Copycat Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies
Make thick, oversized chocolate chip cookies at home that mimic the famous Levain Bakery style, featuring a gooey center and slightly crisp exterior, loaded with chocolate chunks and walnuts.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Total Time: 35 min
- Yield: 12 giant cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chunks
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
- 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional, but recommended for authenticity)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla extract.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Fold in the chocolate chunks, chocolate chips, and walnuts until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Scoop large portions of dough, about 6 ounces each (roughly 1/3 cup), and roll them into balls. Place them on the prepared baking sheets, leaving plenty of space between them as they spread.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes. The edges should look set and lightly golden, but the centers should still look slightly underbaked and soft.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. The residual heat will finish cooking the center to a gooey texture.
Notes
- For the best texture, use cold eggs and slightly softened, but not melted, butter.
- Do not chill the dough; these cookies rely on the room temperature dough for proper spread and texture.
- If you prefer a pure chocolate chunk cookie, omit the walnuts and use 3 cups of mixed chocolate chunks/chips.
- These cookies are best eaten the day they are made for maximum gooeyness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 45
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 20
- Unsaturated Fat: 15
- Trans Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 58
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 7
- Cholesterol: 100