Ovenly's Secretly Vegan Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe on Food52 (2024)

Sheet Pan

by: Genius Recipes

May9,2021

4

121 Ratings

  • Prep time 24 hours 20 minutes
  • Cook time 13 minutes
  • Makes approximately 18 cookies

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Author Notes

This isn't just genius for a vegan chocolate chip cookie or in spite of it. This cookie, which comes from Ovenly founders Agatha Kulaga and Erin Patinkin, can rest entirely on its own merits: its soft-bellied, chewy, caramelly-crisp-edged, rippled and ringed and puddled with melty chocolate, haunting, well-salted, incidentally vegan merits.

Helpful tools for this recipe:
- OXO Good Grips Cookie Scoop, Set of 3
- Five Two Silicone Baking Mat
- Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Baking Sheets

Genius Recipes

Test Kitchen Notes

Adapted slightly from Ovenly: Sweet and Salty Recipes from New York's Most Creative Bakery by Erin Patinkin & Agatha Kulaga (Harlequin, 2014). —The Editors

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Watch This Recipe

Ovenly's Secretly Vegan Salted Chocolate ChipCookies

Ingredients
  • 2 cups(250 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoonbaking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoonbaking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoonfine salt
  • 1 1/4 cupsdark chocolate chips (we prefer chocolate with 60 percent cocoa content or higher—double-check the ingredients if you want to make sure they're vegan)
  • 1/2 cup(100 grams) sugar
  • 1/2 cup(110 grams) packed light or dark brown sugar (note: on photo shoot day, we used an especially dark vegan brown sugar)
  • 1/2 cupplus 1 tablespoon canola, grapeseed, or any other neutral oil
  • 1/4 cupplus 1 tablespoon water
  • Coarse-grained sea salt or flaky sea salt like Maldon, for garnish
Directions
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the chocolate chips to the flour mixture and toss to coat.
  2. In a separate large bowl, whisk the sugars briskly with the canola oil and water until smooth and incorporated, about 2 minutes. Note: Use fresh, soft light brown sugar. If there are clumps, break them up with the back of a spoon or your hand before whisking.
  3. Add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture, and then stir with a wooden spoon or a rubber spatula until just combined and no flour is visible. Do not overmix.
  4. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate the dough for at least 12 hours and up to 24 hours. Do not skip this step.
  5. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line two rimmed sheet pans with parchment paper. Remove dough from the refrigerator and use an ice cream scoop or a spoon to portion dough into 2-inch mounds. We recommend freezing the balls of dough for 10 minutes before baking as the cookies will retain their shape better while baking.
  6. Sprinkle the balls of dough with coarse-grained sea salt (if freezing, remove balls of dough from the freezer first), and bake for 12 to 13 minutes, or until the edges are just golden. Do not overbake.
  7. Let cool completely before serving.

Tags:

  • Cookie
  • Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • American
  • Sheet Pan
  • Summer
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  • Valentine's Day
  • Winter

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Yogigirl

  • thesimplesprinkle

  • MrsBeeton

  • Georgia Thursting

  • elisaung

Recipe by: Genius Recipes

Popular on Food52

350 Reviews

I have baked these cookies multiple times and adjusted the recipe because I wanted more flavor in the dough. So far, I like 1 teaspoon of vanilla and 1/4 teaspoon of almond extract. Today I also added 2 tsp Lyle's golden syrup (I added more and was not pleased with the result a couple weeks ago). I wanted more butterscotch undertones without having to go the route of butter or vegan butter. I deviated from the veganness by adding a few tablespoons of butterscotch chips and reducing the chocolate chips accordingly. There are vegan butterscotch chips available (only online in my area) if anyone who is vegan wants to try this addition. The other often -mentioned dough condition is that it tends to fall apart. I have altered the step where sugar, water and soil are beaten together for two minutes. Sugar does not dissolve in oil, so I decided to try mixing the water and sugar well and then beating the oil in for two minutes. The dough is easier to handle this way, although if I get crumbly dough, I find I can pinch it together and the cooky comes out fine. One baker mentioned putting the sugar, oil and water into a blender. I tried this in a Vitamix, and did not find it improved things for me. I do not add Maldon salt at the end - but if I'm using kosher salt, I do grind it up a little before measuring and a salty note does come through in the final cookies.

