Heavenly Levain Bakery NYC Cookies Recipe for Home Bakers

Yourself biting into a legendary Levain bakery NYC cookies masterpiece that redefines chocolate chip indulgence.

The massive, mountain-like treats have captured hearts across Manhattan and beyond.

Every baker dreams of recreating these thick, gooey sensations with crisp edges and molten centers.

Rumors about their secret recipe have swirled through culinary circles for years.

Professional and home bakers alike obsess over matching the bakery signature texture and rich flavor profile.

Massive chocolate chunks nestled in perfectly balanced dough create an irresistible experience.

You won’t believe how close this recipe comes to the original New York classic.

Why Levain Bakery NYC Cookies Are Famous For A Reason

• Massive Chocolate Chip Satisfaction: These oversized cookies deliver a decadent chocolate experience with thick, chunky chocolate pieces that melt gloriously in every single bite.
• Bakery-Quality Homemade Magic: Recreate the legendary Levain Bakery experience right in your kitchen, transforming simple ingredients into professional-level cookies that rival New York's most famous bakery.
• Quick and Foolproof Baking Adventure: The straightforward recipe ensures even novice bakers can achieve crispy-edged, soft-centered cookies with minimal effort and maximum deliciousness, making it perfect for spontaneous baking sessions.
• Crowd-Pleasing Comfort Treat: These mammoth cookies are guaranteed to impress friends and family, offering a nostalgic and indulgent dessert that sparks joy and creates instant smiles around the table.

What Goes Into Levain Bakery NYC Cookies

Here’s the ingredient section for Levain Bakery NYC Cookies:

• All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of the cookie, providing structure and texture.
• Cornstarch: Helps create an extra tender and soft cookie crumb.
• Baking Powder, Baking Soda: Essential for achieving the perfect rise and spread.

• Dark Chocolate Chips, Walnut Pieces: Classic Levain cookie combination that adds rich flavor and satisfying crunch.

• Unsalted Butter: Provides rich flavor and helps create a tender, moist cookie. European-style or high-fat butter works best.
• Large Eggs: Binds ingredients and adds moisture to the dough.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor complexity.

• Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar: Combination creates deep caramel notes and helps with cookie texture and browning.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and amplifies other flavors in the cookie.

How To Make Levain Bakery NYC Cookies At Home

Step 1: Prep the Baking Station

Preheat your oven to 400°F. Arrange a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat for perfect cookie performance.

Step 2: Create the Butter Blend

• Cold butter
• White sugar
• Brown sugar

Blend until the mixture looks fluffy and light, capturing that signature Levain texture.

Step 3: Introduce Egg Magic

Crack in whole eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. This helps create a rich, smooth base for your cookies.

Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Bread flour
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Sea salt

The combination of flours gives these cookies their incredible structure.

Step 5: Marry Wet and Dry Worlds

Gently fold dry ingredients into the butter mixture. Mix until just combined – overmixing can make cookies tough.

Step 6: Fold in Delicious Treasures

• Chocolate chips
• Chopped walnuts

Distribute evenly for maximum flavor in every bite.

Step 7: Shape Massive Cookie Mountains

Scoop large, rustic mounds of dough onto the prepared baking sheet. These cookies should look beautifully uneven and generously sized.

Step 8: Bake to Perfection

Place in the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes. Look for golden edges with a slightly soft center.

Step 9: Cool and Conquer

Remove from oven and let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Enjoy your bakery-worthy, mega-sized chocolate chip walnut cookies that rival the famous Levain Bakery creation!

Pro Tips For Baking Levain Bakery NYC Cookies

• Chill Dough for Ultimate Texture: Refrigerate cookie dough for at least 30 minutes to prevent spreading and create thick, bakery-style cookies with crispy edges and gooey centers.
• Size Matters for Perfect Shape: Use a large ice cream scoop or weigh each dough ball (about 6 ounces) to ensure consistent, massive cookies that look like the famous Levain Bakery style.
• Prevent Overbaking Disaster: Take cookies out when edges are golden but centers look slightly underbaked – they'll continue cooking on the hot baking sheet and maintain a soft, decadent texture.
• Customize Your Cookie Creation: Experiment with different mix-ins like chopped nuts, various chocolate types, or swap chocolate chips for chunks to personalize your cookie experience.
• Storage Secret for Freshness: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze unbaked dough balls for spontaneous fresh-baked treats anytime.

Storing And Reheating Levain Bakery NYC Cookies

• Refrigerate: Store leftover cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days, keeping them fresh and soft. The sealed environment prevents moisture loss and maintains their delicious texture.
• Freeze: Wrap individual cookies tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag. Frozen cookies stay delectable for 3 months, perfect for future cookie cravings.
• Thaw: Remove frozen cookies from the freezer and let them sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes. They'll return to their original soft, gooey state without losing quality.
• Reheat: Warm refrigerated or thawed cookies in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or in a preheated 350F oven for 3-5 minutes. This quick method restores their warm, melt-in-your-mouth goodness.

