The Ultimate Copycat Chick-fil-A Chocolate Chunk Cookie Recipe: Soft, Chewy & Perfectly Homemade
Indulge in the magic of homemade Chick-fil-A Cookies! These soft, thick, and chewy chocolate chip cookies are packed with wholesome oatmeal, rich dark brown sugar, two delightful kinds of chocolate, and that secret touch of honey. Get ready to bake a batch that tastes just like your favorite treat from the restaurant!
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of sinking your teeth into a warm, gooey Chick-fil-A Chocolate Chunk Cookie, you know what a truly special experience it is. They are legendary for their incredible thickness, irresistible chewiness, and an almost melt-in-your-mouth softness that makes them stand out from every other chocolate chip cookie. The way the chocolate chunks melt when they offer to warm them up for you is simply divine, creating a comforting treat that’s hard to beat. For too long, this delicious experience has been confined to drive-thru lines and food court visits – but not anymore!
What makes these cookies so uniquely delicious? It’s more than just chocolate chips; it’s a blend of carefully chosen ingredients that come together to create a symphony of textures and flavors. Many assume it’s just a standard chocolate chip cookie, but there’s a secret ingredient that elevates it to another level. The good news? That secret ingredient, along with everything else you need, is likely already in your pantry. We’re about to unlock the mystery and empower you to bake these iconic cookies right in your own kitchen, bringing that beloved taste home anytime you crave it.
Unveiling the Secret Ingredients in Chick-fil-A Cookies
At first glance, these cookies might seem like your typical chocolate chip cookie, but there’s a distinct difference that makes them truly special: the addition of honey. This isn’t just a minor tweak; honey is the subtle yet powerful secret ingredient that gives Chick-fil-A cookies their signature flavor profile and contributes to their wonderfully soft and chewy texture. It provides a unique depth of sweetness that granulated sugar alone cannot achieve, making these homemade cookies taste precisely like the ones you’d pick up from the restaurant. Do not skip the honey – it’s crucial for that authentic flavor!
Beyond honey, a thoughtful combination of pantry staples ensures these cookies achieve their legendary status. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need and why each component is essential for crafting the perfect copycat Chick-fil-A cookie:
- All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of our cookie structure, providing the necessary body without making the cookies too dense.
- Quick Cooking Oats: Unlike old-fashioned oats, quick cooking oats blend seamlessly into the dough, contributing to the cookies’ signature chewiness and a subtle, wholesome flavor without an overpowering oat texture.
- Baking Powder & Baking Soda: This leavening duo works together to give the cookies their ideal lift and spread, ensuring they are thick and puffy, not flat.
- Dark Brown Sugar: A critical player for both flavor and texture. Dark brown sugar’s molasses content adds moisture, leading to a chewier cookie and a richer, more complex sweetness.
- Granulated Sugar: Balances the sweetness and contributes to the cookie’s slight crispness on the edges and overall structure.
- Vegetable Shortening: This is another key to achieving that signature softness! Shortening has a higher melting point than butter and contains no water, which results in a tenderer crumb and helps prevent over-spreading.
- Butter: While shortening provides softness, butter delivers unparalleled flavor. Using a combination gives you the best of both worlds: soft texture and rich, buttery taste. Ensure it’s softened for optimal creaming.
- Honey: Our secret weapon! It adds a distinctive, slightly floral sweetness and contributes significantly to the moist, chewy interior of the cookies.
- Vanilla Extract: A classic flavor enhancer that complements the chocolate and honey beautifully.
- Eggs: Act as a binder, provide moisture, and help with the overall structure and richness of the cookies.
- Milk Chocolate Chips: Essential for that classic chocolate chip cookie experience, melting into delicious pockets of sweetness.
- Chocolate Chunks: The Chick-fil-A original uses chunks, which melt into larger, more dramatic pools of chocolate, adding visual appeal and an extra layer of decadence. Using two types of chocolate ensures a varied and delightful chocolate experience in every bite.
Many traditional chocolate chip cookie recipes rely solely on butter, but the genius of this Chick-fil-A copycat lies in its use of both vegetable shortening and butter. This half-and-half approach, common in classic recipes I grew up with, is precisely what yields those famously soft cookies. While some might be hesitant about shortening, it’s a game-changer for achieving that desired soft, cake-like texture that truly distinguishes these cookies.
How To Bake Perfect Copycat Chick-fil-A Cookies: A Step-by-Step Guide
Creating these incredible cookies at home is simpler than you might think. Follow these detailed steps to ensure every batch is as perfect as the restaurant’s:
- Prepare Your Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, quick cooking oats, baking powder, and baking soda. This ensures the leavening agents and oats are evenly distributed, preventing pockets of unmixed ingredients in your final cookies. Set this mixture aside.
- Cream Fats and Sugars: In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or using a large bowl and a hand mixer, cream together the softened butter, vegetable shortening, dark brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Beat on medium speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined. This process incorporates air, which contributes to the cookies’ soft texture.
- Incorporate Wet Ingredients: Add the honey, vanilla extract, and eggs to the creamed mixture. Mix on medium-low speed until the eggs are fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure everything is thoroughly combined.
- Add Dry to Wet: Gradually add the reserved flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, leading to tough cookies. Stop the mixer as soon as no streaks of flour remain, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Fold in the Chocolate: Gently fold in the milk chocolate chips and about half of the chocolate chunks. The reason for reserving some chocolate chunks is to press them onto the top of the dough balls before baking, ensuring beautiful, melty chocolate pools visible on the finished cookies – just like Chick-fil-A does!
