Last week my daughter and I were watching The Best Thing I Ever Ate and I was mesmerized by the giant dark chocolate cookies from Levain Bakery in New York City that Rocco DiSpirito was going on and on about. They looked like giant fudgey chocolaty deliciousness. I have not been able to get them off my mind (trust me, I’ve tried). I had to replicate these cookies with some form of a copycat. I am so glad I did. AMAZING. These are some impressive cookies.
They were everything I hoped for – dark, fudgey, thick and rich. I could have probably baked mine a minute or two less (I like my cookies somewhere between raw dough and actual salmonella free fully cooked cookies, but I truly would be content just eating dough).
Here is the amazingly yummy Levain Bakery Inspired Double Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe…
Giant Double Chocolate Cookies
Yield: 12 very large cookies
Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) cold, unsalted butter, cubed
1¼ cup sugar
2 large eggs
½ cup dark cocoa powder
2¼ cups all-purpose flour
¼ tsp. coarse salt
1 tsp. baking powder
2½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter and sugar. Beat together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Blend in the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl as needed. Mix in the cocoa powder until well blended.
Add the flour, salt and baking powder to the bowl and mix on low speed just until incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips with a spatula.
The dough is very thick.
Transfer the dough to a work surface and knead briefly by hand to be sure the ingredients are well combined. I kneaded mine in the bowl, and that worked out just fine.
Divide the dough into 4 ounce portions (or divide into 12 equal pieces). Roll each portion of dough into a ball and flatten just slightly into a disc. Place on the prepared baking sheets, a few inches apart.
They are so large that they reminded me more of hamburger patties on a baking sheet than of cookies.
Bake 16-20 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets 5-10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
They looked pretty good, but I had to make sure…
Yeah, I think those will do just fine. Maybe with a nice glass of milk…
Double dark chocolate chocolate chip cookies. SO good.
Oh, and a bit of great baking advice. ALWAYS double check that the oven is empty before pre-heating. I only did this to give everyone an example of what can happen (yeah, right, something like that…)
Now to come up with some cute packaging ideas for these cookies. They are so good that a few of them need to leave the house ASAP. The temptation will be WAY too great otherwise.
So glad you enjoyed these as much as we did! You can’t go wrong with a giant chocolate cookie. In fact, I’m baking some from the freezer tonight for dessert!
Annie I’m not sure if I should thank you or curse you – these are so ridiculously good they could get me into some serious trouble!!! Thank you so much for sharing – they came out exactly as I had hoped. Your recipes have never let me down! Congratulations on your upcoming family addition! My youngest just turned ten months old and I’m finally starting to feel like I can actually get a few things done each day, and I’m apparently over baking to catch up.
Wow! These cookies look so chewy and delicious! Yum!
These cookies are fantastic. I love thick, but yet moist cookies, and these fit the bill. Great job!
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Oh my god !!!!!! These cookies look so amazing , the pics are just great
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I love any kind of fudgy-chocolaty-ooey-gooey cookie there is. These look delish.
They look good.. I really would love them with a glass of milk
Those are gorgeous! I can see why you’d be mesmerized.
These look heavenly! You are taking really great pics too!
I just love your site. Thanks!!
Oh. My. Goodness. This is like a dream come true. Okay that’s a little dramatic, but seriously. I was just visiting the city last weekend and my friend took me to Levain for the first time. I DIED. So good. I came home searching for recipes so I could make my own magic cookie. I am so happy I saw your post on Tastespotting this morning!!!!
Thanks Jenna! You have to make them and let me know if they are similar to Levain’s. Being in Arizona, it’s a bit far to travel for a cookie (though don’t put it past me), so I’m terribly curious to know what they are like. I was mesmerized when I saw them on Food Network!
Thanks so much Katrina, I really appreciate your kind words!
Fooddreamer, I’m happy to say they were just as tasty as they were pretty.
