A Single Serve Chocolate Chip Cookie is my go-to when I’m craving something sweet! This is the BEST small-batch cookie recipe—with perfect crisp edges, a soft, gooey, chewy center, and pops of chocolate in every single bite!
What Is A Single Serve Chocolate Chip Cookie?
A single serve chocolate chip cookie recipe makes just a few cookies, enough for one or two servings. It’s perfect for anyone who wants a quick treat without lots of leftovers.
This recipe doesn’t need a long chilling time, so you can enjoy these cookies quickly when the cravings hit!
And if you’re craving a double hit of chocolate, be sure to try this Single Serve Double Chocolate Cookie!
Single Serve Chocolate Chip Cookie
Sometimes you need a giant, delicious chocolate chip cookie, but not an entire batch—or even a small-batch. That’s where these single-serving chocolate chip cookies come in!
These cookies are absolutely incredible, but exact measuring is important for the best results. You’ll be rewarded with delicious, sweet, buttery, chewy cookies that have soft insides and crisp edges. These cookies are the BEST!
Over the 10+ years I’ve been sharing recipes, this single-serve chocolate chip cookie recipe is one I constantly return to.
Here are the key lessons I’ve learned from making this recipe repeatedly:
- No Hour-Long Chilling: As much as I love the effects of chilling on a cookie recipe, when I’m craving a single-serving, small-batch cookie, I want it ASAP. You too, right?
- Melted Butter: This recipe originally called for softened butter, but as I revise the photos and text, I’ve switched to melted butter. I’ve figured out how to make it work! While using melted butter does require attention to detail, it is so much easier to mix in and the texture of the cookies are even better!
- Accurate Flour Measurement: Very important for achieving the right texture. Too much flour results in cake-y cookies, while too little causes excessive spreading.
Featured Comment
“If I could give this recipe 10/5 stars, I would. I’ve tried many other chocolate chip cookie recipes and they just didn’t taste great. THIS IS THE BEST RECIPE I’ve ever used. Everyone I’ve given one of these cookies to absolutely LOVES them. I’ve made this recipe dozens of times now, I even memorized it! I just simply LOVE it!!!! THANK YOU!”
– Alexa
Ingredients For Single Serving Chocolate Chip Cookie
Here are some tips on each ingredient used in these cookies:
- Salted or Unsalted Butter: If you use unsalted butter, add a heaping 1/8 teaspoon of salt to the dough. For an extra hit of flavor, sprinkle sea salt flakes on top.
- Light Brown Sugar and White Sugar: Make sure the brown sugar is soft and free of clumps. Pack it tightly into the measuring spoons and level off the top. By the way, 1/2 tablespoon is the same as 1 and 1/2 teaspoons.
- Vanilla Extract: Optional, but it makes the flavor of the cookies even better!
- Egg Yolk: Use only the yolk to make the cookie richer and to help bind the dough. Be sure to remove all the whites and to pinch off the stringy part (chalaza).
- Baking Soda: Ensure it’s fresh and free from clumps. If needed, sift it through a fine mesh strainer.
- Cornstarch: Optional, but it helps make the cookies softer.
- All-Purpose Flour: Accurate measurement is key. Spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it with the back of a knife or use a food scale!
- Chocolate Chips: Choose any type you like. Mixing different types like milk and semi-sweet or dark chocolate is fun and a nice way to change things up.
How To Make A Single Serve Chocolate Chip Cookie
Here’s a quick overview of the full recipe (which you can find below):
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350 degrees.
- Melt Butter: Microwave the butter until melted, then let it cool to room temperature.
- Mix Sugars: Combine the sugars with the cooled butter.
- Add Egg Yolk & Vanilla: Stir in the egg yolk and vanilla until creamy.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Mix in the baking soda and cornstarch.
- Add Flour and Chocolate Chips: Add the flour and chocolate chips. Switch to a spatula when the dough becomes hard to stir.
- Shape Cookies: Form the dough into three large (1/4 cup) balls on a baking sheet. Enjoy any extra dough as a treat or try Edible Cookie Dough!
