If you are craving Chick Fil A Chocolate Chunk Cookies and want to make it at home, this chick fil a cookie recipe brings the taste of the popular restaurant’s treat right into your kitchen. Many enjoy the specific combination of chocolate, oats, and sweetness found in these Chocolate Chunk Cookies.

When you make them at home you can proudly say “We have chick fil a at home” you enjoy them fresh and warm whenever you like. If you follow the recipe I share here, you will be able to make a copycat Chick Fil A style cookie at home anytime.

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How To Make Chick fil a Cookie

This copy Chick fil a cookie recipe creates cookies with soft centers and slightly crisp edges, similar to those served at Chick-fil-A. They feature a blend of semi-sweet and milk chocolate chunks mixed into a dough containing oats.

Key ingredients like shortening and a touch of honey or molasses contribute to their distinct character. Baking these involves standard cookie-making steps, resulting in a satisfying treat.

Also Check: Copycat Chick Fil A Kale Salad Recipe

Ingredients

¾ cup (144g) vegetable shortening (butter-flavored shortening can also be used)
½ cup butter, softened (salted or unsalted works, adjust salt later if using salted)
1 ⅓ cups dark brown sugar, packed
½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
2 large eggs, preferably at room temperature
3 tablespoons (63g) honey OR 1 tablespoon (21g) molasses (some variations use one, the other, both, or corn syrup)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour (375g)
1 cup oats (rolled/old-fashioned or quick-cooking, depending on desired texture)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt (use less if using salted butter)
1 ½ cups (255g) semi-sweet chocolate chunks or chips
1 cup (85g to 170g) milk chocolate chunks or chips (chopped milk chocolate bars work too)

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
Cream Fats and Sugars: In a large bowl, using a stand mixer or electric hand mixer, beat the shortening, softened butter, dark brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This usually takes about 1-3 minutes.
Add Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs (one at a time if using two), honey or molasses, and vanilla extract to the bowl. Mix until everything is well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Some variations might also include corn syrup here.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Mix Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed (or stir with a sturdy spoon) until the flour mixture is just incorporated. Be careful not to overmix at this stage.
Fold in Chocolate: Gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chunks and milk chocolate chunks (or chips). Reserve some chunks for pressing onto the tops if desired.
Portion Dough: Scoop the cookie dough into portions. Many aim for large cookies, using about ¼ cup of dough per cookie (around 4 tablespoons). Stacking two medium scoops (2 tablespoons each) can create a taller cookie.
Arrange on Baking Sheet: Place the dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving space between them (about 6 cookies per standard sheet) as they will spread. If desired, gently press a few extra chocolate chunks onto the tops of the dough balls before baking.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 11-13 minutes. The edges should be turning golden brown, and the centers should look slightly puffed but still soft. Cooking times may vary slightly depending on your oven and cookie size.
Cool: Remove the baking sheets from the oven. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for about 10-20 minutes. This allows the centers to set properly. Then, transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
Serve: Enjoy the cookies warm for a gooey chocolate experience, or let them cool completely.

Tips For Perfect Chick Fil A Cookie

Use Shortening and Butter: The combination of shortening for texture (crisp edges) and butter for flavor is often considered important for replicating the cookie. Shortening helps prevent excessive spreading.
Dark Brown Sugar: Using dark brown sugar adds moisture and a deeper molasses flavor compared to light brown sugar. If you only have light brown sugar, the cookies will still work but have a milder taste and lighter color.
Honey or Molasses: Don’t skip the honey or molasses. These ingredients add a distinct flavor profile found in the restaurant cookies and contribute to their chewy texture. Some variations use light corn syrup for chewiness as well.
Chocolate Chunks: Using chocolate chunks instead of standard chips provides larger pockets of melted chocolate. A mix of semi-sweet and milk chocolate is commonly used to match the flavor profile.
Oats Type: Consider the type of oats. Quick oats create a subtler texture, while rolled (old-fashioned) oats offer a heartier feel. Using the wrong type can affect the cookie’s final texture.
Do Not Overmix: Once you add the flour, mix only until the dry ingredients are just combined. Overmixing develops the gluten too much, which can lead to tough cookies instead of soft and chewy ones.
Room Temperature Ingredients: Using room temperature butter and eggs helps them incorporate more smoothly into the batter, leading to a better texture.
Cooling Time is Key: Letting the cookies cool on the hot baking sheet for 10-20 minutes after removing them from the oven is crucial. This allows them to finish setting up without overbaking, ensuring a soft center.
Stacking Dough Technique: Some bakers stack two smaller balls of dough before baking. This can create a taller cookie that bakes slower, potentially enhancing the soft center and crispy edge contrast.

