Introducing my favourite thick and chewy Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookies. These big, buttery chocolate chip cookies are soft and chewy and filled to the brim with chocolate.
I am obsessed with these cookies. And rightly so. These thick and chewy Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookies are what my sugar-coated dreams are made of. They’re big, buttery and completely irresistible.
If you love cookies with crispy, golden edges and a melty centre filled with chocolate, these cookies have your name on them ❤️
Why you will love this recipe
- Thick and chunky: These cookies are big and fat and won’t spread too much in the oven.
- Chewy texture: You can expect a chewy cookie with crispy edges.
- So many mix-in’s: They’re filled with good things, like loads of chocolate and chopped walnuts.
- No chilling: You don’t need to chill the dough so they could be on your table in less than an hour.
Watch how to make them
I followed the simple recipe (novice baker), and the results were identical to LEVAIN when I was in NY! Delicious and cannot wait to make more. THANK YOU FOR SHARING!
– Sarah
Recipe testing
I just returned home from a holiday in New York two weeks ago. And one of the first recipes I wanted to try to develop when I got back was a copycat Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookie.
I finally had the chance to try their legendary – and ridiculously big – cookies. They are famous, not just for their taste, but for their size – 6 ounce each apparently. They have a rustic, golden brown exterior, and buttery middle that’s filled with chocolate chunks and crunchy walnuts.
And yes they were as delicious as they sound and look.
(Finally trying the Chocolate Chip Cookie from Levain Bakery in New York)
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I love my Classic Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe but I knew to achieve the thickness of a Levain Bakery style cookie, it was going to need some tweaking. But the results ARE IN.
A few adjustments to the ingredients and the method and you have a big, fat Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookie that you can make at home. BOOM.
You don’t need any special equipment to make these cookies. In fact, you only need all the basic ingredients of a regular Chocolate Chip Cookie, but you need to follow the instructions carefully for best results.
A big part of the cookie magic has to do with the temperature of the butter. While most cookie recipes rely on softened butter or melted butter, but this recipe calls for cold butter. It helps the cookies not to spread too much in the oven.
Another key is the amount of fix-in’s. There’s alot of chocolate AND nuts in this recipe, just like Levain Bakery’s cookie. It also helps the cookies stay thick and lumpy.
I know everyone has their favourite chocolate chip cookie recipe, but I stand by this recipe. It is legit one of the best cookies I’ve tasted at home!
Tips for making thick chocolate chip cookies
- This recipe calls for COLD butter – straight from the fridge. Not softened or melted.
- Use brown sugar for this recipe for maximum flavour. Brown sugar will also help the cookies spread less in the oven than white sugar.
- These cookie use a little more flour than regular cookies for extra body. You also need to add 1 tablespoon of cornflour (or corn starch) to help keep the cookies soft. If you don’t have any cornflour, you can add an extra tablespoon of plain flour.
- These cookies call for lots of chocolate. I recommend chopping a block of chocolate by hand, instead of using chocolate chips. You can use milk chocolate or dark chocolate or a mix of both.
- Levain Bakery cookies have walnuts in them. I have included walnuts in this recipe, but have tried these cookies with other nuts, such as pecans and almonds. The nuts also help the cookies not to spread. If you don’t want to add nuts, you will need to add extra chocolate to help the cookies from spreading.
- I recommend using 2 tablespoons of cookie dough per cookie. Because these cookies are very thick, they need a few more minutes in the oven, until they are golden brown.
- Test one cookie to see if the cookies are thick enough. If it spreads too much, you might want to chill the dough for an extra 30 minutes and then try baking them again.
More cookie recipes to try
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Let’s Bake
Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookies
Super thick and chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies made from scratch.
Ingredients
- 115 grams (1/2 cup or 1 stick) unsalted butter, COLD (straight from the fridge), roughly chopped
- 190 grams (1 cup) brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg, cold
- 245 grams (1 and 3/4 cup) plain flour or all purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cornflour or cornstarch*
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- Pinch of salt, optional
- 225 grams (1 and 1/2 cups) dark or milk chocolate, chopped by hand
- 50 grams (1/2 cup) walnuts, roughly chopped*
- Sea salt flakes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180 C (350 F) standard / 160 C (320 F) fan-forced. Line two baking trays with baking or parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, add cold butter and sugar. Beat with an electric mixer until combined. Add vanilla and egg. Beat again until combined – but try not to over mix.