- Scoop and Shape: For authentic giant cookies reminiscent of Chick-fil-A’s, use a 1/4 cup measuring cup or a large cookie scoop to portion out balls of dough. Place them onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat, leaving ample space between each cookie. Press a few of the reserved chocolate chunks onto the top of each dough ball for that professional finish.
- Bake to Perfection: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the large cookies for about 12-13 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown and the centers are just set. If you opt for smaller cookies, reduce the baking time to approximately 9 minutes. Remember, cookies continue to cook slightly after being removed from the oven, so slightly underbaked centers are desirable for maximum chewiness.
- Cooling Process: Allow the baked cookies to cool on the baking tray for 5 minutes. This crucial step allows them to set and firm up without falling apart. After 5 minutes, carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Or, if you’re like us, enjoy one (or two!) warm with that perfectly melted chocolate!
Do You Need to Chill the Cookie Dough?
One of the best features of this particular Chick-fil-A cookie recipe is that no chilling is involved! That’s right – you can go directly from mixing your dough to baking these delightful treats. This means you can satisfy your cookie cravings in about 30 minutes flat, enjoying fresh, warm cookies without the wait. The combination of ingredients, particularly the shortening, helps the cookies maintain their shape without the need for refrigeration.
However, if you’re a planner and prefer to prepare your dough ahead of time, chilling is absolutely an option. You can let the dough sit in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Chilling can sometimes lead to a deeper, more developed flavor as the ingredients meld together, and it can also result in slightly thicker cookies. Just be sure to bring the dough closer to room temperature for easier scooping if it’s been in the fridge for an extended period.
Tips for Perfect Chick-fil-A Cookies Every Time
- Ingredient Temperature: Ensure your butter is softened (but not melted!) to room temperature. This helps it cream properly with the sugars, creating an airy base for your cookies. Eggs should also be at room temperature for better emulsification.
- Measure Flour Correctly: Too much flour can lead to dry, crumbly cookies. Use the “spoon and level” method: spoon flour into your measuring cup and then level off the top with a straight edge, rather than scooping directly from the bag.
- Don’t Overbake: For soft and chewy cookies, it’s better to slightly underbake them. The edges should be lightly golden, and the center should still look a little soft. They will continue to set as they cool.
- Quality Chocolate: Since chocolate is a star ingredient, opt for good quality milk chocolate chips and chocolate chunks. The better the chocolate, the better your cookies will taste.
- No Substitutions for Honey: As the secret ingredient, honey is crucial for the unique flavor and texture. Avoid substituting it unless absolutely necessary.
Storing Your Delicious Copycat Chick-fil-A Cookies
Proper storage is key to keeping your homemade Chick-fil-A cookies fresh and delicious. Once completely cooled, place them in an airtight container at room temperature. Stored this way, they will retain their wonderful softness and chewiness for 3-4 days. If you want to extend their freshness, you can always pop them in the microwave for a few seconds to regain that warm, melty chocolate goodness!
For longer-term storage, these cookies freeze beautifully. You can freeze baked cookies in an airtight freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months. Alternatively, you can freeze the raw cookie dough balls. Simply scoop the dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until solid, then transfer the frozen dough balls to a freezer-safe bag. When ready to bake, you can bake them directly from frozen, adding a couple of extra minutes to the baking time.
And to truly complete your Chick-fil-A at-home dining experience, don’t stop at the cookies! You absolutely must try these incredible Copycat Chick-Fil-A Nuggets. Imagine a full meal, from savory to sweet, all from the comfort of your kitchen!
More Great Cookie Recipes to Explore
If you’ve loved baking these Chick-fil-A copycat cookies, you’ll surely enjoy diving into more delicious cookie creations. Here are some other fantastic cookie recipes from our collection that are perfect for any occasion, from simple snacking to special gatherings:
- Brownie Cookies: Rich, fudgy, and intensely chocolatey, these cookies are like a brownie in cookie form.
- Bisquick Cookies: Super easy and quick to make, perfect for when you need a fast cookie fix with minimal ingredients.
- Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies: A classic, go-to recipe for flawlessly soft and delicious chocolate chip cookies every time.
- Sugar Cookie Bars: All the joy of sugar cookies without the fuss of rolling and cutting, topped with creamy frosting.
- Soft Monster Cookies: A crowd-pleasing medley of oats, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and M&Ms, guaranteed to be a hit.
- Andes Mint Cake Mix Cookies: Incredibly simple and bursting with refreshing mint and chocolate flavor, thanks to a clever cake mix shortcut.
- Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches: Combine your favorite cookies with a scoop of ice cream for the ultimate frozen dessert experience.
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies: The irresistible combination of peanut butter and chocolate, in a chewy, delightful cookie.
Chick-Fil-A Cookie Recipe
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Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup quick cooking oats
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 3 Tbsp honey
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 whole eggs
- 1 1/2 cup chocolate chunks
- 1 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350º F.
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Mix together the flour, oats, baking powder, and baking soda in a bowl and set aside.
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Using and electric stand mixer cream together the butter, shortening, and both sugars. Beat until everything comes together and is well combined.
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Add in the honey, vanilla extract and eggs and mix until the eggs are fully incorporated.
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Next add in the flour mixture, mix until it is fully combined. Stop the mixer to scrape down the sides as necessary.
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Fold in chocolate chips, and about 1 cup of chocolate chunks.
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Scoop balls of dough onto a lined baking sheet. If you want giant cookies like they ones Chick-Fil-A serves, use a 1/4 cup measuring cup. Top with a few of the reserved chocolate chunks.
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Bake for about 12-13 minutes or until the edges are just golden brown at the top is set. If you are making smaller cookies about 9 minutes.
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Let them cool on the baking tray for 5 minutes before placing them on a wire rack to cool completely.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
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