Medeja, they certainly benefit from the glass of milk. It may be a bit cliche, but it’s the PERFECT balance for all of that chocolate.
Clarkie, ooey-gooey cookies are the best. I sometimes have to remember to actually fully cook the cookies I’m giving away, because not everyone appreciates my level of almost-cooked-ness!
THESE LOOK INCREDIBLY DECADENT. Like, look so good I had to use all caps. YUMMY!
I love huge cookies and these look amazing! I’ll have to try these, then head to the bakery and compare
Oh my, I actually JUST saw the Levain Double Chocolate Chip Cookies on Food Networks’ ‘Best Thing I Ever Ate!’ I believe it was Rocco who presented them and they looked divine! They almost just melted in his hand! Definitely putting this one on my to do list
pillows of heaven. these look aaamazing
Jess, it was that episode that sent me on my quest to make this cookie. I think they put that cookie on the mind of MANY foodies!
Thanks Felicia!
Oh, I love watching that show, too. Always makes me want to travel and eat to my heart’s delight. Your cookies do the ones from that bakery more than justice.
Oh my…these look divine! I can just imagine two of these with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream between them. Bliss!
Yeah…these will definitely work. Amazing!
WoOoOw, thanks for posting this! I literally watched the “Best Thing I Ever Ate” episode and was drooling in front of the TV, lol. Can’t wait to make them
)
Hi! I’m just loving your site!
And, Oooh.. look at that melting chocolate chip!!! This recipe is definitely going into my to do list! 
Oh these look good….double chocolate…I am in!
Ok the oven thing….so something I would do.
briarrose – ha – I just made muffins and my oven STILL smells like plastic. On the plus side, at least I figured it out before the price tag burst into flames!!!
Domo – I will say it’s a recipe worth putting on the list. And I’ve found that 10 seconds or so in the microwave remelts to chocolate chips. SO good!
Celina – that’s exactly how I came to make them! I wonder how many batches of Levain style cookies have been baked due to that one episode!
Alejandra – thanks so much!
Penny Candy – Hmmm… I am totally thinking I may have to reheat these cookies tonight and top with a scoop of ice cream. They are the perfect consistency to do just that. I’ll do it just so I can share with you (totally not for my own chocolate with ice cream on top addiction or anything).
Carolyn – everytime I watch those shows I think wow, that’s a nice gig, traveling and eating!
Ohmygosh, these Look beautiful!! I LOVE Your blog- Gorgeous Deliciousness all around!
I have to say though, I found cookies that are even BETTER than Levain Bakery’s! You must try Cookies By Joey- same idea, but way tastier
http://www.dessertdarling.com/2011/01/joeys-cookies.html
These look rich and wonderful!
I gave you a shout out about these
http://www.jennalaughs.com/2011/02/new-york-great-friends-great-food-happy.html
Just saw your yummy looking pictures the other day on Tastespotting and had to make them that night! They were so good and fudgy–definitely undercooked them
I love a Big cookie!
Oh my gosh! I just made these cookies… Thank you so much for this recipe! They are really the best cookies I have ever made/tasted..and I make a LOT of cookies! about 1 batch a week
Sarah, I’m so glad you gave them a try. They really are delicious aren’t they?
thank you for sharing such a great recipe! the results were soo true to the instructions/ingredients. A funny note: my boyfriend and co-workers all commented on how heavy and dense these seemed “in hand”, but how surprisingly moist/somehow light/decadent they were when consuming. For the true chocolate lovers out there!! Thank you, thank you, thank you =)
Annabelle, I’m so glad they were a hit! That recipe is a gem, glad I found it and am able to pass it to others.
I just did a cookie on my blog that was inspired by Levain … I love it!
These are quite possibly the MOST beautiful cookies I have ever laid eyes on! Nicely done!
Tiffany – thank you so much!
Yum!! These looks so good! And what gorgeous pictures!!
Must…make…these…
Yummo!
