If you love bakery-style chocolate chip cookies with soft centers, chewy texture, and melty chocolate chips, these soft chocolate chip cookies are the perfect homemade treat. Made with vanilla pudding mix for extra softness and rich flavor, these cookies stay tender for days and have the perfect balance of buttery sweetness and chocolate in every bite.

These homemade chocolate chip cookies are easy to make and bake up thick, soft, and loaded with mini semi-sweet chocolate chips. The instant vanilla pudding mix gives the cookies their soft bakery-style texture while helping them stay fresh longer.

Perfect for family gatherings, holidays, bake sales, lunchbox treats, or cozy homemade desserts, these cookies are always a favorite.

Why You’ll Love These Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

These homemade cookies are:

Soft and chewy
Thick bakery-style cookies
Loaded with chocolate chips
Easy to make
Perfect for freezing
Great for parties and holidays

The combination of brown sugar, butter, and vanilla pudding mix creates a rich cookie texture that stays soft and tender even after cooling.

Ingredients

Butter
Eggs
Cane sugar
Brown sugar
Vanilla instant pudding mix
Vanilla extract
Baking soda
All-purpose flour
Mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

How to Make Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

Start by preheating your oven and lining baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, beat together the butter, eggs, cane sugar, brown sugar, vanilla pudding mix, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.

Gradually add the flour and baking soda into the wet ingredients and mix on low speed until just combined. Stir in the mini chocolate chips.

Roll portions of cookie dough into balls and place them onto the prepared baking sheets.

Bake just until the edges are lightly golden while the centers still appear soft. Avoid overbaking for the best soft and chewy texture.

Once removed from the oven, carefully slide the parchment paper with the cookies off the hot baking sheet to prevent the cookies from continuing to bake. Allow the cookies to cool completely before storing.

What Makes These Cookies So Soft?

The secret to these soft chocolate chip cookies is the vanilla pudding mix. Instant pudding mix helps create a rich, tender texture while adding moisture and softness to the cookie dough.

Brown sugar also helps keep the cookies soft while giving them a warm caramel-like flavor that pairs perfectly with the chocolate chips.

Tips for the Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

For perfect bakery-style cookies:

Do not overbake
Use room temperature butter
Mix until just combined
Remove cookies from the hot baking sheet quickly
Let cookies cool completely before storing

The cookies may look slightly underbaked when removed from the oven, but they will continue setting as they cool. Though they might seem undercooked when you eat them, but they’re not it is the pudding in them.

Storage Tips

Store the cookies in an airtight container once fully cooled to help maintain their soft texture. These cookies also freeze beautifully for make-ahead desserts and easy treats anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why use pudding mix in cookies?

Vanilla pudding mix helps create softer, thicker cookies with a rich bakery-style texture.

Can I use regular chocolate chips?

Yes! Regular semi-sweet chocolate chips or chocolate chunks work well in this recipe.

Why shouldn’t I overbake these cookies?

Overbaking can make the cookies dry instead of soft and chewy.

Can I freeze the cookie dough?

Yes! The dough freezes well and can be baked straight from frozen with a slightly longer bake time.

More homemade cookie recipes to enjoy.

Some of my favorite cookie baking supplies, mixing bowls, baking sheets, cooling racks, and kitchen essentials can be found in my Amazon Storefront. These are some of my favorite tools for creating beautiful homemade cookies and bakery-style desserts at home.