Perfect Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies for Two: Your Go-To Recipe
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this incredibly easy recipe for small batch chocolate chip cookies, perfectly portioned for two. Crafted with all the beloved classic cookie fixings — think luscious, melty chocolate chips encased in a beautifully tender, golden-brown dough — these cookies are not just a treat for your taste buds, but also a sweet gesture to share with someone special. The best part? You can have these warm, gooey delights ready from scratch in under 20 minutes, making them ideal for spontaneous cravings or a quick, intimate dessert.
Why This Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe is a Game Changer
We all love the irresistible allure of a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie. That perfect combination of buttery, chewy, and soft textures, loaded with rich chocolate chips, is simply divine. However, traditional cookie recipes often yield a large batch, which can sometimes lead to overindulgence or the daunting task of storing leftover dough. This is where our small batch chocolate chip cookie recipe truly shines.
This recipe is specifically designed for those moments when a cookie craving strikes, but you only want a modest amount – perhaps just two perfectly sized cookies to enjoy yourself or share with a loved one. Forget about wrestling with a giant mixer or having a dozen cookies staring at you from the counter. With this recipe, you get the satisfaction of warm, homemade cookies without the excess. It’s about smart portion control without deprivation, allowing you to savor the experience without guilt.
While many chocolate chip cookie recipes boast about having leftover dough to freeze, let’s be honest: who can resist the temptation of popping that dough into the oven, even when you’re already feeling full? This small batch solution eliminates that dilemma entirely. There are no leftovers to tempt you, just the perfect quantity to enjoy right now. It’s an instant gratification recipe that delivers on taste and convenience. If you appreciate single-serve treats, you’d probably also love my single serve bananas foster!
Essential Ingredients for Your Perfect Pair of Cookies
To whip up these delightful chocolate chip cookies for two, you’ll need a handful of common pantry staples. All precise measurements, ingredients, and detailed instructions can be found in the printable recipe card at the very end of this post. But first, let’s talk about what makes each ingredient crucial!
Ingredient Spotlight & Smart Swaps
Understanding each ingredient’s role is key to baking success:
- Unsalted Butter: We opt for unsalted butter to give you full control over the salt content in your cookies. If you only have salted butter on hand, no problem! Simply omit the additional salt called for in the ingredients list below. Ensure your butter is mostly, but not fully, melted. This allows for a perfectly smooth dough and contributes to the chewy texture.
- Brown Sugar (Lightly Packed): Brown sugar is essential for that signature chewiness and adds a wonderful depth of flavor thanks to its molasses content. Lightly packed ensures you get the right amount without making the cookies too dense.
- Granulated Sugar: A touch of granulated sugar complements the brown sugar, contributing to the cookie’s golden edges and a hint of crispness that contrasts beautifully with the soft interior.
- Large Egg Yolk: This is a crucial ingredient for a small batch! Using just the yolk adds richness and helps bind the dough without adding too much liquid, which could make the cookies spread too thin. It contributes to the fudgy texture.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: Vanilla is a flavor enhancer that brings out the best in chocolate and butter. Don’t skip it! Use pure vanilla for the best taste.
- All-Purpose Flour: The structural base of our cookies. Measure your flour correctly by spooning it into a measuring cup and leveling it off, rather than scooping directly, to avoid a dense cookie.
- Cornstarch: This secret ingredient is what makes these cookies extra soft and tender. It inhibits gluten development, resulting in a more delicate crumb. Don’t skip it for that bakery-style softness!
- Baking Soda: Our leavening agent. Baking soda reacts with the brown sugar (which is acidic) to help the cookies spread slightly and become wonderfully tender.
- Salt: A pinch of salt balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors. Even in sweet recipes, salt is vital!
- Chocolate Chips: This is where you can get creative! We use semi-sweet chocolate chips for a classic flavor profile, but feel free to substitute with your preferred type. Bittersweet chocolate will give a more intense cocoa flavor, while milk chocolate will yield a sweeter, creamier bite. White chocolate, butterscotch, or even chopped baking chocolate (like a good quality chocolate bar) would all work beautifully. For extra visual appeal and melty goodness, save a tablespoon to press on top of the dough balls before baking!