Since the day i found this blog, I fell in love with it. This is my favorite out of the ones I’ve tried thus far. They were a hit in my AP 2-D studio art class. My mom and sister (who is 5), adore them. Oh and I think I’ve found my boyfriend’s weakness with these. Absolutely sensational. Thank you <3
I just came across your blog and OH MY! I’m drooling over these beautiful fluffy chocolate cookies!! I can’t wait to make these!
Christi,
these look oh so delicious and now I want a BIG glass of milk!
I would love to borrow them for my blog and link back to you if I could.
Even the dough on the cookie sheets looked DELICIOUS!!
Ohmygoodness these cookies are SO DELICIOUS! Levain is one of my favorite places to stop in NY and stumbling upon this recipe made my day! Oh, and did I mention that the plate of cookies I made three hours ago has already been demolished by an embarrassingly small number of people? Thank you for sharing such a great recipe!
I was so excited to make these I didn’t read your entire post and I wish I had. The flavor is exquisite but I didn’t taste test and they were not chewy enough for me. I like mine like you do (and this dough is great!
) and mine were a bit too crunchy. Not burnt at all, though, so the taste was amazing- I will make these again and shave off two minutes or so of bake time. And I used good bittersweet chips which really made them a chocoholics dream. Thanks for posting!
I just made these, and they are excellent! I didn’t have a few of the ingredients, so I had to improvise. I replaced the dark chocolate cocoa powder with Hershey’s unsweetened cocoa powder, and I only had about a cup of chocolate chips, so I added an ounce of shaved semi-sweet chocolate as well. It still tasted great – it was warm and moist on the inside, and great dipped in milk!
First time visiting you, oh my! I came for this cookie, had seen the picture of it when I searched for a chocolatey chocolate chip cookie. I was desperate to have them but was out of sugar so I just subbed double the amount of confectioners’ sugar. Only had good ol’ ordinary cocoa, no worries, I wanted cookies now. Delish, like a brownie but a cookie. Thanks so much I will be making soon with the right ingredients!!!
I just made these cookies and they are amazing!! I added a little bit of vanilla and I didnt have dark chocolate cocoa so I used regular unsweeted cocoa. Absolutely delicious and chocolately!!! Thanks for the recipe!
Hey Christi,
I made these today and they were AMAZING! Like…DANGEROUSLY GOOD
I made a few little changes, based on what I had in the pantry, but thank you SO much for sharing the recipe!
I recently started my own baking blog to share my secret passion on the sidelines of my busy life! I love your blog – so impressed with the pictures, layout, everything! I am going to feature this recipe on my blog and link it here if that’s okay?
If you have time, check out my site at http://www.bakewithsonia.com. I would love any pointers from a pro like you
Take care!
Sonia
I loved this recipe and so did my wife! I skipped the step to knead the dough but just made sure it was well mixed. My cookies did not look like those pictured above ie perfectly round. Excellent with an ice cold glass of milk!
Do you have the recipe for imperial or metric weights (UK)
Wonderful. I stuck skewers into them and made a cookie bouquet for my brother on his birthday. The cookies tasted lovely and rich and didn’t flatten out too much which is how I like my cookies!
Steph, I used these measurements:
130g butter, 300g flour, 250g white sugar, 64g cocoa powder (I’m not too sure about this one, there was an awful lot of it but I can’t say if it’s right or not compared to the American measurement units) 200g chocolate chips (is plenty, would originally have been 300g but that’s far too much chocolate :O) and then the 1 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt and 2 eggs.
How do you guys cope with cups?! It seems they would be so imprecise…!
Whatever that WAS in the oven looks awful pretty now LOL. It seems that it is only AFTER I warn my hubby or daughter to check the oven before turning it on is when I myself bake, re-bake or almost destroy something that has been stored in there. Last time I re-baked a french vanilla cake (about the last 1/3 of it left over) and freaked out when I saw the dish it was on and prayed that it wouldn’t burst into pieces when I set it on the stove to cool!