- Add flour, cornflour, baking soda and salt, if using, and beat on a low speed until soft cookie dough forms. Add chocolate and walnuts and beat briefly.
- Scoop out cookie dough (roughly 1/4 cup or 80 grams per cookie), and place on prepared oven trays, leaving room for the cookie to spread.
- Bake cookies for 12-14 minutes or until golden brown. Leave cookies to cool completely. Sprinkle sea salt flakes on top.
Notes
Cornflour: If you don’t have any cornflour (or cornstarch), add an extra tablespoon of flour.
Nuts: You can use any nut you like (e.g. pecans or macadamias). If you want to leave out the nuts, add extra chocolate. The generous amount of fix-in’s help the cookies stay thick.
Shaping the dough: Instead of rolling the cookie dough smooth with your hands, leave it rough and pieced together for a more rustic look as pictured below.
Thickness: Try baking one cookie initially. If it’s not thick enough, place the cookie dough in the fridge for at least 30 minutes and try again.
Nutrition Information
Nazia Hassan says
Can I ask how much extra choc you think we should add if we don’t add walnuts pls
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Nazia, add an extra 50 grams or 1/3 cup!
Laura Munroe says
The dough does not stick together. Falls apart. Something missing?
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Laura, that sounds a bit strange. Do you think you might have added too much flour? Did you measure your ingredients using a kitchen scale?
Laura Munroe says
No scale. I dip my cup in the flour and scrape of excess without packing down.
Jessica Holmes says
I’d say that might have been the culprit! Even just a tablespoon or two extra flour can make cookie dough dry.
Carla1984 says
Delicious. Never managed cookies that don’t end up hard before. My kids loved them. Happy Sunday 👌
Jessica Holmes says
Yay! That’s awesome to hear!
Ashley says
These are delish. Definitely top 5 best cookie I’ve ever had. Recipe perfection!
Jessica Holmes says
Wow I love that Ashley!
Karen Bassik says
The best cookies ever and by far the kids favourite! Thank you for the details you provide and all the delicious recipes!!!
Jessica Holmes says
Oh that’s so wonderful to hear Karen!
Tara says
I just made these and they are so so so good! I put them in the fridge for an hour before baking as I was using the oven for something else and they came out brilliant! Thank you!
Jessica Holmes says
I love that Tara! That sounds incredible!
Kaye says
Hi the cookies turned out really well! I was wondering how long they are good for as I’m giving it to a friend who I won’t see in 4-5 days. Will they still be ok by then? Thank you!!
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Kaye, so glad they worked out well for you! I would say they are coming to the end of their shelf life by then. You could always freeze the cookie dough make it fresh for your friend?
Shan says
Insane recipe! Taste just like the creme london ones. Thank you!!
Jessica Holmes says
YAY! Love that Shan.
Carol says
Made these twice already! The quality of butter and chocolate really makes a difference. The second time round I reduced the sugar by 30g and increased the walnuts to 80g and it was a hit!
Jessica Holmes says
Love that Carol!
FSiddiq says
No fail recipe 😍
Too good!♥️
Cookie says
Love these cookies. So easy to make, buttery and just the right amount of sweetness! Thank you!
Jessica Holmes says
So glad you enoyed them!
Dawn Soldano says
Could you tell me what the Sea Salt Flakes listed as the last ingredient is for? There is no mention of it in the directions.
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Dawn, it’s listed in step 5. They’re just to sprinkle over the top.
Car says
First time making the L cookie, perfect recipe. Thx! Didn’t have cornstarch used 3/4 tbls arrow root powder
Jessica Holmes says
How wonderful! Thank you!
Susan says
Easy-to-folluw, but does not seem very sweet with just the 1 cup of brown sugar. Also not sure why baking powder not in the recipe?
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Susan, I find it sweet enough with all the chocolate mixed into the cookie dough. You could add a touch more sugar if you like! And this recipe calls for baking soda as the leavener.
Clara says
Can these be made in a fiod processor?
Jessica Holmes says
Hi Clara, I’ve never tried! If you do try it, I’d mix it super briefly, pulsing only. Over-mixed cookies will be tough, dry and flat.