If you want a cookie that tastes like home and looks like it belongs in a bakery window, these Decorated Chocolate Chip Cookies are your new go-to. They marry the classic hallmarks of the perfect chocolate chip cookie — crispy edges, a soft, chewy center, and generous, melty chocolate — with easy, professional-looking decorations using royal icing or melted chocolate. Simple techniques deliver bakery-style results and the decorations make them ideal for holidays, parties, or thoughtful gifts.

Ingredients (and what each ingredient does)

For the cookies

• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  — Provides structure so cookies are sturdy but not cakey.
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
  — Gives lift for a chewy interior and slightly domed top.
• ½ teaspoon salt
  — Balances sweetness and enhances chocolate flavor.
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, melted
  — Melted butter yields a rich flavor and a denser, chewier crumb.
• 1 cup brown sugar
  — Adds moisture, deeper caramel notes, and chewiness.
• ½ cup white sugar
  — Helps create crisp edges and balance sweetness.
• 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
  — Egg gives structure; additional yolk increases richness and chew.
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  — Boosts overall aroma and layers of flavor.
• 1 ½ cups chocolate chips
  — The melty, chocolatey heart of every bite.

For decorating

• Royal icing or melted white chocolate — Smooth, pipeable medium for designs.
• Food coloring (gel recommended) — Intensely colored designs without thinning the icing.
• Sprinkles, mini chips, edible glitter — Adds texture and sparkle for visual impact.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Preheat & prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
2. Mix dry ingredients: Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl to ensure even distribution.
3. Combine wet ingredients: In a large bowl mix the melted butter with brown sugar and white sugar until mostly smooth. Add the egg, extra egg yolk, and vanilla; stir until combined.
4. Bring dough together: Fold the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined — avoid overmixing. Fold in the chocolate chips until evenly distributed.
5. Chill the dough (essential): For best shape and texture, cover and chill the dough 30–60 minutes. Chilling reduces spread and intensifies flavor.
6. Portion & bake: Scoop ~2-tablespoon balls (or use a #40 scoop) and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared sheets. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes, until edges are golden and centers look slightly underbaked. Cookies continue to set while cooling.
7. Cool completely: Cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack. Wait until fully cooled before decorating — warm cookies will melt icing and blur details.
8. Decorate: Use royal icing thinned to piping and flooding consistencies or use melted chocolate in piping bags. Add sprinkles, mini chips, or edible glitter. Let decorations harden at room temperature.

Why this recipe is loved

These cookies strike a rare balance: they’re unmistakably classic in taste yet highly customizable in appearance. The combination of chewy centers, crisp edges, and generous chocolate pockets satisfies nostalgia, while the decorating step gives every baker creative freedom — perfect for festive themes, branded events, or simply making someone’s day brighter.

Pro tips for perfect cookies

• Chill the dough: Don’t skip this — it controls spread and improves texture.
• Watch the bake time: Pull cookies when centers look slightly soft; they’ll finish setting off-heat.
• Use gel food coloring: Brighter colors without thinning your icing.
• Press extra chips on top after baking: For an irresistibly melty, bakery look.
• Pipe outlines first: If using royal icing, outline shapes then flood — it creates clean, professional fills.

Serving suggestions to complete the meal

Serve with a cold glass of milk for a classic pairing, or with hot chocolate and whipped cream for a cozy winter treat. For a party, present the cookies on a dessert board alongside fresh fruit, brownies, and biscotti. Turn two cookies into an ice cream sandwich for a playful dessert; choose vanilla, salted caramel, or cookie-dough ice cream to complement the chocolate chips.

Decoration ideas & quick themes

Conclusion — simple, stunning, unforgettable

These Decorated Chocolate Chip Cookies are a perfect blend of everyday comfort and elevated presentation. With simple pantry ingredients and the decorating tools you already own, you can bake cookies that taste like childhood memories and look like a chef made them. The method focuses on texture — soft, chewy centers and crisp edges — while the decorating step lets you personalize each cookie for any occasion. Try the chilled dough, pull them slightly underbaked, and take 10 extra seconds to press a few chocolate chips on top after baking — small actions that produce huge, delicious results.

Bake this recipe today and delight friends, family, or guests with cookies that truly stand out.