What Goes Great With Levain Bakery NYC Cookies

• Unlock Rich Chocolate Companions: Pair these decadent Levain-style cookies with a velvety dark chocolate stout beer, amplifying the deep cocoa notes and creating a luxurious tasting experience.
• Elevate Creamy Contrast: Serve alongside a chilled glass of whole milk or a smooth vanilla bean latte to balance the cookies' rich, dense texture and provide a cooling counterpoint to their warm, gooey center.
• Boost Dessert Harmony: Match with a scoop of premium vanilla bean ice cream, letting the cookie's warmth slightly melt the cold cream and creating an indulgent, complementary dessert fusion.
• Enhance Flavor Depth: Complement the cookies with a robust espresso or cappuccino, allowing the coffee's bold intensity to highlight the cookie's complex chocolate and nutty undertones.

Flavor Swaps For Levain Bakery NYC Cookies

• Chocolate Chip Walnut Blast: Replace chocolate chips with a mix of dark and milk chocolate chunks, then fold in toasted walnuts for extra crunch and nutty depth.
• Salted Caramel Dream: Swirl salted caramel sauce into the dough and top each cookie with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt before baking for a sweet-salty contrast.
• Nutella Stuffed Sensation: Create a pocket in the center of each cookie dough ball and fill with a generous dollop of Nutella before sealing and baking for a gooey chocolate-hazelnut surprise.
• Peanut Butter Chocolate Fusion: Marble peanut butter into the dough and add chopped peanut butter cups for an indulgent, creamy-crunchy combination that chocolate and peanut butter lovers will adore.

FAQs For Levain Bakery NYC Cookies Lovers

• What makes Levain Bakery cookies so special?

Levain cookies are famous for their massive size, crispy exterior, and incredibly gooey center. They’re known for being thick, chunky, and loaded with high-quality ingredients that create an unforgettable chocolate chip cookie experience.

• Can I make these cookies smaller if I want?

Absolutely! While the original recipe is for giant 6-ounce cookies, you can easily adjust the size. Just reduce the baking time and keep an eye on them – smaller cookies will bake faster and might need 10-12 minutes instead of the full time for large cookies.

• Do I need any special equipment to make these cookies?

Not really. A stand mixer helps, but you can use a hand mixer or even mix by hand. The key is using a baking sheet, parchment paper, and having a good oven thermometer to ensure accurate temperature for that perfect crispy-soft texture.

• Are these cookies good for making ahead of time?

Yes! You can prepare the dough and refrigerate or even freeze it. Chilling the dough actually helps develop deeper flavors and prevents the cookies from spreading too much during baking.

Levain Bakery Nyc Cookies Recipe

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4.6 from 27 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Gooey chocolate chip Levain Bakery NYC Cookies deliver massive chunks of pure indulgence that melt perfectly with crisp edges. Chocolate-lovers and dessert enthusiasts will discover a legendary New York bakery experience in each oversized, richly textured bite.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 3 ¼ cups (410 g) all-purpose flour
• 2 cups (350 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks
• 1 ½ cups (150 g) walnuts, roughly chopped
• 1 cup (225 g) cold unsalted butter, cubed
• 2 large eggs, cold

Sugars:

• ¾ cup (150 g) light brown sugar, packed
• ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar

Leavening and Seasoning:

• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt

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Instructions

1. Ensure the butter and eggs are at room temperature to promote optimal ingredient integration and smooth mixing.
2. Cream together butter and both sugars in a large mixing bowl until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and pale in color, which typically takes 3-5 minutes using an electric mixer.
3. Incorporate eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition to maintain a consistent texture and prevent ingredient separation.
4. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl to eliminate potential lumps and ensure even distribution of dry ingredients.
5. Gradually fold the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined to prevent overmixing, which can result in tough cookies.
6. Carefully fold in chocolate chips and walnuts, distributing them evenly throughout the cookie dough.
7. Using a large ice cream scoop or measuring cup, portion out oversized mounds of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving substantial space between each cookie to allow for spreading.
8. Refrigerate the portioned dough for 15-20 minutes to help prevent excessive spreading and maintain the cookies’ thick, substantial shape during baking.
9. Bake in the preheated oven for 16-18 minutes, focusing on achieving golden brown edges while maintaining a soft, slightly underbaked center.
10. Remove from the oven and allow cookies to cool directly on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack for complete cooling.
11. For optimal texture and flavor, let the cookies rest for an additional 30 minutes before serving, allowing the interior to set and the flavors to meld.

Notes

• Use cold butter straight from the fridge to ensure a thick, sturdy cookie with crispy edges and a soft, gooey center.
• Chill the cookie dough for at least 30 minutes before baking to prevent spreading and maintain the signature tall, chunky shape of Levain-style cookies.
• For gluten-free variations, swap traditional flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend, keeping the texture dense and rich.
• Experiment with mix-ins like different nuts, chocolate varieties, or dried fruits to personalize the classic chocolate chip walnut recipe while maintaining the original’s decadent texture.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 320
• Sugar: 16 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 19 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 37 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg