Bust out your cookie sheet, because these thin crispy chocolate chip cookies are a must bake! These cookies bake up golden brown and smell like heaven! Super thin and delightfully crisp, these are one of our favorite chocolate chip cookie recipes!

Thin and Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Are you a chewy chocolate chip cookie kind of a person? Or a thin and crisp chocolate chip cookie kind of a person?

Personally, I’m all for both! Variety is the spice of life, right?! But I’ll admit, my love for thin crispy cookies came late in life. Actually, it wasn’t until this year I really discovered them. But once I did, it was love at first bite.

And my husband loves them, too. I don’t want to admit how many we can eat in one sitting! I don’t know if it’s because they’re thinner than regular cookies, but I can eat like 3 within minutes.

Like many, we first fell in love with this variety of cookie thanks to Tate’s Bakery! Their packaged cookies are sold basically everywhere here in NY. And it’s all too easy to swipe up a package – or 3 – to enjoy at home.

But as much as I love those cookies, I was dying to create a homemade version. Ones that were very similar, but a little more buttery and flavorful. I also wanted just the slightest chew in the center. And after about a million and one fails, I finally did it! These are my dream cookie.

They’re so buttery… and sweet… and crispy! They’re paper thin and only get crispier as they cool. And they make a TON of cookies, making them a great recipe to bust out during the holiday season! AKA cookie sharing season.

Thin and Crispy Cookies in 3 steps:

Preheat the oven: Unlike most of my cookie recipes that call for a higher temperature of 375, these cookies will bake in an oven set at 350 degrees (F). While your oven preheats, line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. If you have even more baking sheets, line them! Because this recipe makes a ton of cookies, and you have to let them cool on the baking sheets. So the more the better!
Make the Cookie Dough: You’ll need an electric mixer for this! Because you’ll need to beat the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Then you’ll add the eggs and vanilla, and finally the flour, salt, and baking soda. And then the chocolate chips. Be sure to not overmix once you’ve added the flour mixture!
Drop and Bake: Using a small cookie scoop, drop 1 tablespoon sized balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each ball of cookie dough.

They spread A LOT! Then bake for 10 to 12 minutes. The bake time may vary a bit if your oven runs high/low. So keep an eye. Then cool on wire racks for at least 30 minutes before serving! Repeat with all cookie dough.

Tips for Perfectly Thin and Crispy Cookies:

Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your butter, eggs, and even milk are all at room temperature before you begin baking. If the butter is too cold, it won’t spread in the oven. And cold ingredients don’t bond.
More Granulated Sugar: Resist the temptation to use more brown sugar! The reason I only use a 1/4 cup is because brown sugar has more moisture than white sugar. And in this case, that’s not what we want.
One Tray at a Time: I know this can be annoying, but I really do find baking one tray at a time ensures the most even bake.
Keep an Eye on Bake Time: I find my cookies are perfectly brown and crispy at 10 minutes. If you want them EXTRA crispy (as in, absolutely no chew in the middle and very dark brown), I suggest going for 11 or even 12 minutes.
Rotate the Pan: To ensure these cookies bake evenly, rotate the pan halfway through the baking time. Trust me on this one! Otherwise you’ll end up with a few pale and barely baked cookies, and the others overly baked.
Don’t Add Extra Chocolate Chips: Because the cookies bake up SO thin, adding too many chocolate chips can be problematic. So definitely stick to the called for amount.
Add the Salt: All of it! I know 1 teaspoon may sound like a lot, but these cookies are very sweet, and the salt helps balance the flavor out. I actually love adding flaky sea salt on top to add even more flavor contrast!

Can I freeze the Cookie Dough?

You sure can! Just be sure to add a minute or two onto the bake time.

The best way to freeze this cookie dough is to line a large baking sheet with parchment, and then drop rounds of the cookie dough on top. Pop the pan in the freezer and chill until cookie dough balls are solid.

Once they’re frozen solid, place them in a freezer safe baggie for up to 2 months! You can also store the cookie dough in the fridge for up to 5 days. But let it come to room temperature before baking. Remember, we WANT these cookies to spread!

If you love super buttery, lace thin, crispy chocolate chip cookies, you have to try these! So delicious on their own, or with a giant scoop of ice cream on top!

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