make sure your dough balls go onto a cool baking sheet.

Where did the name Toll House cookies come from?

The original chocolate chip cookie is the Toll House cookie. Ruth Wakefield, owner of the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Massachusetts first developed the recipe in the 1930s. The Original Toll House cookies are simple butter cookies consisting of a blend of brown and white sugar with semi-sweet chocolate morsels mixed into the dough.
In 1939, Ruth Wakefield gave Nestlé the rights to her cookie recipe and the Toll House name for reportedly $1 and a lifetime supply of free chocolate. Since then, every bag of Nestlé Chocolate Chips that is sold in North America has a variation of Ruth Wakefield’s original Toll House chocolate chip cookie recipe printed on the back of it.

How should I store my Toll House cookies?

Store your baked cookies in an air-tight container. They will keep for up to a week, but we doubt they’ll last that long!

Original Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (10)

The Toll House cookie recipe is more than just a recipe card for cookies. It’s a piece of culinary history from Ruth Wakefield at the Toll House Inn, and every time you bite into one of these classic cookies, you’re sharing in that legacy. So next time you’re craving something sweet, remember that the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe is here waiting for you, and nothing pairs better with these chewy cookies than a cold glass of milk. Enjoy!

More Cookie Recipes You’ll Love

Chewy Pistachio White Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

The Best Cookie Sandwiches (with buttercream filling)

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies with Oil (No Butter)

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Original Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (14)

Original Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Angelina Papanikolaou

The chocolate chip cookie recipe that everybody loves! Learn how to make Classic Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies from scratch.

5 from 21 votes

PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course Cookies

Cuisine American

Servings 20 cookies

Calories 183 kcal

Equipment

  • Kitchen scale

  • Stand mixer

  • Cookie coop

  • Baking sheet

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter room temperature
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 egg room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 cups chocolate chips or chopped chocolate

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

  • Place the softened butter and sugars in your mixing bowl. Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, or a hand mixer, cream the ingredients at low speed. Cream the ingredients until the mixture resembles a smooth paste.

  • Add the egg and vanilla extract and blend at low speed until combined.

  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.Add the flour to the butter mixture and mix until just combined.

  • Finally, stir in the chocolate chips until they are evenly distributed throughout the cookie dough.

  • Use a medium size cookie scoop to drop 2 tablespoon-sized dough balls onto parchment lined baking sheets. Place the cookie dough balls 2 inches apart (no more than 8 cookies per tray). Bake the cookies in a preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are firm and the centers are slightly underbaked.

  • Allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Top the warm cookies with additional chocolate chips and serve!

Notes

  • Chocolate: While the classic Toll House Cookies are made with Nestle semi-sweet chocolate morsels, you can use any type of chocolate you will like. Dark chocolate, bittersweet, and milk chocolate make great additions. You can also use chopped chocolate rather than chocolate chips.
  • Adding nuts: If you would like to incorporate nuts into the dough, slightly cut back on the amount of chocolate and replace it with your choice of chopped nuts. My favorites are walnuts or pecans.
  • Make ahead: The cookies can be shaped and frozen unbaked. Freeze on the baking sheet until solid, then store in a freezer bag. Bake directly from frozen adding 2-3 minutes to the total baking time.f
  • Storage: Baked cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookieCalories: 183kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 1gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 135mgPotassium: 24mgFiber: 1gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 154IUCalcium: 9mgIron: 1mg

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Angelina Papanikolaou

Welcome to Baked Ambrosia! I'm a professionally trained pastry chef and nutritionist who loves to bake both indulgent and healthier desserts. This is a place where you will find delicious recipes, ideas, & more. Learn more about me!

Original Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What happened to Toll House cookie dough? ›

Nestle USA recalled two batches of its Toll House chocolate chip cookie dough because they may be contaminated with wood fragments. The company said it issued the recall in an abundance of caution after a “small number” of customers contacted Nestle about the issue. No illnesses or injuries have been reported.

Should I chill Toll House cookie dough before baking? ›

When chilled long enough, cookie dough becomes more flavorful when baked. "Chilling dough prior to baking lends itself to more tender, well-shaped, and slightly stronger flavored cookies," said Meredith Tomason, Test Kitchen Manager for Nestle Toll House.

Why are my Toll House cookies so thin? ›

If your cookies repeatedly turn out flat, no matter the recipe, chances are your oven is too hot. Here's what's happening. The butter melts super quickly in a too-hot oven before the other ingredients have firmed up into a cookie structure. Therefore, as the butter spreads so does the whole liquidy cookie.

