These double chocolate cookies are rich, super chocolatey, and perfectly chewy. They're finished with big flakes of salt for a delicious crunch and balance to the bittersweet cocoa.
I love to scour cookbooks and the internet for recipes like this: simple and really, really good. Over the years, I have gathered hundreds of scraps of paper, notes and Evernote pages devoted to scribbled down recipes. They’re filled with names of recipes, cookbooks, chefs and blogs that have been on my radar to try and hopefully share.
There are so many fantastic recipes in the world, a huge part of the cooking struggle is finding a great one in the plethora of the average.
And these salted double dark chocolate cookies are so good, I’m upset I didn’t get to them sooner. The cookies have a deep, dark, addictively rich flavor-- especially if you use the best cocoa powder in the world.
This recipe recommends refrigerating the dough for 24- 36 hours. This helps the dough fully hydrate, relax and chill for the most uniformly chewy- crispy texture. But to be honest, I usually skip it. I don’t notice enough of a difference to wait a full day to bake a batch of these chocolatey cookies. That being said, I do recommend scooping the dough and popping it in the freezer while the oven preheats. This will help to lessen the spread while baking.
do cookies need salt?
Yes. In fact, all desserts need salt. Even just a small amount enhances the flavor and makes the chocolate taste so much more intense and rich.
I love to go a step further and sprinkle these dark chocolate cookies with flaky salt. The delicate sea salt highlights the chocolate flavor and give these cookies an irresistible edge.
what kind of salt do you use for cookies?
The best kind of salt to use for baking is fine grained table salt. It disperses most evenly throughout the dough. That being said, I tend to use coarse kosher salt for convenience-- it's readily available and easy. Either way, these double chocolate cookies always turn out fantastic.
This recipe is written using kosher salt, so reduce the amount to a total of ½ tsp if you use table salt.
And for those gorgeous salt flakes on top? There's no better option than Maldon sea salt!
how do you know when dark chocolate cookies are done?
The easiest way to tell when these double dark chocolate cookies are done is the finger test. Carefully touch the edge of a cookie with your finger. The edge should be firm and it will remain intact when the cookies are done. If the edge falls in or indents, the cookies need a little more time. The centers will be soft.
Though it's hard to tell with dark chocolate cookie dough, you can also notice a slight darkening on the edge of the cookies if you look closely enough.
I love my cookies to be chewy, so I tend to err on the side of less time in the oven. You can leave them in for a few extra minutes if you want them to be crunchier. Just be sure to get them out before they burn!
more tips on how to make this double chocolate cookie recipe:
- The better the cocoa powder and chocolate, the better the cookie. Ever since I learned about Cacao Barry Extra Brute cocoa from Stella Parks, I’ve been obsessed with it.
- The flavor is so deep and rich, it makes an incredible difference in the final cookies. The cocoa powder is pricey, but I figure if I’m going to make and eat cookies, they might as well be as delicious as possible.
- I love the 72% cacao dark chocolate “pound plus bar” from Trader Joe’s, but any good dark chocolate will work great.
- Chop the chocolate as small or as large as you'd like. I love big chunks of chocolate in my cookies, chopped about ½-inch large. Just ,ake sure the chocolate pieces aren’t larger than the amount of dough you’re using (or if using a cookie scoop, make sure they fit inside).
- If you rest the dough overnight, pre-scoop and chill it on the baking sheet. It’s not fun to hack out scoops of rock hard cookie dough, and warming it up defeats the purpose of chilling it overnight.
- If you bake these cookies the day of, make sure to pop the baking sheet of scooped dough into the freezer for 15 minutes before baking.
