Want to make homemade cookies, but not ready to commit to a big batch of them? Scale down dessert and make a small batch of chocolate chip cookies!
Chewy Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies
Do you sometimes find yourself craving cookies but don’t want to make a big batch? That’s where these Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies come in. This recipe is a great way to make a handful of cookies to feed a few (or just you, ahem, speaking from experience!).
This is a scaled-down version of my go-to base chocolate chip cookie recipe. It makes soft and chewy chocolate chip cookies that come out perfectly every time! If you like a no-fuss chocolate chip cookie, then I think you’ll be pleased with them. I keep things simple with just chocolate chips added to the dough, but you can easily add some nuts or another add-in if you like.
How Many Cookies Are in a Small Batch?
This recipe makes about 12 tablespoons of dough, so you can divvy that up however you like. For the cookies pictured here, I made 4 large cookies using a 3-tablespoon scoop. Those 12 tablespoons divide easily into anywhere between 3 and 12 cookies. Just use a different size scoop to get the size of cookies you want. (See my guide to cookie scoops if you need some help choosing one.)
Do I Need to Chill the Cookie Dough?
Another wonderful thing about this recipe? No need to chill the dough! I don’t know about you, but when I’m in a small batch cookie frame of mind it’s usually because I want cookies pronto. The dough for these cookies comes together quickly and then you can get right to baking.
Tips for Success
- Measure accurately. Use a scale to measure by weight if possible. Otherwise, spoon and sweep to avoid over-measuring. This is especially true for flour. (Read more here.)
- Be mindful of egg sizes. Did you know that the size designation for eggs is based on the weight of the entire dozen? That means that there may be some eggs smaller than others. That can definitely be an issue when using just one egg yolk. If the dough isn’t coming together well after you add the egg yolk, try adding a small amount of the egg white or even just water until the dough begins to come together. (If you’re wondering, a large egg yolk weighs about 18g.)
- Use a cookie scoop. You’ll get uniformly sized cookies, which means they’ll bake evenly. Use a 3-tablespoon scoop for 4 cookies, a 2-tablespoon scoop for 6 cookies, or a 1-tablespoon scoop for 12 cookies.
Don’t Forget to Flatten the Tops of the Cookies
As you can see from the photos above, these cookies don’t spread much during baking. Flattening them slightly before baking will help their shape and also help them bake more evenly.
Mix-In Ideas
Add some chopped nuts in place of some of the chocolate chips. Or try a mix of semisweet and milk chocolate. How about some dried cranberries? Or a simple sprinkle of coarse salt on top? Have fun with your favorite flavor combinations!
If you find yourself baking for a smaller crowd frequently, keep these Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies in mind. They’re quick and easy to mix with ingredients you probably have in your kitchen. And they’ll happily satisfy your craving for a homemade chocolate chip cookie fresh from the oven!
Find more cookie recipes in the Recipe Index.
Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies
Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies are a fantastic way to get homemade cookies without making a big batch!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup (90g) all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons (42g) unsalted butter, softened
- 3 tablespoons (38g) firmly packed light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons (25g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone liner. (I use a quarter sheet pan.)
- Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter, brown sugar, and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the egg yolk and vanilla.
- Reduce mixer speed to low. Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing just until combined.
- Stir in the chocolate chips.
- Drop the dough by 3-tablespoon portions onto the prepared pan. Flatten the top of each cookie slightly.
- Bake 14-16 minutes, or until the cookies are golden brown.
- Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Then transfer the cookies from the pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
Recommended Products
Bake or Break is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
4 Comments on “Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies”
Love your recipes. Especially like that you are doing more small batch recipes. That is something so many of us can appreciate when cooking for one or two. Â Thank you!
Thank you, Carolyn!
Huge thank you! I’m always in a hunt for small batch anything lol
Can’t wait to give this a try!
I hope you like the cookies, Ligia!