Which cookies are better Toll House or Pillsbury? ›

If you prefer a softer, chewier cookie, go with Toll House. Since the flavors weren't all that different, I think this one comes down to personal preference. The Nestle Toll House cookies stayed chewier for longer while I found that the Pillsbury cookies hardened and got crunchy throughout more quickly.

Why can t you bake Toll House edible cookie dough? ›

We do not recommend baking our Bite-Sized Edible Cookie Dough [flavor/products]. It does not contain eggs or leavening agents, which are key ingredients in developing texture and lift in baked cookies. (If needed) Exposure to high oven temperatures will cause the product to liquefy and possibly burn.

Why poke holes in cookie dough before baking? ›

You can use a fork or a dough docker to prick small holes all over the surface of the dough. By venting the steam, docking keeps the dough from billowing or heaving as it bakes. It's an important step for crisp cookies or that are baked all in a single sheet and not cut up until they come out of the oven.

Do you put Nestle Toll House cookie dough in the fridge or freezer? ›

Can I freeze NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Refrigerated Cookie Dough products? Absolutely! Dough can be frozen for up to 2 months when placed in the freezer before the "Use or Freeze By" date indicated on the package.

Why does refrigerating cookie dough make a difference? ›

"When your dough is refrigerated, the butter hardens. So when you bake them, they spread less and hold their shape better," adds Epperson. "Which means a better likelihood of a soft, chewy cookie in the center." Chilling the dough creates fluffier cookies with better consistency.

How do you know if Toll House cookie dough is bad? ›

How do I know how long my NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Refrigerated Cookie Dough is good for? Each package of NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Refrigerated Cookie Dough is labeled with a "Use or Freeze By" date, which is stamped in ink on the side of the wrapper.

What is the controversy with Nestle cookie dough? ›

Cookie dough

In the US, it caused sickness in more than 50 people in 30 states, half of whom required hospitalisation. Following the outbreak, Nestlé recalled 30,000 cases of the cookie dough. The cause was determined to be contaminated flour obtained from a raw material supplier.

Why are my toll house cookies cake like? ›

When cookies are too cakey, there are two main culprits: too much leavening (baking powder or baking soda) or too much egg. If there is too much baking powder or baking soda in the dough, the cookies will rise too much when baking, creating a cakier structure. Eggs also promote a cakey structure in cookies.

Should I use baking soda or baking powder in cookies? ›

Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

Why do my chocolate chip cookies come out of the oven flat? ›

Too Much Sugar

Sugar will caramelize when heated. In other words, it turns into liquid. Being over-ambitious with the sugar means over-saturation of liquid in the bake, leading to flat cookies. Not enough flour will lead to an insufficient amount of rising agents, which again causes flat cookies.

How to make store-bought chocolate chip cookie dough better? ›

No one will even suspect they're store-bought (and we won't tell anyone!).
  1. Add brown sugar. ...
  2. Experiment with extracts. ...
  3. Mix in different candies and snacks. ...
  4. Add espresso or coffee grounds. ...
  5. Deepen the flavors by refrigerating the dough. ...
  6. Salt before baking the cookies. ...
  7. Reduce baking time for extra soft cookies.

What happened to cookie dough after Shark Tank? ›

Life for The Cookie Dough Café after Shark Tank

Since appearing on "Shark Tank," The Cookie Dough Café has expanded its market to roughly 10,000 retailers nationwide, including Walmart, Kroger, Shop Rite, and price clubs BJ's Wholesale Club and Costco. It's also available online through the official website and Amazon.

Why did do cookie dough close? ›

The shop has since recently closed to focus on increasing ecommerce capacity and selling cookie dough at all 16 Handles locations. eat, bake, and share with others,” Tomlan said in a statement.

Where is the Toll House cookie? ›

Today it's the most popular cookie in America, but the original Toll House Cookie, the first chocolate chip cookie, was invented right here in New England by Ruth Wakefield at the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Massachusetts, during the 1930s.

Was the cookie an accident? ›

Popular lore has it that the cookie was first invented in the 1930s by accident. Their inventor, Ruth Wakefield, owned and managed the Toll House Inn along with her husband (ring a bell?). Rumor has it Ruth was attempting to make chocolate cookies for the inn when she ran out of baker's chocolate.

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