Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies

What’s the sign of a good recipe?

When you make it twice in one week. (And kind of wish you had the ingredients to make it again as you’re blogging about it.)

My friends, this is that kind of recipe.

And it’s for chocolate chunk cookies.

Milk and dark chocolate chunk cookies

I didn’t think there was anything revolutionary about chocolate chip cookie recipes. (Barring, of course, the New York Times one that pretty much everyone has tried, except me. One day, I will try this. It’s the same day I have a fridge large enough to store a bowl of cookie dough for a minimum of 24 hours. One day.) I was mistaken.

These are chewy delights of soft cookie with melty bits of dark chocolate. They are cookie perfection.

Dark chocolate chunk cookies I

I just really wanted to make some cookies one night last week, but had not put any thought into what kind. I innocently tweeted out I had a hankering to bake and my friend Robyn suggested I make these cookies from Anna Olson. I was intrigued by the addition corn starch, which Olson says gives the cookies a chewy centre.

And, perhaps more importantly, I knew I had all the required ingredients, including an assortment of dark chocolate bars that I wasn’t quite sure what to do with. One of the ones I ended up using was a more traditional thin, flattish bar, while the other was about a 1/2-inch thick.

I used my awesome cookie scoop to portion out the dough, which made these nice rounded, perfectly portioned balls of dough. What surprised me when they baked, though, is that there really wasn’t very much spread. They remain nicely thick and I’m sure that contributes to the chew.

I ate a couple that night, then took some in for work where people devoured them.

So, when it came to attending my first tailgate on Saturday (I know, I know, but I’m from Vancouver; we’re not really tailgate people), I knew exactly what I wanted to bring. And not just because I really wanted to eat some myself. But, yeah, that was part of it.

This time, I used two flat, thin bars of 70 per cent dark chocolate. I broke them into smaller pieces with my meat tenderizer. Let me tell you, that was oddly satisfying. And the end result was really nice. The pieces melted into strata of cookie and oozing chocolate. It was heavenly.

And for that, this is my new go-to cookie recipe.

Smashed chocolate

Dark chocolate chunk cookie dough

Scooped dough

Dark chocolate chunk cookies I

Milk and dark chocolate chunk cookies

Dark chocolate chunk cookies

Milk and dark chocolate chunk cookies

Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies

This is, essentially, exactly as Anna Olson dictates, but I’ve made a few changes to the instructions and called for dark chocolate instead of bittersweet.

  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 8 ounces dark chocolate, cut or broken into chunks

Preheat oven to 350F.

Cream butter and both sugars until smooth. Add egg and vanilla and blend in.

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt. Add to butter mixture and mix until just blended. Fold in chunks of chocolate.

Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Drop cookie dough by spoonful onto the lined sheet and bake until just golden brown around the edges, between 8 and 10 minutes.

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30 Comments

    1. I just measured it and it’s a full tablespoon, which really doesn’t sound like much but produced a nicely sized cookie.

  1. I’ve been making these for years. And they are always, always a favorite of people. They are soft and chewy and stay that way for days. These are even delicious a little bit frozen.

  2. Just found your blog thru dinner with Julie–love everything about it. Therefore, I was distressed to read in the archives that your banner didn’t meet with everyone’s approval. I think it’s great:) In the same entry, you talked about Dream Bars. There’s a very similiar sounding recipe called Dream Bars in Susan Mendelson’s Mama Never Cooked Like This. If you like, I’ll send the recipe to you. And the dark chocolate chunk cookies — awesome!!

  3. This looks like the perfect recipe to whip up and send out to my son (playing hockey in BC). Your photos are so pretty as well. Do you mind if I ask what lighting you use? I have a good camera but think (with winter approaching) I should try out a light stand for more consistency. Just realized you’re the writer in the Calgary Herald… it’s nice to find another local foodie:)

    1. I think these cookies would probably travel quite well; what a nice treat if you send them to your son!
      As for lighting, I use nothing other than natural sunlight. I shoot most of my food by my living room window! I’m not good with flash lighting, though it’s something I need to work on now that the days are shorter. I know there are some other blogs that talk more about lighting; a quick Google search should bring them up. Good luck!

  4. Just thought I’d finally comment on these – today I will be making them for the fourth time. These really are amazing, and this has become my go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe. Last time I made them the entire batch got eaten within the day. Thanks so much for the recipe!

  5. I bought a bag of dark chocolate chunks & have been looking for a recipe…I’m going to try this right now because my daughter & 4 grandkids are coming over shortly. Thank you for the yummy looking cookie pictures-can’t wait to get them done. I love your header pic as well…very tastefully done & eye catching!

  6. Well I made these yesterday and they are what everyone says and more! They are the best cookies-honestly-that I’ve ever eaten! I couldn’t quit eating them as they came from the oven!! I’ve never heard of using corn starch in cookies but whatever it does, it did good! I’m making another batch tomorrow because my daughter & grandkids loved them, too. Thank you for posting this recipe!!!

  7. This recipe is excellent! I’ve tried it with bittersweet chips and dark chocolate chunks. They’re a big hit either way!

  8. These cookies look amazing!!! especially that it is DARK CHOCOLATE!!! Do you think the recipe would be just the same without the corn starch???

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