- Bake: Bake until the edges are golden but the center is soft.
- Cool & Shape: Let the cookies cool slightly on the pan, then shape with a spatula if needed before enjoying.
Tips For Making This Single Serve Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
- Measure Precisely: For the best measurements, use a food scale to add ingredients directly into your mixing bowl. If you’re using measuring cups and spoons, be sure to level off the tops to get the right amounts.
- Proper Butter Measurement: Cut butter from the middle of the stick to avoid using too much, since the wrapping might be put on unevenly.
- Slightly Underbake: Remove the cookies from the oven just before they’re done. They’ll continue to set as they cool, and you’ll have a nice chewy center.
- Shape After Baking: Right out of the oven, use a metal spatula to press any uneven edges inwards. Press in some extra chocolate chips on top to make sure chocolate is in every bite!
- Cool the Butter: Let the melted butter cool completely before mixing it with sugars to prevent the dough from becoming greasy.
- Mix Well: Thoroughly combine the egg yolk into the dough until it’s creamy.
- Flatten If Needed: If the cookies look too puffy after baking, gently tap the pan on the counter to flatten them slightly.
FAQs
Yes, you can double or triple this recipe to make more cookies, but it’s probably easier to just make a bigger batch! Try my favorite Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies or these popular Bakery Style Chocolate Cookies. I’ve also shared this Gideon’s Bakehouse Cookie Recipe Copycat.
Reducing the sugar is not recommended. Sugar is very important to the texture of a single serve chocolate chip cookie. If you’re concerned about sweetness, use dark chocolate chips and an extra pinch of salt.
The cookie is done when the edges are set and lightly browned, but the center is soft. It will firm up as it cools. Slightly under-baked cookies have the best texture!
This recipe won’t work in the microwave; it’s created to be baked! If you’re looking for a quick microwave-able dessert, try this Microwave Caramel Corn!
Helpful Tools
For these single serve chocolate chip cookies, you’ll need these tools to help you:
- Microwave-Safe Porcelain Bowls: Great for melting butter in the microwave and then cooling down quickly after.
- Fork: For mixing the sugars with melted butter and for briskly whisking in the egg yolk and vanilla to get a nice smooth blend.
- Silicone Spatula: Helps mix the dough when it gets thick. It’s also good for scraping dough from the bowl.
- Baking Tray and Liner: You’ll need a baking tray to cook the cookies. A liner, like a baking mat, gives the bottoms of the cookies a better texture. Plus, quick clean-up!
- Metal Spatula: After baking, use this to shape the cookies and fix rough edges while they’re still warm and soft.
Storage
Single Serve Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Leftovers
These cookies are the best when they’re hot out of the oven! They’re even better with a scoop of ice cream on top!
For leftovers, store the cookies in an airtight bag at room temp. If you have unbaked dough, keep it in an airtight bag in the freezer and bake directly from the freezer when ready.
More Quick Cookie Recipes:
Single Serve Chocolate Chip Cookie
Video
Equipment
- Sheet pan (15" x 10")
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mat
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter or salted buttered, see note 1
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar firmly packed
- 1-1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract optional
- 1 large egg yolk see note 2
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch optional
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour see note 3
- 6 tablespoons chocolate chips I love milk chocolate!
- Flaky sea salt for topping, optional
Instructions
- Use exact measurements and level off the tops of measuring cups/spoons for best results.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Add butter to a ceramic/porcelain bowl and microwave until just melted but not hot. Let butter and bowl fully cool to room temperature.
- To the cooled butter, add both brown and granulated sugars. Stir briskly with a fork until well combined. Add the egg yolk and vanilla. Continue to whisk with a fork until the mixture is emulsified and appears very creamy.
- Add baking soda, salt (if using unsalted butter), and cornstarch. Mix thoroughly with a fork. Add flour and chocolate chips. Continue stirring with a fork until it becomes difficult, then switch to a silicone spatula and fold until the dough is uniform without dry streaks.