Bridgette September 18, 2023

These are okay. I probably won’t make them again but they’re not bad. Just pretty basic. I used semi sweet chocolate chips, reduced white sugar by 1/4 cup and added a tsp of vanilla. Wish I added more vanilla.

Momo19 June 8, 2023

Honestly the best cookies ever! Perfect every time.

mlouise December 27, 2022

Since the question was posed back in March 13, 2019 What size scoop do you recommend? and remains unanswered I'll ask here.
What size scoop do they recommend? I have size 100, clearly not that, and size 40 and 50 either of which it looks like may have been used in the video.

Yogigirl December 27, 2022

I use a 2 tablespoon cookie scoop. My cookies weigh about 1 ounce each.

mlouise December 27, 2022

That would be close to a 30 by volume, a 40 by weight...

stinkycretingurl December 9, 2022

I am a gluten free baker and have baked this recipe at least 30-40 times since it was published by Food52. I have learned a couple things the might help out the gluten free bakers out there who want to try it. First: follow the measurements *except* when it comes to water. Bump up to 1/2 cup of water. It will seem a little "soupy" at first but as the gluten free flour hydrates overnight it will become thicker and more like a traditional cookie dough. Also definitely add vanilla. Second: Use a jar blender or a stick blender to mix the oil, water, sugar and vanilla. In the video they say to "spend some time" mixing them with a whisk but I've found that a whisk isn't enough. I used to use a stand mixer and just let it sit and beat the water/oil/sugar together for 15 minutes and even THAT isn't enough. Blend the ever living snot out of the oil/water/sugar mixture in a blender. It makes a HUGE difference. Third: Use molasses instead of brown sugar. Just add a cup of white sugar (or less--your preference) and a tablespoon of molasses. Fourth: Don't freeze before baking. Just pull the dough from the fridge, put them on the cookie sheet and bake right away. Every single time I've frozen the dough before baking the cookies don't spread. They stay mounded up and I really hate eating chocolate chip mounds.

Monica December 10, 2022

Thank you! I've made this recipe several times and agree about adding the vanilla. I want to make this recipe gluten-free and appreciate your feedback and detailed tips.

Bradeveryday December 1, 2023

What flour do you use? The GF flours all behave very differently.

nfeldbaum October 30, 2022

I absolutely love this recipe and have made it multiple times now. I sub for semisweet vegan chocolate chips and reduce the white sugar by 1/4 cup to compensate, and it comes out perfect every time.

Yogigirl October 16, 2022

I love this recipe. I use extra light olive oil and have used coffee for the water if I have some on hand. I love adding walnuts. I also add the reader recommended 1 tsp vanilla. I bang the pan on the counter to make some beautiful texture on them and sprinkle with salt after they bake. Rave reviews.

Shelia C. January 3, 2022

This is the best chocolate cookie recipe! Super easy and customizable. The recipe does not call for vanilla; however, I add a teaspoon. Evan my non-vegans love it.

katharinec November 29, 2021

In my never-ending quest to find a good vegan chocolate chip cookie, I've tried countless recipes. All had the requisite five-star reviews. All were terrible.

Finally I got to this one, the most raved-about vegan cookie of 'em all. I don't get it. The texture is, yes, perfect. They look just like regular chocolate chip cookies and have a nice crispy edge. But they are bland as can be (even with the much-needed addition of vanilla, as one wise reviewer suggested). I mean, melted chocolate is always great, but chocolate chip cookies should be more than just a way of conveying melted chocolate to your mouth, shouldn't they? The dough is just--meh. Of course it is. You can't expect miracles from canola oil. (And no way am I subbing coconut oil--blech.) Did I eat four of these? Yes. But just because they were sitting there staring at me.