)
I notice you don’t use parchment paper, and you use metal baking pans. I use stones (Pampered Chef and only have a metal cookie sheet pan set that I use for lame stuff like putting under my flimsy foil turkey roaster). I cannot leave stuff on the stones to cool unless I take them out underdone slightly because the stones take a while to cool, then I have a cooled stone which is no good for the next batch of cookies. I use the flexible cutting mats, put parchment paper on it, put the cookie dough on it, then slide the paper off onto the stone when it is preheated with the oven. That gives me precise cooking times. My question there is if there is a time variable between your thin metal pans and my thick stone that I should be aware of. I like stoneware because you almost can’t burn something (but yes, you can still overbake) and I decided I didn’t want the metal transfer to my food, but I have to be aware of any cooking variables. I REALLY want to make these cookies but I’m afraid that I would NOT send ANY out of the house!!
Also, it’s great that you now have a healthy choco muffin recipe but I would really like the regular version that you use. She lost me on the coconut flour – I am not a coconut person at all. I could work with some of the other ingredients (if zucchini is still in season). I always use applesauce in my muffins and cakes (well, except that I used real butter in that french vanilla cake and OMG that had to be the BEST cake I ever had in my life so butter stays in that one LOL). I don’t see a link to click to follow the comments by email so my email is: orangeinheaven@gmail.com. I just opened a WP account to see how it differs from Google blogspot, but don’t know the addy off hand @_@ I have to say, I’m loving your blog! I already had liked you on FB but somehow don’t remember ever visiting your blog (yeah, I know) though I could be wrong bc I think I have also seen your pinterest.
This is probably the longest Comment I have ever left,, it is more like its own blog entry! Aren’t you lucky I have to go figure out what to do with my chicken breasts for dinner! Kudos to you for your blog writing, awesome photos and style
Many blessings, JoyfullyOrange-Deborah
Hi Deborah! That was a cake in the oven – I apparently though it needed a second baking! I’ve never worked with the stoneware, so I can’t say for sure, but I know I have variance between my light and dark pans. I tend to watch my baked goods closely and always set the timer early, because I hate over baking anything (lightly browned is burnt to me). I may come up with another chocolate muffin, so I will keep that in mind. I do love applesauce in muffins and breads – I actually made a oil packed pumpkin bread a few months ago for my little “falling off the growth chart” one year old, and we all agreed, we far prefer the applesauce version. Can’t complain about that! Thanks so much for sharing your baking thoughts – and for reading!
Yum! I just made these and added in some chopped up caramels that I had left over as well as the chocolate. I used part milk and part dark chocolate discs that I roughly chopped. Mine were underdone at 16 minutes so I did them the whole 20 minutes, which was probably too long, since they are a little lighter in color and a little drier than yours look. Funny the difference that a minute or two can make in baking! Still very decadent and chocolatey and delicious. Hit the spot perfectly.
OH THOSE COOKIES LOOK SO DELICIUS:)
Yum. These are so delicious. I’m thinking about making another batch tonight, although they are such dangerous little treats! My sister demands that I make them for her from time to time. We lived together in college and there was a fabulous cookie shop that she used to get double chocolate chip cookies from, but there aren’t any shops like that around here. She says, these are definitely a GREAT replacement.
Thank you so much, these were a big BIG hit at my house!! Instead of semi-sweet chocolate chips I used mint and dark chocolate chips and they are delicious!! My husband accuses me of trying to make him fat (impossible!) and yet he begs me to make more when we run out! So, again, awesome recipe!! Thanks!!
This is the second batch of these I have made, simply the best!!!
Thank you so much for sharing!
Has anyone tried making these smaller to get more cookies? I’d like to make these to go on my cookie tray for Christmas, but I’d like them to be similar in size to the other cookies (and I’d like to get more cookies out of the recipe). I would assume I could make them smaller and just reduce the cooking time? What do you think?
dis cooki resapy iz krap nasty dnt uze
sadoze lo lfz put on bolok tings 4 no reeznz
Now my family has a new favorite cookie. These were awesome. Thank you.
