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.
Ingredients
Scale
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
Instructions
- 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.
- Add eggs individually, mixing completely after each addition to create a smooth, well-integrated dough.
- 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.
- Carefully fold chocolate chips and walnuts into the dough, ensuring even distribution throughout.
- Portion dough into 10 substantial rounds, each weighing around 5 oz. Shape into robust, hefty balls that capture the iconic Levain Bakery cookie profile.
- Heat oven to 410°F. Position cookies on parchment-lined baking sheet, maintaining significant spacing between each.
- Bake for 9-12 minutes, targeting golden edges while preserving a soft, slightly underdone center – crucial for achieving the signature gooey texture.
- Remove from oven and allow cookies to rest on baking sheet, where they will continue firming up without additional direct heat.
- For enhanced thickness, consider refrigerating dough for 30 minutes before baking, though this step remains optional.
- 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