Cs April 26, 2023

I also didn't like it! Thought it had a weird aftertaste and not a great texture. Followed the recipe to the t. Flop.

Callie567 November 5, 2021

Made an account just to rave about it.
I followed the recipe exactly as it is and the cookies came out gooey in the middle and crispy around the edges.
The dough was oily but everything absorbed during the rest time, trust the process guys.
I'll add vanilla next time like the comments suggested.

Callie567 November 5, 2021

I forgot to add that I made it again with all brown sugar and reduced the amount to 180g and used coconut oil instead of canola oil.

The dough was much firmer coming out of the fridge after resting period and I skipped the 10 min freeze.

The cookies didn't spread too much and it was still delightfully gooey and crispy around the edges.

I think i'll stick to 180g because the original recipe is a tad bit too sweet for me.

Highly recommend buying good quality chocolate and the salt on top!

alvymancilla October 29, 2021

Everyone in the office loves these cookies and were shocked when they found out they were vegan. I make this recipe all the time, and always get the best results when I let them sit for 24 hours in the fridge. Including the 10 min freezing time. Don't skip any of the steps for best results. Oh, i also add a tsp of vanilla extract.

thesimplesprinkle May 7, 2021

Since this recipe has such controversial opinions, I just had to try it for myself! I am stunned by this recipe. The recipe may not take the “traditional route” of making cookies, but who cares if the end result it so good. If you love Subway cookies, this cookie recipe is the right recipe for you. Crunchy edges, with an amazing chewy inside! I recorded the whole process and results and uploaded it on YouTube. If you are curious watching someone test the recipe, here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjdBw7bCqm8&feature=emb_title

Lauren N. April 13, 2021

Loved these! I made them for my family, and they all commented on how delicious they were. Soft and gooey on the inside, and just-so crisp on the edges. Perfectly sweet. I started making the dough and realized we didn’t have any neutral oil in the house, so I substituted refined coconut oil. Let it chill in the fridge for nearly 24 hours, scooped and rolled 20 balls of dough, froze for 10 minutes as instructed, then baked with a sprinkle of salt on top for 12 minutes. I’ll definitely be making these again.

MrsBeeton March 25, 2021

I am a prolific cookie baker, and I live with a couple of prolific cookie eaters. We all agree that these are, hands down, the best chocolate chip cookies ever. And we are not vegan so the set is very large.
I do EXACTLY what the recipe says, right down to the gram. And for sure 24 hours in the fridge. They are perfect and scrumptious every single time.

Vsmall March 21, 2021

I made these for the office, to 5 star reviews! Making another batch now. Simple and delicious regardless of whether you are vegan or not!

Schlemmily March 8, 2021

I made these cookies a while ago and they turned out AMAZING!
But the second time, the color was super light, they didn't spread and they weren't chewy. Any ideas what could have gone wrong?

Alejaros February 2, 2021

This recipe was PERFECT

I used only 50g of white sugar, the rest was all raw cane sugar (muscovado or mascabo)

I added a tiny bit (25g?) more flour because I thought there was too much water content

And i made only 10 GIANT cookies in 13 minutes, these are now my favourite cookies I've ever made, vegan or not.

Super crispy edges but the most chewy middle

Georgia T. January 23, 2021

Loved this recipe! I used 130 grams dark sugar and the rest was caster. I also added 1 tbsp vanilla extract and 1 tbsp valencian orange extract which worked well. I added a little more water (just by eye) when mixing too as i struggled to get the dough together. Super yummy and I cooked for only 10 minutes but the next batch i'll do for 8 i think as i prefer them super gooey on the inside. Thanks!

