The Famous Levain Bakery NYC Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Crafting the ultimate chocolate chip cookies from levain bakery nyc requires more than just mixing ingredients.

My baking adventures have taught me that recreating iconic treats demands precision and passion.

Soft centers with crispy edges create a magical texture that makes people swoon.

Professional bakeries like levain have secret techniques that elevate simple desserts into extraordinary experiences.

Each ingredient plays a crucial role in developing deep, rich flavors that dance on your palate.

Combining premium chocolate, high-quality butter, and careful mixing transforms ordinary cookies into culinary masterpieces.

Why Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookies Are Famous

• Indulge in Bakery-Style Cookies: Recreate the famous Levain Bakery experience right in your kitchen with massive, thick cookies that taste just like the NYC original.
• Master Gourmet Baking Techniques: Learn professional baking secrets like handling cold butter, creating the perfect dough consistency, and achieving that signature soft-center texture.
• Customize with Ease: Swap ingredients to suit dietary needs or personal preferences, making these cookies adaptable for nut-free, dairy-free, or classic chocolate chip lovers.
• Quick and Impressive Treat: Whip up restaurant-quality cookies in under an hour, perfect for satisfying sudden sweet cravings or impressing friends and family with minimal baking skills.

Ingredients for Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookies

• Cake Flour: A soft flour that helps create a tender and delicate cookie texture.
• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and body to the cookie dough.
• Cornstarch: Helps to create a softer, more delicate cookie crumb.
• Baking Soda: Helps the cookies rise and spread during baking.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the cookies.

• Cold Butter: Creates a rich, creamy base for the cookie dough.
• Brown Sugar: Adds moisture and a deep, caramel-like sweetness.
• White Sugar: Provides additional sweetness and helps with cookie spread.
• Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and add richness to the cookies.

• Chocolate Chips, Chopped Walnuts: Add texture, flavor, and delightful crunch to the cookies.

How to Make Levain Bakery Style Chocolate Chip Cookies

Step 1: Whip Butter and Sugars

Grab your mixer and beat cold butter with brown sugar until the mixture becomes super light and fluffy.

Pour in white sugar and continue mixing until everything looks smooth and creamy.

Step 2: Incorporate Eggs

Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition.

This helps create a silky, perfectly blended cookie dough.

Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients

• Cake flour
• All-purpose flour
• Cornstarch
• Baking soda
• Salt

Gradually mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients, stirring just until combined.

Avoid overmixing the dough.

Step 4: Fold in Chocolate and Nuts

• Chocolate chips
• Chopped walnuts

Ensure ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the dough.

Step 5: Shape Massive Cookie Balls

Create 10 large cookie dough balls, each weighing approximately 5 ounces.

These substantial cookies will deliver that signature bakery-style experience.

Step 6: Bake to Perfection

Preheat oven to 410°F.

Place cookies on parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake for 9-12 minutes until edges turn golden but centers remain soft and slightly underdone.

Step 7: Cool and Enjoy

Allow cookies to rest and firm up after baking.

The centers will continue to set as they cool.

Tips to Nail Levain Bakery Cookie Texture

• Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes to create thicker, more bakery-style cookies with enhanced texture.
• Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients just until combined to maintain soft, tender cookie consistency.
• Remove cookies from oven when edges are golden but centers remain soft, ensuring that signature gooey Levain Bakery texture.
• Use fresh, high-quality butter and chocolate chips to elevate overall flavor and richness of the cookies.
• Swap walnuts with alternative nuts or use dairy-free butter and chocolate chips for personalized, allergy-friendly version.

Flavor Twists for Levain Bakery Cookies

• Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies: Replace cake flour and all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend, ensuring the same texture and taste while accommodating those with gluten sensitivities.
• Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies: Swap butter with coconut oil, use flax eggs instead of regular eggs, and select dairy-free chocolate chips to create a plant-based version that maintains the classic cookie flavor.
• Nutty Alternative Chocolate Chip Cookies: Substitute walnuts with pecans, almonds, or macadamia nuts for a different flavor profile and added crunch while keeping the core recipe intact.
• Low-Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies: Use monk fruit sweetener or stevia in place of white and brown sugar, reducing overall sugar content without compromising the cookie's delicious taste and texture.