- With the dough, fill up a 1/4 cup measuring cup and level off the top. Roll into a large ball. Repeat until you have 3 dough balls. (Anything left over is your treat!) Place the balls on a parchment or silicone-lined baking sheet. Freeze for 5–10 minutes while the oven heats.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned and the tops are set but soft looking. Immediately after you pull the tray from the oven, use a metal spatula to press the edges of the cookies inward if needed.
- Optionally, press additional chocolate chips into the tops and sprinkle with sea salt. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before enjoying.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I have been testing single serve chocolate chip cookie recipes for the past 6 months and this one is it! My vote for the best! I would give it 10 stars if I could.
This absolutely made my day! Six months of testing makes that 10-star rating mean even more. Thank you so much!
Completely irresistible. Fantastic. These stay nice and thick but done in the middle and crispy on the edges. I bake 12 minutes for a softer set, and 14 minutes for a crunchier cookie for my husband. Be sure to sprinkle a bit of coarse salt on top before baking. We like about 3-4 Tbs. of milk chocolate chips, and adding a few chopped pecans. It’s nice to have a bakery style cookie but a small batch so I don’t eat too many! Makes 4 large cookies for me.
So glad you love these! Your chocolate chip, pecan and coarse salt combination sounds incredible. I love that you can adjust the bake time for everyone’s perfect cookie!
Great recipe!
Thanks Ann!
I say leave out the cornstarch and add 2 Tbsp chopped walnuts. The cookies were good, but I really missed the walnuts, so I ate them with walnuts. The 10 min overcooked the edges, but my fault because I baked in my Air Fryer on the Bake setting.
Did we just become best friends? I’m a sweets after dinner girlie and it’s just me so I hate making full recipes. This. Was. Everything! I added a sprinkle of instant coffee and cinnamon, then a few butterscotch chips. Yes, yes, YES! Thank you!
Yay! We are absolutely best friends because I am the exact same! And those additions sound delicious! Thanks so much for your comment!
As someone who loves to bake but only lives with my husband, I don’t get to bake as often as I’d like because I’m always left with more than we can eat. This was the perfect recipe! I needed a sweet treat late at night, and I already had all the ingredients on hand. They turned out so delicious and soft, and the recipe was super easy to follow. This is my first CMA recipe, but it definitely won’t be my last!
Thank you so much! I’m so glad these hit the spot and that they were easy to make with pantry ingredients you already had. It means a lot that this was your first CMA recipe, and I’m so excited to have you here. I hope you find lots more favorites!
This cookie turned out sooo good! It was as pretty as deliouchos. The recepie was easy to folow, even as a 13 year old baking by my self. Totaly recoment!❤️💗💗💗✨✨
5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Yay! I’m so happy to hear this! Thanks for sharing!
Very nice cookie recipe. Made it with my granddaughter for a nice treat without having to make a whole batch. I use cookies scoops to measure evenly. One recipe makes 3 XL scoop cookies or 4 Large scoop cookies.
I’m so glad you and your granddaughter enjoyed them! And thank you for sharing the cookie scoop measurements. That’s so helpful!
These are the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve had the pleasure of eating and making.
Yay! I’m so happy to hear this! Thanks Mary!
Okay, I am VERY picky about chocolate chip cookies and these were AMAZING. Even my husband (who “doesn’t eat desserts”) ate these and thought they were delicious! Such a fantastic recipe!!
That is the best compliment, especially from a fellow chocolate chip cookie critic! I’m so glad you both loved them. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment!
i have never left a review for a recipe but i just wanted to say this is the best chocolate chip cookie recipe i have ever tried and i have tried well over 50 recipes. i am definitely scaling this up to make a large batch!! honestly 10/10 tastes just like the bakeries and look gorgeous
Yay! This makes me so happy. Thanks, Bianca! Also, my full-batch chewy chocolate chip recipe is incredible, and this recipe was inspired by it, so you should give it a try!
The perfect chocolate chip cookie. Really appreciate the measuring tip for the flour! I am NOT a skilled baker, but followed the recipe exactly and they turned out AMAZING.
I’m so thrilled this recipe was a hit! Thanks Katie!