marcus A. January 17, 2021

I've been trying to get this recipe to work for YEARS now, and finally came to the frustrated conclusion that there's so many issues with this recipe I'd just bin it. No amount of fancy salt on top or gimmicky “aging” for a day is going to save this dough. I liked that the recipe calls inexpensive ingredients like canola instead of pricey vegan butter, which is why I kept at it so long. But without the butter, milk and eggs/egg substitute there simply isn't enough hydration in the dough to develop any structure. You're left with a crumbly, greasy mess both before and after going in the oven, unless you majorly overbake it. Even with overtaking, the texture turns out somehow both simultaneously underbaked and mushy but also crumbly and dry, again probably from the lack of adequate dough hydration & structure to bake through properly. I really don’t understand the notes about managing cookie spreading either, because this dough hardly spreads at all. Why should it? There’s no solid fat to liquefy and slack the dough at oven temp. And as for the flavor itself, it doesn’t matter if you age it for one minute, one hour, one day or more - I’ve tried, and the a 24 or 48 hour rested dough makes just as bland cookies as baking immediately after mixing. There’s nothing actually IN the dough to give it any flavor - no butter, milk, vanilla, or spices. Sticking flour, water and sugar in the fridge overnight doesn’t pull a Rumpelstiltskin and spin it into confectionary gold.

I don’t want to impugn the bakers who posted this recipe, but for the above reasons I’ve encountered trying this recipe over a dozen times, I have a really hard time believing it could ever produce cookies like the ones in the photos and video. Either there’s a discrepancy in the recipe, or it’s extremely sensitive to variations in brands of flour, sugar, magical troll sous-chefs… Either way, there are plenty of better & more reliable recipes out there to waste any more time on this one.

RHo April 7, 2021

I’ve never had a dry or crumbly dough, so I’m not sure how to help redeem this recipe for you. Maybe this will help: Use half coconut oil and half olive oil in place of canola oil, add 2 tsp. vanilla extract, all dark brown sugar, and substitute half bread flour and half cake and pastry flour for all of the all-purpose flour. All of this makes a huge difference. I also double the recipe, and I don’t salt my cookies either. I keep the balls of dough pretty round and don’t bother to flatten them. They come out perfect every time and no one can tell they’re vegan. I hope this helps!

Lhos Y. April 12, 2023

I had the same results and yes I can bake! I’m a home baker, but I am pretty good at it and I’m good at following recipes. This recipe I’ve tried 3-4x and what you said is exactly my results. Plus the flavor is just boring even with excellent chocolate (which I’ve used and wasted on this recipe). I love a good chocolate chip cookie that’s vegan, this wasn’t it. I also like to experiment with chocolate chip cookie recipes. I’m always going back to the regular ones and veganizing them. I also like to make a v brown butter lately (Myokos works the best for that). But this recipe just isn’t good or there is a mistake, or it matters what kind of flour you use. Something just isn’t right with this recipe. Not sure if people are following this recipe exact or when they find the dough too dry they end up adding something extra hence why it may work, or the standards are low because it’s “vegan”. Anyway this didn’t work for me either, best

elisaung January 16, 2021

Next time, I would add at least 2 tsp vanilla and use dark brown sugar. But they are still fantastic as-is.

Ovenly's Secretly Vegan Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to chewy cookies? ›

Cornstarch helps product soft and thick cookies. Using more brown sugar than white sugar results in a moister, softer cookie. An extra egg yolk increases chewiness. Rolling the cookie dough balls to be tall and lumpy instead of wide and smooth gives the cookies a bakery-style textured thickness.

Why are my chocolate chip cookies not chewy? ›

Use Melted Butter

If the goal is a chewy cookie, then you absolutely need to be using melted butter. The technique of creaming softened butter and sugar together is often used for making cakes. And for good reason! The process of creaming incorporates air into the butter which results in a more airy and cakey cookie.

Why are my chocolate chip cookies crunchy and not chewy? ›

The ingredients you use and how you shape your cookies both play an important role in whether your cookies turn out crispy or chewy. The type of flour and sugar you use, if your cookie dough contains eggs, and whether you use melted or softened butter all factor into the crispy-chewy equation, too.

