Chewy Malted Milk Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

I have strong opinions about chocolate chip cookies: I almost always love the raw dough, but the finished cookie sometimes falls short. I prefer cookies that are thick, crisp at the edges, and chewy in the center. For a long time I avoided recipes that produced flatter cookies—until I finally tried this malted milk chocolate chip cookie recipe from The Pioneer Woman.

At first I was skeptical. The recipe looked like it might make a flatter cookie than I usually enjoy, so I kept skipping past it. But because many of the Pioneer Woman recipes have consistently impressed me, I decided to give these cookies a chance. I’m very glad I did.

These cookies combine a classic chocolate chip base with malted milk powder, which lends a subtle, toasty malt flavor that complements the chocolate. The result is a cookie that tastes familiar but has a slightly richer, nostalgic character thanks to the malted milk. They bake to a deep golden brown and develop a satisfying textural contrast: crisp edges with a tender, slightly chewy interior.

If you’re curious about making a batch, here are a few helpful tips based on what I learned. Use room-temperature butter so it creams smoothly with the sugars; creaming thoroughly helps produce good texture. Don’t overmix once you add the flour—mix just until the dough comes together. When scooping portions, give each cookie plenty of space on the baking sheet because these spread. For a chewier result, take them out of the oven a little earlier; for crispier cookies, bake them a minute or two longer until they reach a deeper golden color.

There are simple variations you can try without changing the recipe’s character. Choose either milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips depending on how sweet or intense you want the chocolate flavor. You can also fold in a small amount of chopped toasted nuts for added texture, or press a few extra chocolate chips on top of each cookie before baking for a more dramatic appearance.

Storage is straightforward: once cooled, keep cookies in an airtight container to preserve their texture. They are great served warm, but they also travel well for sharing or gifting. Reheating briefly in a low oven or a few seconds in the microwave brings back that just-baked softness if they’ve been stored for a day or two.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup (rounded) malted milk powder
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 to 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 to 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1 (12 ounce) bag milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cream the softened butter until smooth. Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar and beat together until the mixture is light and fluffy.
3. Add the eggs, beating briefly until blended. Stir in the vanilla and then add the malted milk powder, mixing until just combined.
4. Sift together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Gently add the dry mixture to the butter mixture and beat only until just combined; do not overmix.
5. Fold in the chocolate chips by hand so they are evenly distributed through the dough.
6. Use a cookie scoop or spoon to drop rounded teaspoons of dough onto a baking sheet lined with a baking mat or parchment paper. Leave several inches of space between each portion, as the cookies will spread.
7. Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the cookies turn a deep golden brown. For chewier cookies, remove them from the oven toward the lower end of the baking range; for crisper cookies, allow them to bake a little longer.
8. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes and Serving Suggestions

The malted milk powder is the defining ingredient here and gives the cookies a warm, slightly toasty flavor that pairs especially well with milk or a cup of coffee. These cookies are ideal for sharing at casual gatherings, packing into cookie tins, or keeping on hand for a comforting treat.