How to Bake Your Perfect Pair of Chocolate Chip Cookies
These step-by-step photos and instructions are designed to visually guide you through the process of making this recipe. For your convenience, you can Jump to Recipe to access the printable version of this recipe, complete with precise measurements and instructions located at the bottom of this post.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a large baking tray by lining it with parchment paper or a silpat liner. This prevents sticking and ensures even baking.
- In a medium-sized bowl, combine the mostly melted unsalted butter, light brown sugar, granulated sugar, egg yolk, and pure vanilla extract. Use a fork or a whisk to thoroughly stir the ingredients until the mixture is smooth and well-combined.
- Next, add the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt to the wet mixture. Stir gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies. A few streaks of flour are fine; they will disappear during baking.
- Fold in 5 tablespoons of your chosen chocolate chips. Stir them in until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Divide the cookie dough into 2 equal balls. These will be generously sized cookies. Place them on the prepared baking tray, leaving enough space between them for spreading.
- For that irresistible bakery look, sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon of chocolate chips on top of each cookie dough ball, gently pressing them in.
- Bake for approximately 12 to 14 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are light golden brown. The centers should still appear slightly soft and perhaps a touch doughy. Remember, cookies continue to cook slightly as they cool.
- Once baked, remove the tray from the oven and allow the cookies to cool directly on the baking tray for at least 5-10 minutes. This helps them set and prevents them from breaking when transferred.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Baking Tips
These cookies are truly best enjoyed fresh and warm from the oven. Since it’s a small batch for two, there likely won’t be any leftovers! However, if by some miracle you have one remaining, store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1-2 days. Reheat gently in the microwave for a few seconds for that freshly baked experience.
Cookie spreading can be affected by several factors. If your cookies spread too much, your butter might have been too warm (fully melted), or your oven temperature might be too low. If they didn’t spread enough, your butter might have been too cold, or your oven too hot, or you might have used too much flour. Ensure your butter is mostly melted but still has some solid bits, and always use an oven thermometer to verify your oven’s accuracy.
While this recipe is perfect as is, feel free to get creative with your mix-ins! Chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans), toffee bits, or even a different type of chocolate (like white chocolate chips or peanut butter chips) would make delicious additions. Just be mindful of the total quantity to maintain the dough’s balance.
Delightful Serving Suggestions
For a classic pairing, serve these warm, gooey cookies with a tall, frosty glass of milk. The coolness of the milk perfectly complements the rich sweetness of the cookie. Alternatively, elevate the experience by serving them alongside a small scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, allowing it to melt slightly over the warm cookie. You could also try other ice cream flavors like salted caramel, coffee, or even a berry swirl for a delightful contrast. A sprinkle of sea salt on top of the warm cookies just before serving can also enhance the chocolate notes beautifully. These cookies are also an ideal sweet treat to enjoy with your sweetie on special occasions like Valentine’s Day, or just because!
Explore More Delicious Cookie Recipes
- Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie
- Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
- Doubletree Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Carrot Cake Sandwich Cookies
- Toll House Cookie Recipe
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Chocolate Chip Cookies for Two
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
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Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter mostly, but not fully melted
- 3 Tbsp light brown sugar lightly packed
- 1 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- ¾ tsp pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- ⅛ tsp baking soda
- ⅛ tsp salt
- 6 Tbsp semi-sweet chocolate chips divided
Things You’ll Need
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Baking sheet
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Large mixing bowl
Before You Begin
- Be careful not to over-bake the cookies because they’ll harden more as they cool. These cookies should look light golden on the outside, but should still look a touch doughy in the center when you take them out of the oven.
- You can easily split the dough into 4 equal balls instead of two, but you will need to lower the baking time. I would check them at the 7-8 minute mark for doneness.
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a large baking tray with parchment paper or a silpat liner.
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Add the butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla to a medium bowl, and use a fork or whisk to stir until smooth.
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Add the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt, and stir until well-combined.
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Stir in 5 tablespoons chocolate chips.
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Divide the dough into 2 equal balls and place them on the prepared baking tray.
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Sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon chocolate chips on top of the cookie dough balls.
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Bake until the cookies are light golden, about 12 to 14 minutes.
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Let the cookies cool on the baking tray.
Nutrition
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.