Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookies

Inspired by New York's famous bakery, these Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookies are gooey in the center and packed with walnuts and chocolate!

Whether you're from New York or not, traveled to or not, you may be familiar with the world-renowned shop located on the Upper West Side neighborhood of Manhattan, known as Levain Bakery.

Today, we're recreating the beloved cookie that took the world by storm thanks to a NYT article that put the spotlight on these famous six ounce chocolate chip walnut cookies.

I often get asked what my favorite thing to bake is and when I answer, chocolate chip cookies, people often return with an unsatisfied look. As if I'm supposed to flex and boast about a seven-layer cake or something on that level of difficulty. The truth is, I crave the simple things. Simple things, when done right, can outshine any contender.

Chocolate chip cookies are as popular as they are for a reason- many reasons actually. First and foremost, they're damn delicious. Have you ever met someone who turned down a chocolate chip cookie? No, neither have I.

Secondly, they are perhaps one of the easiest desserts to make. They are pretty much a one-bowl wonder and take only 10 minutes to bake. What's more is, they are accessible that require mostly pantry staples. Finally, they are versatile. So, if you're feeling a little boujee, the possibilities are endless when it comes to mix-ins and toppings, not to mention the various ways you can serve chocolate chip cookies.

I don't really think you need any more of an explanation as to why chocolate chip cookies are the best in their field and why they are my favorite thing to bake.

I've shared a lot of chocolate chip cookies here on the blog, in fact some may argue, I've never met a chocolate chip cookie recipe I haven't made 😉 It's a badge I wear with pride, but it dawned on me that as a NY foodie, I had yet to attempt the coveted Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookie.

Renowned across the world not just for their flavor but their size, these cookies have become something of a NY icon and rightfully so. Weighing in at six ounces per cookie, they are loaded with chocolate chips and walnuts, then baked at an extremely high temperature for a short period of time, resulting in a cookie that has a golden, crisp exterior but a gooey dough-like center that will leave you swooning.

The most important thing when making this recipe is to chill your dough twice. If you don't you will end up with a baking sheet of melted cookies. Not the worst case scenario, but not the one we're aiming for with this recipe. Be sure to chill your dough once you mix it for at least half an hour. Then, once you measure the cookies out, I like to pop them into the freezer on the trays while the oven preheats.

I think many have their own interpretation on the Levain cookie, but this has been the closest I've gotten to original. It should be noted that Levain does not put vanilla in their cookies, but I personally love the added depth of flavor and sweetness vanilla brings to cookies, so I added a splash of it to mine.

As far as the nuts, I know many either don't prefer nuts in their cookies or may have an allergy, you most definitely can omit the nuts, but be sure to add some extra chips to the batter.

The final note is baking. Levain famously bakes their cookies at a high temperature which is how they achieve that gooey center, giving you the best of both worlds- a crisp cookie and a cookie dough filling. I baked mine at 425 degrees F. for 10-11 minutes but it depends on your oven. Anywhere from 400-425 is the desired temperature. The cookies should be slightly golden on the outside, and that's how you know when they are done. Let them cool slightly on a tray before serving.

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And that's our recipe for Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Cookies. If you enjoyed today's recipe, or have any questions or suggestions, be sure to let us know in the comments below. We always love hearing from you. Happy Baking!