These walnut chocolate chip cookies combine melty chocolate chips with chopped walnuts for a subtle nutty note. They bake in under 12 minutes, with chewy centers and lightly golden edges. This elevated chocolate chip cookie recipe is simple to prepare and yields flavorful, bakery-style cookies.
Chopped walnuts are folded into a soft cookie dough, and each dough ball is finished with extra chocolate chips and walnut pieces for a pretty, crunchy top. This dough requires no chill time, so you can bake a fresh batch right away. A light sprinkle of flaky sea salt after baking helps balance the sweetness and highlights the chocolate and walnut flavors.
Featured 5-star reviews:
Here are a few glowing reviews from readers who tried this recipe:
- “I made these cookies over the weekend and OMG were they delicious! The perfect chocolate-to-nut ratio!” – Tayler
- “These were so moist and delicious and the salt on top took them to the next level.” – Chenee
- “So yummy! Just the perfect amount of cookies!” – Sarah
This recipe is inspired by the Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Cookies, another elevated take on a classic. If you enjoy classic chocolate chip cookies but want something with more depth, try this walnut version or the cinnamon variation for a warm, spiced twist.
For another fun mix-in option, try Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies — swap colors for holidays to make them festive.
Browse the cookie recipes collection for more ideas and inspiration.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No-chill dough means you can bake immediately — no waiting required.
- Chopped walnuts add a subtle nuttiness and a touch of bitterness to balance the sweetness.
- Dark or bittersweet chocolate chips provide a rich, deep chocolate flavor.
- Quick bake time: 10–12 minutes from oven to cooling rack.
- Uses pantry staples, so you likely already have what’s needed.
- Perfect when you want a warm, freshly baked cookie with texture and flavor.
Ingredients
This recipe relies on basic pantry ingredients. Use your preferred chocolate chips and nuts where noted.
- Butter (softened)
- Brown sugar (lightly packed)
- Large egg (room temperature)
- Vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
- Baking soda
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Chocolate chips
- Chopped walnuts
See the recipe card below for exact measurements and full ingredient details.
Substitutions
If you need to adjust the recipe, consider these simple swaps:
- Gluten-free: Try a tested gluten-free 1:1 baking flour blend; results may vary.
- No walnuts: Pecans are an excellent, similar substitute.
Variations
Customize this base cookie with a few easy changes:
- Different chocolate: Use milk, semi-sweet, or white chocolate chips to change the sweetness and flavor profile.
- Swap the nuts: Pecans, sliced almonds, macadamia nuts, or pistachios all work well.
- Flaky salt: Sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt on each cookie after baking for a sweet-salty contrast.
- Cinnamon: Add a pinch of cinnamon to the dough for warming spice.
- Brown butter: Brown the butter and cool before creaming with sugar for a deeper, nutty flavor.
If you try other substitutions, note results may vary—share how it turned out in the comments if you experiment.
How To Make Chocolate Chip Cookies With Walnuts
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cream softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla until combined.
Step 2: Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl. Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined—avoid over-mixing.
Step 3: Fold in the chocolate chips and chopped walnuts until evenly distributed.
Step 4: Portion dough with a cookie scoop or spoon. Roll each portion between your palms to shape a round ball.
Step 5: Press a few extra chocolate chips and walnut pieces on top of each dough ball for a decorative finish.
Step 6: Arrange dough balls on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10–12 minutes, until edges are lightly golden. For softer centers, aim for the lower end of the time; for slightly crisper edges, bake toward 12 minutes.
Expert Baking Tips
- Use a small to medium cookie scoop for even-sized cookies and roll dough between your palms to shape.
- Leave at least 2 inches between cookies on the sheet so they spread evenly; six per standard baking sheet works well.
- Top each dough ball with extra chips and walnut pieces before baking for an attractive finish.
- For perfectly round cookies, gently tap the edges with a butter knife immediately after removing them from the oven.
- Sprinkle flaky sea salt on warm cookies for a pleasing sweet-and-salty contrast.
- Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about baking and storing these cookies:
Yes. Walnuts bring a pleasant nuttiness and crunchy texture that pairs well with chocolate.
You can buy pre-chopped walnuts or chop whole shelled walnuts with a large chef’s knife on a cutting board until they reach your desired size.
Homemade cookie dough keeps about 2–3 days in the refrigerator. For longer storage, freeze individual dough balls and bake directly from frozen with a slightly longer bake time or a reduced oven temperature.
Equipment
Basic kitchen tools are all you need: a baking sheet, parchment paper, mixing bowl, measuring cups and spoons, a rubber spatula, and a cookie scoop or spoon.
Storage
Room Temperature
Store cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to one week. They are best within the first few days.
Freezing Instructions
Freeze baked cookies in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to two months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
To freeze unbaked dough, place dough balls on a tray with space between them and freeze until firm, then transfer to a freezer bag. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature for an hour or two before baking. If baking from frozen, lower the oven temperature by 25°F and add 2–3 minutes to the bake time as needed.
Note: Cookies baked from frozen dough may look and feel slightly different than those baked from fresh dough.
More Recipes You’ll Love
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- Eggless Frosted Sugar Cookies
- Cranberry Cobbler
- Peach Cobbler
- Beer Cream Cheese Pretzel Dip
Recipe
Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies
Rich chocolate chips and chopped walnuts make these cookies slightly nutty with chewy centers and golden edges. Ready in about 30 minutes, this recipe yields roughly a dozen cookies.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: About 12 cookies
- Category: Cookies, Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter, softened
- ¾ cup brown sugar, lightly packed
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cream the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add the egg and vanilla and mix until fully incorporated.
- Whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until just combined.
- Fold in the chocolate chips and chopped walnuts.
- Portion dough with a cookie scoop or spoon and roll into balls between your palms.
- Top each dough ball with extra chocolate chips and walnut pieces.
- Place 6 dough balls on the prepared sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each.
- Bake 10–12 minutes, until edges are lightly golden. For a softer cookie, bake closer to 10 minutes; for a slightly crisp edge, bake closer to 12 minutes.
- Optionally sprinkle with flaky sea salt once the cookies come out of the oven.
- Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to a week.
Notes
- See the blog post for additional tips and ideas to customize this cookie recipe.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!
If you make these chocolate chip walnut cookies, leave a five-star review and tag @bakedabundance on social media to share your results!