I just made these, and they are exactly like lava cake!!! mmmmm! thanks! adding this recipe to my cookbook!
These are baking in the oven as I type. The first batch came out great! Thanks for the recipe. Mary, I’m making them smaller. They come out just right between 8 and 10 mintues.
Just made them and they’re great! Much better than this other recipe I tried. Great pics too. I’m off to find more recipes on your blog!
these look yummy..would have made them right away..if i wasnt sick today
just a lil question..can i use brown sugar???its just dt i have a lot of it at home..do reply..thanks
You are Awesome!!! these cookies look AMAZING!!!!!!! I can’t wait to try them thanks so much for posting the recipe!
Bless you kind soul!!! I caught the re-run of “The Best Thing I Ever Ate: Chocolate” last night, and I honestly had a wonderful dream about these cookies… and the first thing I did after waking up and brushing my teeth was to google a copycat recipe. I cannot wait!!!
I am watching the same show right now. I realized that I needed these cookies ASAP. Seeing as I live in Cali, I knew it wasn’t an option so instead, I immediately came online to look for a similar recipe. Thank you. THANK YOU!
I got a little worried about how the batter tasted, but after they were done they tasted delicious. I used regular cocoa powder and 1 1/2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips, as well as a cup of white chocolate chips. Chewy and light. I love them!
yummy!!! i love them i made them for my family they were really nice!!
-any ideas on how not to make them spread?
Wow~~~ This looks so delicious! I can’t wait to try it, Thanks!!~
Cookieluver, were yours pretty dry? I find that if my mixture is fairly dry and I roll them up into balls, they don’t spread too much (though do still spread some). I think that chilling the dough can also help with this.
This would be it! Our new favorite double chocolate chip cookie! Made these into 3 dozen and they were the were perfect! I think I will use this as our base for my peppermint mocha cookies! THANK YOU!
I made these but as mini cookies. They’re GREAT! Thank you!
Wow! Am I ever on board with these! Better late to the party than never! I will certainly regret making these but I can’t stop myself…..
Thanx for the recipe, these were DIVINE with a glass of milk!!! I reduced the sugar by 1/2 cup and used fleur de sel for the salt, YUMMM, perfect for my chocolate cravings, but dangerous! LOL These baked up perfectly thick and moist even at my Colorado altitude. This recipe is a keeper!!!
Don’t you think that the amount of sugar should be lowered to the half?! ummmm, I followed the recipe, it was delicious it so sweety that I couldn’t bear it!
I made it with black and white chocolate chips, but when I divided the dough into 12 pieces, the cookies were HUGE after baking!!!
What do you think?!
Thank you very much dear
Nanny, If it works for you, then I’d say go for it! Most people seem to really enjoy them as is, but I truly believe baking should be two things – FUN and flexible – be creative and do what works and fits your tastes!
And yes, they are HUGE cookies.
How long does this take to bake?
Hi Malz, 16-20 minutes as stated, but also keep an eye on them – some people like them more cooked than others. So yummy!
Tried this and it came out awesome! Thanks for sharing the recipe with us all!
my cookies came out a little “cakey” and not chewy
i would love some insight into where i may have gone wrong
Julia, this thread has a lot of discussion about cakey cookies. Mine turn out very dense (I’d say almost more like a dense brownie then anything cake like) so maybe some of the info/advice in here could help… http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/805445
Chocolate sin, chocolate flash! Woohooo!!!
These cookies are tha bomb! My second batch in a month is baking as I type this. Today I decided to bake them in my silpad cupcake “tins”, and I filled the pan they went in with water, so hopefully they’ll come out as a cookie/cupcake/soufflé hybrid! Yum!
thank you for the recipe!
