This cookie recipe is made of vegetable shortening, not butter and all-purpose flour, but these are ingredients to make them absolutely perfect in shape and flavor however these are not soft they are crunchy all the time.
I have tried so many recipes over the last 40 years everyone always claims they're the best but these have to be the best because I always go back to making this chocolate chip cookie recipe.
Chocolate chips are famous and there are hundreds of recipes on the internet, but if you want softer bakery-style cookies you may want to try Bakery Style Chocolate Chips soft and gooey, or our Chocolate Chip Soft Pudding Cookie recipe.
I've been making this recipe since I was 11 years old and that was originally in a Baker's General Foods free pamphlet, my favorite recipe ever since the 1970s.
If you are a cookie jar cookie lover, do try my family's Everything Cookies, Chocolate Chip Shortbread recipe, Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe, and Oatmeal Cookies!
Scroll down to this easy recipe and give them a try!
Steps Making Old Fashioned Vintage Chocolate Chip Cookies
- preheat the oven to 375 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper or grease them lightly
- cream the sugars and the shortening together do not miss that step (for softer cookies use butter instead)
- add the eggs, vanilla then the dry ingredients
- fold in the chips and nuts if using
- bake until edges are lightly browned
Other Cookies We Love
Homemade Do-it-Yourself Baking Substitutions
Shortbread Chocolate Chip Cookies
Cowboy Cookies
Shopping List for The Best Ever Vintage Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
- flour
- shortening (use butter for softer not crunchy cookies)
- eggs
- brown sugar
- granulated sugar
- baking soda
- vanilla
- milk chocolate chips or semi-sweet
- Optional: any kind of nuts coconut, chocolate chunks, peanut butter chips, chopped candy bars,
Tips
- Butter can be substituted which will be much softer cookies
- Bake them in less time is using butter to make softer cookies the edges should be pale in color
- Bake on parchment paper or a Silpat mat
- Always preheat the oven
- Use shortening in this recipe for an old-fashioned bakery cookie
- Additions like chocolate chunks, candy bars, coconut, or sprinkles can be added
- Store these in an airtight container with wax paper between the cookies for freshness
- Always cream the two sugars with butter for at least 3 to 4 minutes
- Try using almond or coconut extract instead of vanilla for a different-flavored cookie
- Remember to experiment with the style you like cooking longer or shorter times, flatten with the palm of your hand for thinner cookies
- use an ice cream scoop for same-size uniform cookies
- For fat cookies leave them round and high for thin flatten them with the palm of your hand
- SEE PHOTO BELOW
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Best Chocolate Chips Claim to Fame
These crunchy chocolate chip cookies are totally different than the usual butter-based cookies and we only used shortening in the bakery, it makes a huge difference in texture.
The flour was not 100% all-purpose and it needs no sifting.
With our tips and tricks and step-by-step, our simple recipe is a vintage style and one of the best-tasting chocolate chip cookies on the planet.
These cookies are a definite must-try recipe and you'll be hooked on the first bite.
The only thing you should never change if you want an authentic 1970s-style cookie is substituting butter for the shortening, it really makes a big texture difference and will look bakery-style!
Yield: 36
Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies
This is the ultimate chocolate chip cookie either thick and crunchy inside or thin and super crispy, just bake them longer!
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 12 MinTotal time: 22 Min
Ingredients
- 1 /2 cup vegetable shortening (or lard)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 cup unsifted AP flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup milk, semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup walnut halves coarsely chopped (nuts are optional and any kind you prefer is fine)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Line cookies sheets with parchment paper.
- Using an industrial mixer add the shortening with both sugars and beat on high speed until light and fluffy around 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add the eggs and mix to blend.
- Stir in the flours, salt, baking soda, and vanilla and mix until all is evenly blended.
- Fold in the chips and nuts.
- Drop on the cookie sheet with a medium-sized ice cream scoop.
- Press them down lightly for thin crispy cookies.
- For thick chewy cookies leave in rounds and do not flatten.
- Bake in the preheated oven of 375 degrees.
- Bake for 12 minutes, or just until the edges are browned.
- The cookies should be lightly browned on top.
- Cool then place on wax paper or a wire cookie rack to cool.
Notes
Tips
- Butter can be substituted which will be much softer cookies
- Bake them in less time is using butter to make softer cookies the edges should be pale in color
- Bake on parchment paper or a Silpat mat
- Always preheat the oven
- Use shortening in this recipe for an old-fashioned bakery cookie
- Additions like chocolate chunks, candy bars, coconut, or sprinkles can be added
- Store these in an airtight container with wax paper between the cookies for freshness
- Always cream the two sugars with butter for at least 3 to 4 minutes
- Try using almond or coconut extract instead of vanilla for a different-flavored cookie
- Remember to experiment with the style you like cooking longer or shorter times, flatten with the palm of your hand for thinner cookies
- use an ice cream scoop for same-size uniform cookies
- For fat cookies leave them round and high for thin flatten them with the palm of your hand
Nutrition Facts
Calories
119.18Fat (grams)
8.48 gSat. Fat (grams)
3.02 gCarbs (grams)
9.98 gFiber (grams)
0.39 gNet carbs
9.58 gSugar (grams)
6.01 gProtein (grams)
1.17 gSodium (milligrams)
55.39 mgCholesterol (grams)
4.6 mgThe default measuring system for this website is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. While we strive to provide accurate unit conversions, please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.
These are all copyright-protected images and content. Do not reprint/reuse this recipe or its images without my written permission.
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Favorite Cookies Recipes to Try
Banana Chocolate Chip Biscotti
Coffee Chocolate Chip Cookies
Banana Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2015. It was edited and re-published in 2024.