- I make these cookies in all sizes, but prefer the 3 ½ tbsp size (using scoop size 16), which yields about 14 cookies.
more chocolate chip cookie recipes to try!
coconut chocolate chip cookies
pumpkin chocolate chip cookies
Printsalted double dark chocolate cookies
The cookies have a deep, dark, rich flavor and chunks of bitter chocolate scattered throughout. The chewy, chocolatey cookie is sprinkled with delicate flakes of sea salt that enhance the flavors of this irresistible treat.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 14
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup Dutch-process cocoa (use Cacao Barry Extra Brute for the most insanely chocolatey cookies ever)
- ¾ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 10 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
- ¾ cup dark brown sugar
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups (about 11 oz) bittersweet chocolate, chopped into ½” chunks
- flaky sea salt (such as Maldon), for finishing
Instructions
- Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a bowl and set aside.
- Cream butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, until very light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add egg and vanilla and beat until combined.
- Add the dry ingredients and slowly mix until combined. Add the chocolate chunks and mix until just combined. Scoop the dough into 3 ½ tbsp sized balls and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with flaky salt.
- If resting dough for 24 hours, cover sheet with plastic wrap and chill until ready. If baking right away, preheat oven to 350°F and place baking sheet in freezer until the oven is ready.
- Bake the cookies until set, making sure to remove them from the oven when still soft in the center, 15- 18 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a rack to cool.
Notes
makes about 14 cookies | recipe slightly adapted from New York Times Cooking
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 325
- Sugar: 19g
- Sodium: 201mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6.2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Genevieve says
These cookies are seriously amazing. They’ve been a hit with everyone and some of the best cookies I’ve ever had!!!
Vicky says
Hi Indi!
Will the cookies spread too much if I don't freeze them for 15 mins before baking? Thanks!!
Indi Hampton says
Hi Vicky! I think they'll probably be fine. Let me know!
Vicky says
Hi! Am I able to leave out the baking powder? My cookies are puffy in the middle. 😭
Indi Hampton says
Hi! I've never tried them without baking powder, so I can't say what will happen. Did they stay puffy after they cooled? And yes, the dough can definitely be frozen! I prefer to scoop it, freeze the dough balls on a sheet pan and then transfer them to freezer bag for the easiest storage. They should be good like that for several months!
Vicky says
Hii. Can these be frozen to keep for a week or two?
Vicky says
I'm sorry, I mean the dough!
ally says
I have never found a dessert I like more than brownies- and I LOVE baking and do it often. These cookies (especially the batter!) have officially won the contest for absolutely delicious-better-than-brownies for me! Thank you!
Indi Hampton says
Ahh thank you so much!! I'm right there with you-- these are soooo good!
Sh says
I'm interested to try 🙂 Could you show the measurement in grams too?
Savannah says
Holy shit!!! I never leave reviews on anything but I had to on this one!!! Literally PERFECT cookie! Tasted like something from a professional bakery! LOVE!
Indi Hampton says
Hahahah YES!! I honestly have to just get them out of the house immediately. They're so good.
Christine says
These were amazing! I substituted GF flour which sometimes gives a disappointing texture but these were phenomenal!
Tammy Shriver says
These are amazing, I've made the many times ,for my clients, friends. They all say these are so good, and want more . Thanks for the sharing of the recipe.
Anonymous says
Lily says
10/10
Riha says
Just made these, didn't have dutch processed cocoa, so used the regular 100% cocoa stuff I had at home, and made smaller 1tbsp cookies (made 26) so adjusted the time a tad, but these were amaaaazinnnggggg definitely will be making again! Everyone loved them!.
Lindsay says
These are absolutely INCREDIBLE. My family cannot get enough if these rich, chocolaty cookies with the perfect amount of saltiness. I’ve made this recipe 4 or 5 times since first finding it a couple of months ago; and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon!
Indi Hampton says
Thank you so much!! Gosh they are so good. I need to make them again!
Riha says
These cookies are so so so delicious! Sometimes we don't have dutch processed cocoa so we use the typical Hershey stuff, sometimes we use chocolate chips instead of chunks, but literally every iteration of these that I've made has been decadent! 10000/10!