A Secret to Very Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies!

July 16, 2012

More or less, I have been on a small quest through life to find the perfect chocolate chip cookie. In case you have been to, I think I can say this is one of the best batches. The secret? Adding in a vanilla pudding mix! You don’t have to make the pudding. Just add in the powder. They stay soft for days! Although that will hardly matter because if you’re like us, they’re pretty much already gone. I think this trick has become a bit of midwest folklore for cookie making.

The Secret to the Softest Chocolate Chip Cookies!
Makes thirty cookies

2 and 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 and 1/2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1 package vanilla instant pudding mix powder (3.4 ounces)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups milk chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Stir together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In a stand mixer beat together butter, brown sugar, and sugar. Slowly incorporate pudding mix.

Add vanilla and eggs, and continue to mix.

Fold in chocolate chips. Shape dough into about two inch balls and arrange on a lined baking sheet.

Bake for 10-12 minutes, until sides are golden.


5.0 from 5 reviews
THE SECRET TO THE SOFTEST CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES!
 
Author:
Ingredients
  • 2 and ¼ cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 and ½ cups brown sugar
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 package vanilla instant pudding mix powder (3.4 ounces)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 cups milk chocolate chips
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Stir together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In a stand mixer beat together butter, brown sugar, and sugar. Slowly incorporate pudding mix.
  4. Add vanilla and eggs, and continue to mix.
  5. Fold in chocolate chips. Shape dough into about two inch balls and arrange on a lined baking sheet.
  6. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until sides are golden.

Adapted from All Recipes.

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Comments

  • Jessica M

    These cookies are delicious and as soft as she says they are! One note: there’s no step listed for when you put in the flour, baking soda and salt mix that you set aside from step 1. I assume it goes in after the vanilla/eggs and before the chocolate chips, but thought I’d mention it just to be sure. Thanks for sharing all your amazing creations!

  • Meg

    Hi there! I used to use this cookie recipe all the time and had it saved… I lost it! But I could have sworn it used to have corn starch in it ? Did you take it out? Thanks so much…!

  • I have been searching and searching for the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe. My search ended here. I made these 2 days ago and now I’m making two more batches today. This recipe is my permanent go-to recipe! All 6 of my kids LOVED it! And my husband couldn’t stop sneaking into the kitchen to get a few too. Thank you so much!!

  • Anonymous

    Do ypu need cornstarch.. Im confused..

  • Joy Newberry

    Recipe sounds fantastic can’t wait to give it a try. Can i add walnuts?

  • Stefania

    Hola, esta receta me parece fabulosa, pero quiero saber si en vez de pudin de vainilla puedo añadir flan de vainilla o cambiara el sabor…gracias

  • Sylvia Hall

    Can’t wait to try these today and I’m out of corn starch is it needed or can I use something else I can use maybe cake flour

  • Jenn

    I have commented below but I had to comment again because I come back to this recipe again and again. My three year old daughter wanted to make magic chocolate chip cookies. Apparently that meant dumping in 1/2 cup of spinkles. Also, I didn’t have any vanilla pudding on hand and ended up using white chocolate. Sprinkles aside, this made the flavor SUPER rich. Thanks again for such a fab recipe.

    • Rachel Schultz

      Thank you, Jen! I’m so happy to hear it.

  • Anonymous

    Do I need to use corn starch?

  • Anonymous

    Corn starch is listed on the first recipe, but not the second. Do I need to use corn starch? Thank you. I can’t wait to try it!

    • Rachel Schultz

      Should be fixed, thanks!

  • Valerie

    I have been looking for a good recipe for soft Chocolate Chip Cookies, and this is the best one I have found! I have made these cookies 6 times in the past month. I have made them for my family and have given them to friends, and everyone loves them! Thank you so much for the recipe!

    • Rachel Schultz

      That’s so great! Thanks!

  • Katie

    Just made these last night and they were a big hit with my family. I did not have instant vanilla so I substituted butterscotch. Also, 1 C milk chocolate and 1 C semi-sweet chips. They were great! Needless to say, they did not last long. :)

  • Rachel

    Hi!

    I’ve been using this recipe for months and it’s always fantastic.

    Today I changed it up and used chocolate pudding in place of the vanilla and subbed in 1/4 a cup of cocoa powder for 1/4 a cup of flour. I also used white chocolate chips instead of regular chocolate chips. They are fantastic.

    Thanks for such an awesome recipe!

    • Rachel Schultz

      Those are great tips, thank you!

  • Cristiana

    Hello!!! And ok I am not a pro baker and I don’t really know if the recipe calls for the pudding to be made according to the box and then add to the cookie recipe? Or do I just add the dry pudding mix to the recipe?
    Thank you!!!

    • Rachel Schultz

      Just add the dry pudding. Congrats on becoming a baker! :)

  • Jenn

    Easiest, best soft cookie recipe I have ever made. Thank you for the secret!! Found you on Pinterest.

  • Oscar

    I’ve been using this recipe for about 6 years now & it is by far the best cookie recipe I have come across. I like to use butterscotch pudding though. It gives them great flavor as well as coloring. I like to use 2 boxes. However, you can also adjust the sugar accordingly if you like. Also, sometimes when I want them a little thinner, I add more butter. They still turn out extremely soft with slightly crunchy edges.

    • Rachel Schultz

      Good tip. Thanks!

  • Lauren

    I have been making these cookies for years. If you want to mix it up a bit you can also do chocolate pudding with white chocolate chips. My toddler loves theses mixed up cookies and they always go fast at parties!

    • Rachel Schultz

      Great idea!

  • Dessa

    I originally found this tip on a package of M&M’s mini’s for baking when I was 16. That was almost 20 years ago. It said to simply substitute a package of vanilla instant pudding for 1/2 c. granulated sugar. I do this for every cookie receipe I make. I also bake the cookies a few minutes less then recommended. Perfect every time. I tell people my secret and they never believe me.

    • Rachel Schultz

      How funny! But, it’s so true.

  • Ive been searching for the best chocolate chip cookie and this is it!!
    Note: the instructions don’t tell you when to add the white sugar. I of course figured it out, but thought you might want to know.

    • Rachel Schultz

      Thanks! Fixed it :)

      xo
      rach

  • Melissa Pruch

    Quick question…are you using the larger or smaller box of instant pudding? Thanks…can’t wait to try these!

    • Rachel Schultz

      3.4 ounce ones.

      xo
      rach

  • Ashley King

    cut the recipe in half and made them tonight!
    mom’s review: these are the best chocolate chip cookies i have ever had.
    Whoa. that’s big news. she has been around a cookie or two in her day.
    i consumed the bulk of them in raw form. just a tasty.
    much love friend. <3

    • Rachel Schultz

      That’s fantastic news. Thanks king.

      much love back
      rach

  • Suzanne Klausner

    Delicious! Made them with light butter – turned out a little chewy, wouldn’t recommend it. When you make them small it’s not enough of a calorie impact to compromise. Next batch will be as-is – can’t wait!

  • Please bring these to the 330.

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