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A stack of King Arthurs super soft chocolate chip cookies made with tangzhong.

King Arthur Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies of the Year

This recipe requires a bit more effort than your standard chocolate chip cookie, but the results are well worth it. The process starts with browning the butter, a step that imparts a rich, nutty flavor to your cookies. Then, you'll make a tangzhong, a technique borrowed from Asian bread-making, which ensures that your cookies have a softer, chewier texture.

A crucial ingredient in this recipe is bread flour. Its higher protein content is key to achieving the perfect chewy yet soft texture, making it a non-negotiable element for these cookies. Prepare to invest a little extra time and love into this recipe.
5 from 15 votes
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Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Additional Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 17 jumbo cookies or 24 standard sized cookies
Calories: 173kcal
Author: Dahn Boquist

Ingredients

  • 2 cups light brown sugar 426 grams
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 cup 16 tablespoons unsalted butter (226 grams)
  • ½ cup whole milk 113 grams
  • 2-¾ cups bread flour divided (330 grams)
  • 2 large eggs cold
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1-¾ teaspoons baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 cups chopped semisweet chocolate 340 grams

Instructions

  • Toss the brown sugar and salt in a large mixing bowl and set aside. 

Brown the Butter

  • Cut the butter into 1 inch pieces and toss them in a wide saucepan. For best results, use a light colored saucepan so you can see the color of the butter as it browns. Melt the butter over medium high heat, swirling the pan to keep the milk solids from sitting on the bottom. The butter will sizzle, then create a layer of foam on the surface. Push the foam aside to check the color of the melted butter. Continue cooking and swirling the pan until the butter reaches a dark golden brown color. 
  • Pour the browned butter over the brown sugar (scrape all the browned bits of milk solids into the bowl as well). Whisk the sugar mixture vigorously until well combined then set it aside while you make the tangzong. 

Make the Tangzhong

  • Measure out 2-¾ cups of bread flour (330 grams) and place it in a bowl. You will use a portion of this measurement for the tangzhong and save the rest to finish making the cookie dough. 
  • Place the milk in the saucepan that you used to brown the butter. Add 3 tablespoons of the bread flour and whisk well (it is ok if there are a few lumps). 
  • Place the saucepan over low heat and cook, whisking constantly. As the mixture thickens, switch to a flexible spatula and stir until it comes together into a thick paste-like consistency. Transfer the tangzong to the bowl with the brown sugar and whisk well. 

Make the Cookie Dough 

  • Add the cold eggs and vanilla and whisk until smooth. 
  • Add the rest of the bread flour along with the baking soda and baking powder. Stir until well combined. If the mixture is warm, cover the bowl and place it in the fridge until it is chilled enough so the chocolate doesn’t melt when added. 
  • Chop the chocolate into coarse pieces and stir it into the mixture. 
  • Cover the bowl and chill it for 24 to 72  hours to firm up and let the flavors intensify. I like to let the dough firm up just a bit then scoop it into balls and chill the balls of dough. It’s easier to scoop into balls before it gets really cold and firm. For super-sized cookies, use an ice cream scooper to form 85 to 90 gram balls of dough. To make normal sized cookies, use a 2 tablespoon sized cookie scoop to make 30 ounce balls of dough. 

Bake the Cookies

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. 
  • Arrange the balls of dough on the baking sheet, spacing them 3 to 4 inches apart.
  • Wait until the oven is finished preheating then bake one pan of cookies at a time. Bake jumbo sized cookies for 18 to 22 minutes and standard sized cookies for 8 to 10 minutes. The edges should look set and browned. 
  • Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 15 minutes. 

Notes

  • Bread flour, with its higher protein content compared to all-purpose flour, is key for these cookies. It helps create a more robust structure, giving each cookie a chewy, yet soft texture that's hard to achieve with other types of flour.
  • Watch the butter carefully during browning to avoid burning. Using a pan with a light colored surface will make it easier to check the color as the butter browns. Alternatively, you can intermittently drizzle the butter on a white plate to check the color. 
  • When you chill the dough for a longer duration, it develops the flavor. It will also help the butter fat firm up so the cookies won't spread as much when they bake. 
  • Keep an eye on the cookies as baking times may vary slightly. It is also a good idea to turn your baking sheet half way through the baking time to ensure even baking. 
Recipe adapted from King Arthur

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Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 173kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 17mg | Sodium: 223mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g