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Levain bakery chocolate chip cookies
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4.62 from 54 votes

Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe (Reimagined)

These giant, crisp on the outside, tender and gooey on the inside cookies are exactly what you remember about Levain Bakery chocolate chip cookies.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time18 minutes
Additional Time30 minutes
Total Time58 minutes
Course: Cookies + Bars
Cuisine: American
Keyword: levain bakery chocolate chip cookie recipe, levain bakery chocolate chip cookies, levain chocolate chip cookie recipe, levain chocolate chip cookies
Calories: 440kcal
Author: Carolyn Gratzer Cope

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (240 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (120 grams) cake flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 16 tablespoons (224 grams) cold unsalted butter, cubed
  • ¾ cup (150 grams) granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup lightly packed (150 grams) light brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups (225 grams) very roughly chopped walnuts
  • 2 cups (350 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Sift together the flours, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
  • In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle, beat the butter with the sugars just until it looks like a crumble topping. Refer to the step-by-step photos and the video for visual cues.
  • Mix in the eggs just until they're combined and the dough begins to look smooth.
  • Add the dry ingredients all at once. Mix on low just until they're incorporated. I like to do the last bit of mixing by hand with a wooden spoon or very sturdy silicone spatula, to be sure there’s no unmixed dough on the bottom, without overmixing the rest. Dough will be very stiff at this stage.
  • Mix in the walnuts and chocolate chips to distribute evenly. I like to do this part by hand as well, but you can use the paddle on a stand mixer if you like. It will take a bit of elbow grease either way.
  • Divide the dough into nine 6-ounce (170-gram) balls. Use your hands to shape them very lightly. The final result should be rough and rustic, not packed and spherical. Line two sturdy baking sheets with parchment and arrange four balls on one sheet, five on the other, leaving plenty of room in between.
  • Place the cookie sheets into the fridge for 30 minutes. It's important to chill the sheets as well as the dough balls.
  • Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) with a rack in the center.
  • Transfer one cookie sheet from the fridge to the center oven rack. (You'll bake the sheets one at a time.) Bake until cookies are lightly browned on top and underneath and still very soft inside, about 18 minutes.
  • Let cool for at least 15 to 30 minutes before serving, right on the pan — longer if you can. This helps the cookies set perfectly.

Notes

  1. I recommend using a kitchen scale to weigh the ingredients. If you're measuring by volume, be sure to employ the spoon and level method for the flour, otherwise you'll end up using too much.
  2. Walnuts should be very roughly chopped, not too small. If you can find a brand that sells "halves and pieces," that's perfect. Otherwise buy halves or wholes and roughly chop them yourself.
  3. Levain Bakery uses semi-sweet chocolate chips, so that's what I've indicated in the recipe. In real life I prefer them with bittersweet chips. Choose according to your own preference, since either one will work nicely.
  4. If your fridge can't accommodate cookie sheets, don't panic. You could chill them separately in the freezer for a few minutes. Or, if that's not possible, you can invert a second rimmed cookie sheet underneath the one you're using to bake, to create a bit of distance between the main baking sheet and the hot oven rack. The parchment also helps buffer the cookies from the direct heat.
  5. In my oven, these cookies take 18 minutes to bake. As always, your mileage may vary. You're looking for a lightly browned exterior and an interior that looks visibly soft from above but not totally raw. It's best to err on the side of underbaking as you get a sense for how your own oven handles these cookies. You can always tack on a few additional minutes next time.
  6. Once cool, store leftovers tightly sealed at room temperature for up to a week. // OR freeze baked cookies and rewarm in a 350°F oven. // OR freeze raw cookie dough balls. Thaw in refrigerator before baking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 440kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 435mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g