Serving Ideas for Chocolate Chip Cookies

• Cookie Milk Pairing: Serve these giant chocolate chip cookies alongside a cold glass of whole milk or almond milk for a classic, comforting dessert experience that brings out the rich chocolate flavor.
• Dessert Platter Presentation: Create an elegant dessert board with these cookies, adding scoops of vanilla ice cream, fresh berries, and a light dusting of powdered sugar for a restaurant-style presentation.
• Gifting Delight: Package these oversized cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with rustic twine, perfect as homemade gifts for friends, teachers, or holiday celebrations that showcase your baking skills.
• Coffee Shop Style: Enjoy these warm cookies with a robust espresso or cappuccino, mimicking the cozy cafe atmosphere of Levain Bakery and creating a delightful afternoon treat.

How to Store Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookies

• Store cooled cookies in an airtight container lined with parchment paper. Keep them fresh for up to 5 days in the refrigerator, separating layers with parchment to prevent sticking.
• Wrap unbaked cookie dough balls tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Bake directly from frozen, adding 2-3 extra minutes to baking time.
• Place completely cooled cookies in a freezer-safe container with parchment between layers. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes before enjoying.

FAQs

• Why do I need two types of flour in this recipe?

The combination of cake flour and all-purpose flour creates the perfect texture – soft and tender on the inside with a slight crisp exterior, mimicking the famous Levain Bakery cookie style.

• Can I make these cookies smaller?

While you can, the massive 5-ounce size is crucial to achieving the signature thick, gooey center that makes these cookies legendary. Smaller cookies won’t have the same dramatic texture contrast.

• How do I know when the cookies are perfectly baked?

Look for golden edges but a soft, slightly underbaked center. The cookies will continue cooking as they cool, so remove them when they still look slightly raw in the middle to ensure that signature gooey texture.

Chocolate Chip Cookies Levain Bakery NYC Recipe

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4.9 from 37 reviews

• Total Time: 32 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Levain Bakery’s legendary chocolate chip cookies promise pure indulgence with massive, gooey centers and crisp edges. Passionate bakers can recreate this New York classic, delivering bakery-worthy sweetness right from home kitchens.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 cups chocolate chips (semi-sweet)
• 2 cups walnuts (roughly chopped)
• 2 eggs

Flour Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups cake flour
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Sugars and Binding Ingredients:

• 1 cup cold butter (cut into small cubes)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt

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Instructions

1. Cream cold butter and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl using a hand mixer on medium speed for approximately 4 minutes until light and fluffy. Incorporate white sugar and mix thoroughly.
2. Add eggs individually, mixing completely after each addition to create a smooth, well-integrated dough.
3. In a separate bowl, combine cake flour, all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Gradually integrate dry ingredients into wet mixture, mixing minimally to prevent overmixing.
4. Carefully fold chocolate chips and walnuts into the dough, ensuring even distribution throughout.
5. Portion dough into 10 substantial rounds, each weighing around 5 oz. Shape into robust, hefty balls that capture the iconic Levain Bakery cookie profile.
6. Heat oven to 410°F. Position cookies on parchment-lined baking sheet, maintaining significant spacing between each.
7. Bake for 9-12 minutes, targeting golden edges while preserving a soft, slightly underdone center – crucial for achieving the signature gooey texture.
8. Remove from oven and allow cookies to rest on baking sheet, where they will continue firming up without additional direct heat.
9. For enhanced thickness, consider refrigerating dough for 30 minutes before baking, though this step remains optional.
10. Experiment with ingredient substitutions like plant-based butter or dairy-free chocolate chips for personalized dietary adaptations.

Notes

• Chill the dough to achieve thicker, more structured cookies that hold their bakery-style shape during baking.
• Use room temperature eggs for smoother incorporation and better dough consistency, preventing potential lumpy texture.
• High-quality chocolate chips and fresh butter dramatically enhance the overall flavor profile of these indulgent cookies.
• Slightly underbake the cookies to maintain that signature Levain Bakery gooey, soft center that transforms as they cool on the baking sheet.
• Try alternative mix-ins like pecans, dark chocolate chunks, or white chocolate chips for personalized variations.
• For gluten-sensitive bakers, try a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend to create an equally delicious cookie experience.
• Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes after removing from the oven to help them set and develop their signature texture.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 455
• Sugar: 25 g
• Sodium: 160 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
• Trans Fat: 0.2 g
• Carbohydrates: 45 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 40 mg