How to Bake Cookies: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide for Perfect Results

There’s nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked cookies filling your kitchen. Whether it’s your first time or your hundredth, knowing how to bake cookies from scratch is a must-have kitchen skill.

And guess what? It’s easier than you think!

In this guide, you’ll learn:

  • How to make classic chocolate chip cookies

  • The key ingredients and tools

  • Pro tips for texture (soft, chewy, or crispy)

  • Common cookie mistakes to avoid

Let’s get baking! 🍪

Cookies in Ceramic Plates

1. Gather Your Ingredients

This is a classic chocolate chip cookie recipe that’s beginner-friendly and delicious.

🍪 Ingredients:

  • 2 ¼ cups (280g) all-purpose flour

  • 1 tsp baking soda

  • ½ tsp salt

  • 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened

  • ¾ cup (150g) brown sugar, packed

  • ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar

  • 2 large eggs

  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

  • 2 cups (340g) chocolate chips

Optional add-ins: Chopped nuts, white chocolate, dried fruit.

Don’t miss our flour guide for bakers! Read it here.

2. Preheat Your Oven and Prep Pans

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C)

  • Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats

Pro Tip: Use light-colored baking sheets to prevent over-browning.

3. Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a medium bowl:

  • Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt

  • Set aside

This helps distribute the leavening agent evenly so your cookies rise properly.

4. Cream Butter and Sugars

In a large bowl:

  • Beat butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together

  • Mix on medium speed for 2–3 minutes, until light and fluffy

Why it matters: Creaming incorporates air for a better texture!

5. Add Eggs and Vanilla

  • Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each

  • Stir in the vanilla extract

Your dough should now be smooth and creamy.

6. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

  • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture

  • Mix on low speed until just combined

  • Stir in the chocolate chips by hand

Don’t overmix! Overworking the dough leads to tough cookies.

7. Scoop and Shape

  • Use a cookie scoop or spoon to form tablespoon-sized balls

  • Place them 2 inches apart on the baking sheet

For chewy centers and crispy edges, chill the dough for 20–30 minutes before baking.

8. Bake the Cookies

  • Bake for 9–12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and centers look just set

  • Cookies will continue to bake slightly after removal

🍪 Texture Tip:

  • For soft cookies: Bake 9–10 mins

  • For crisp cookies: Bake 11–12 mins

9. Cool and Enjoy

  • Let cookies rest on the pan for 5 minutes

  • Then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely

Warm cookies are irresistible—but cooling helps them set perfectly.

10. Store or Freeze Your Cookies

  • Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week

  • Freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months

  • Freeze cookie dough balls and bake from frozen—just add 1–2 minutes to bake time!

Common Cookie Baking Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Butter too soft or melted – Makes cookies spread too much
❌ Overmixing the dough – Leads to tough, dry cookies
❌ Using cold eggs – Can cause uneven mixing
❌ Crowding the pan – Cookies spread and stick
❌ Skipping the chill time – Leads to flat cookies

Conclusion

Now you know how to bake cookies from scratch—and not just any cookies, but golden, gooey, bakery-worthy treats you’ll want to make again and again.

Whether you like them soft, chewy, or crispy, this simple recipe is the perfect starting point. And once you’ve nailed the basics, you can experiment with endless variations.

So grab that mixing bowl—and treat yourself! You’ve earned it. 🍪