What makes chocolate chip cookies so addictive? ›

A traditional chocolate chip cookie has about 2.5 teaspoons of sugar. And then there's the fat, which usually comes from butter. Researchers say the fat and sugar combine to induce feel-good brain chemicals linked to addiction.

How do I make my cookies chewy instead of crunchy? ›

How To Make Cookies Chewy Without Cornstarch
  1. Go heavy on brown sugar. It has more moisture than its granulated counterpart, which means the cookie comes out less crispy. ...
  2. Choose margarine or shortening instead of butter. ...
  3. Use baking powder instead of baking soda. ...
  4. Rest your dough. ...
  5. Shorten baking time.
May 14, 2023

What makes cookies fluffy and not flat? ›

Flour adds fluff and texture to the cookies. Adding too little flour can cause cookies to be flat, greasy, and crispy. Most recipes assume you'll use all-purpose, but if you want a lighter, crumblier cookie texture, choose one with a lower protein content such as cake-and-pastry flour.

What happens if too much butter is in cookies? ›

Too much butter makes cookies turn out just as you'd expect: very buttery. This batch of cookies was cakey in the middle, but also airy throughout, with crispy edges. They were yellow and slightly puffy in the middle, and brown and super thin around the perimeter.

Why do my cookies get hard after they cool? ›

Cookies become hard when the moisture in them evaporates. This can be caused by leaving them out in the air for too long, baking them for too long, or storing them improperly. The lack of moisture makes the cookies hard and dry, which makes them difficult to enjoy.

Should I use baking soda or baking powder in cookies? ›

Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

Does butter make cookies softer? ›

Butter is more than 15% water, so it plays a role in making cookies soft by adding water and fat, which contributes flavor and tenderness. Melting the butter you're using can make the cookie softer.

Why put corn syrup in cookies? ›

So, when you mix corn syrup into your cookie batter, all of that moisture will make and keep your baked cookies deliciously tender. The texture of cookies benefits from corn syrup as well. As you combine your ingredients to make your cookie batter, corn syrup will pull some of the surrounding air into your batter.

Is it bad to eat chocolate chip cookies every day? ›

Are chocolate chip cookies unhealthy? Traditional chocolate cookies and chocolate chip cookies are not considered to be healthy on their own due to the large amount of sugar and butter used to make them. However, you can still enjoy these cookies in moderation and as part of a healthy diet.

What cookies do to your body? ›

Cookies that are kind to our liver

Consuming too much refined sugar and saturated fat can alter the functioning of the immune system, which in turn influences the absorption, accumulation and use of fats in the body.

What is the most addicting cookie? ›

Oreo Cookies

As it turns out, they're more addictive than both cocaine and morphine, according to a 2013 animal study.

What gives a chewy cookie is chewy texture? ›

Cookies that are dense and chewy incorporate more moisture into the batter. This can be achieved by making substitutions with wet and dry ingredients, or even just changing the way you incorporate certain ingredients. Plus, your particular baking technique and your method of storing cookies can also play a role.

What are three factors that contribute to a chewy cookie? ›

Salted butter, softened – I prefer salted butter but you can also use unsalted and add an extra pinch of salt to the dough. Brown sugar – Just brown sugar because we will get the 'granulated sugar' flavor from the corn syrup. Corn syrup – The corn syrup is what makes these cookies CHEWY FOR DAYS.

What makes a cookie chewy and not cakey? ›

White sugar creates crispier cookies and brown sugar creates chewier cookies. Why use melted butter? Melted butter creates cookies with a different texture compared to cookies made with softened or creamed butter. When butter is melted, it coats the flour more evenly, resulting in cookies that are chewier and denser.

What makes cookies rubbery? ›

Eggs bind the ingredients and make for moist, chewy cookies. Adding too many eggs can result in gummy, cake-like cookies. Adding too few eggs can result in dry, crumbly cookies. Beat each one in separately and thoroughly.

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