Servings and Pairings

These homemade Chick fil A style cookies are quite versatile. They are enough to be a satisfying dessert on their own, especially when served slightly warm. But is you want some servings and pairings suggestions, you can try the ones below

Classic Pairing: A cold glass of milk is the quintessential cookie companion. The richness of the cookie balances well with the cool creaminess of milk.
Coffee or Tea: Enjoy a cookie with a hot cup of coffee or tea. The slight bitterness of coffee complements the sweetness, while tea offers a lighter pairing. A warm mocha coffee can also be a great match.
With Ice Cream: Serve a warm cookie alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The contrast between the warm, chewy cookie and the cold, melting ice cream is delightful. You could even make cookie ice cream sandwiches.
Party Platters: Their familiar taste makes them a crowd-pleaser. Arrange them on a platter for gatherings, potlucks, or bake sales.
After School Snack: They make for a comforting and substantial snack for kids (or adults!) after school or work.
Alongside Fruit: A side of fresh berries or sliced bananas can add a touch of freshness to balance the cookie’s richness.

Storing

Proper storage helps maintain the cookies’ desired texture.

Room Temperature: Once completely cooled, store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They should stay reasonably fresh for about 3-4 days, perhaps longer if stored very well.
Freezing Baked Cookies: For longer storage, you can freeze the baked cookies. Let them cool completely, then place them in a freezer-safe airtight container or zip-top bag. Layering them with parchment paper can prevent sticking. They can be frozen for up to 1-2 months.
Freezing Cookie Dough: You can also freeze the unbaked cookie dough. Portion the dough into balls, place them on a baking sheet, and freeze until solid. Once solid, transfer the dough balls to a freezer bag or airtight container. Frozen dough can last for up to 3 months. Bake directly from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.
Reheating: To enjoy a warm cookie later, reheat it briefly. Pop a single cookie in the microwave for about 8-20 seconds (depending on microwave power). Alternatively, warm multiple cookies in a 350°F (175°C) oven or toaster oven for about 3-4 minutes until heated through.

Ingredient Swap/Substitutes

If you need to make changes due to dietary needs or missing ingredients, here are some potential substitutions based on the recipe components:

For the Shortening/Butter Combination

All Butter: You can replace the shortening entirely with butter. This will likely change the texture, potentially making the cookies spread more and have less crisp edges. Using all butter might require chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking to control spread.
Different Fats: While vegetable oil or coconut oil could replace shortening, this will significantly alter flavor and texture. Coconut oil may add a coconut flavor and make the cookies softer or more prone to melting at room temperature. Palm shortening might mimic the original texture better than standard vegetable shortening if available.
Vegan Butter: For a dairy-free version, use high-quality vegan butter sticks in place of regular butter and ensure your shortening is vegetable-based (most are). Choose a brand known to perform well in baking.

For the Sugars

Light Brown Sugar: If you don’t have dark brown sugar, you can use light brown sugar. The cookies will have a lighter color and a less intense molasses flavor but will still be tasty.
Sugar Alternatives: Replacing granulated and brown sugar with substitutes like erythritol, Swerve, or coconut sugar is possible but will change the taste, texture, and baking properties. Coconut sugar will make the cookies darker and add a caramel note. Ensure sugar substitutes are suitable for baking and measure appropriately, possibly requiring adjustments.

For the Honey/Molasses/Corn Syrup

Maple Syrup: Maple syrup can sometimes substitute for corn syrup or honey, though it will impart its own distinct flavor. It might slightly change the moisture level.
Golden Syrup: If available, golden syrup could be a substitute for light corn syrup.
Skipping: Omitting these adjunct sweeteners might affect the final chewiness and flavor depth characteristic of the copycat recipe.

For the Flour

Gluten-Free Flour: Use a good quality 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend that contains xanthan gum. Results can vary between GF flour brands, so use one you trust for cookies.

For the Oats

Rolled vs. Quick Oats: If the recipe calls for one type and you only have the other, it might work, but the texture will differ. Rolled oats provide more chew, while quick oats blend in more. Using steel-cut oats is not recommended.
Gluten-Free Oats: If making gluten-free cookies, ensure your oats are certified gluten-free to avoid cross-contamination.
Omitting Oats: Leaving out the oats will change the cookie significantly, moving it away from the Chick-fil-A style, which distinctively includes oats.

For the Eggs

Flax Egg: For an egg-free version, a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water, let sit for 5 minutes) might work as a binder, though the texture could be slightly different. Other egg replacers designed for baking could also be considered.

For the Chocolate

Chips vs. Chunks: If you can’t find chunks, chocolate chips will work, but the chocolate distribution and texture will be different.
Chocolate Types: You can adjust the ratio of semi-sweet to milk chocolate based on preference, or use all semi-sweet or all milk chocolate if desired. Dark chocolate chunks can also be used.
Dairy-Free/Vegan Chocolate: Use dairy-free or vegan chocolate chips/chunks if needed. Look for brands specifically designed for these dietary needs.

Done and Dished

If you followed this copycat chick fil a cookie recipe correctly you should be able to create those soft, chewy cookies packed with chocolate chunks and a hint of oats you buy from Chick-Fil-A at home whenever you want them.

Now you have the know-how to make a copycat Chick Fil A Chocolate Chunk Cookies at home. What tweaks and serving suggestions will you add? Or would you just enjoy them warm with a glass of milk – sometimes simple is best.

Drop a comment if you have trued this chick fil a cookie recipe and share your experience and personal tweaks

Chick Fil A

Copycat Chick Fil A Cookie Recipe