Absolutely amazing cookie recipe!! Ive been hunting…and baking to find this result for about 4 years now… and I cant tell you how happy I am!
I baked these for my lil sisters 16th bday…and she loved them and so did I!!
Thanks alot!
Great recipe!!!
I just pulled the last batch of these out of the oven. Made them a medium scoop size and got almost 3 dozen out of them. They are perfect!! Baked them for 13 min since they were smaller than the ones you described and dusted them with powder sugar! Of course I had to taste, I mean “test” one while they were cooling….YUM-O! Thanks for the recipe!
I made dis its sooooooooooooooooooo good i love them sooo much i could marry them>_<:) xD love it!!!!!!!!
I can’t wait to make these, I love chocolate!
These cookies look totally insane but unlike the cookies I’m a little dense and don’t get something here…are you really suppose to leave the butter cold? I didn’t think cold butter would cream into a recipe, I thought it was always room temp for creaming. Eagerly awaiting your response so I can make these cookies for my super sweet hubby. Thanks a bunch
)
Andy, yes – supposedly that is one of the many tricks or secrets to their recipe. Since you are cutting it up, it does work out okay. Good luck!
I just baked these cookies. They are as good as they look! Crispy crust and soft center. Fluffy perfection! I drizzled some homemade raspberry sauce on top. Thank you! The best cookies I’ve ever baked!
Patricia, yay! So glad you liked them.
My girls ( 3 & 5) and I had a blast making these cookies on Sunday. These things are dangerously good! Thanks so much for your wonderful recipe and your quick response to my question.
Hey! I just put that dough in the oven. You should put a warning in the totle of the recipe. In the middle of mixing, my mixer broke. But fabolus cookies!!
My ten year old asked me to make some chocolate chocolate chip cookies before he left for school this morning. I just made these and WOW are they yummy. I substituted half the chocolate chips with Candy Corn M&M’s and my boys and my husband are crazy over them. Thanks for the great recipe!!
I decided to make these.. and they are heavenly! They are soo addictive..
I made these bigger and they were not done, had to bake them for over 30 min. and they did not taste great like everyone states. I don’t know if I did anything wrong, I followed recipe to the “T”. It tasted a little powdery, not decadent at all. Sorry
Loved the recipe. I have been looking for a double chocolate chip cookie recipe for ever. Thanks
Just made these to get ready for hurricane sandy.
Need my creature comforts when the lights go out!
these cookies are oooohhh so satisfying
they’re big fluffy mouthfuls of chocolate buttery goodness
Now i hope they don’t get too soggy in this hurricane
Looking for some chocolate cookies to bake today. These look good. And I love gooey chocolateness. About your baking tip, that is very good advice. We once had a plastic container full of butter and left that in the oven while it preheated. Let’s just say we lost a plastic container and a pound of butter.
These look great!! Is this a recipe you made up on your own?
Molly, adapted from a few different recipes and “theories” people have shared about Levain Bakery cookies (I’m not sure any of us really know, just the best guess at trying to come close!).
All Hail! This recipe is fabulous!! I have been looking for a delicious recipe for puffy, chocolatey cookies. And I added crispy crumbumbly bacon to my mixture. They are so om nom nommy. Thank you for doing your research and perfecting your recipe. I am in love with this cookie.
Wow!Unreal, hubby said the best cookie he has ever had. This cookie is very rich and decadent. Looks exactly like the pictures! I added a sprinkle of instant coffee, white & butterscotch chips, and some chopped pecans.
We ate it warm with Vanilla Bean ice-cream…. Wow. One of a kind!
I’d like to rename these PMS cookies! Lol, just kidding.
Wonderful blog, awesome job. Thank you!
These are amazing. I made them smaller and they didn’t spread much; I would recommend flattening them a bit before baking. But the taste… like dreams!
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Well, I have been needing a chocolate fix for the past two days and these definitely did the trick. Thanks!