This is my most popular cookie recipe, my original no butter chocolate chip cookies! Baked with oil instead of butter, they are butterless cookies and come out delicious every time. They have the perfect amount of chewiness and sweetness!
If you love cookies, try oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, chocolate chip cookies with walnuts, and the best chocolate chip cookie pie.
Butterless Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
These butterless chocolate chip cookies were one of my first recipes on Sugar and Charm. To this day, they are my go-to cookie recipe. I love to serve them right out of the oven when entertaining. They are so good that they made it into my book Entertaining with Charm!
I created this recipe when I had no butter but an intense craving for chocolate chip cookies. To my amazement, the cookies came out so delicious! I love that they are far from cakey or dry.
They’re the best chewy cookie with crispy edges, and it’s become my go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe. It’s easy to make, and they’re a tremendous, easy everyday cookie recipe.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Excellent Reviews: The recipe was originally posted in 2010 and over 500 amazing reviews!
- No Dairy: It’s a great way to enjoy cookies if you are intolerant to dairy.
- Moist & Chewy: The oil gives the cookies a moist, chewy texture with a crispy edge.
- No Chill Time: These cookies don’t require extra chill time, making them quick and easy to make!
Ingredient in No Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
The full recipe and measurements are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
All-Purpose Flour: We use King Arthur All-Purpose Flour. You can also use whole wheat flour too.
Baking soda and Baking powder: Both are used as leavening agents to activate the rise in the cookie.
Vegetable oil: Is used instead of butter. Use neutral oil, sunflower oil, canola, or vegetable oil, in your butterless chocolate chip cookie recipe. You will taste the flavors using an intensely flavored oil, like olive or peanut oil.
Brown sugar: Dark brown sugar works well. However, if you only have light brown sugar, that will work too.
Granulated sugar: This is used to sweeten the cookies.
Eggs: Use organic eggs if possible.
Vanilla extract: Pure vanilla extract adds flavor and enhances the recipe’s flavors.
Almond extract – Pure almond extract works best.
Semisweet chocolate chips or chunks: We love Ghirardelli and Ghirardelli. If you prefer chocolate chunks, you can do that, too. Dark chocolate also tastes delicious in this recipe.
Step by Step Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
Cream Sugars and Oil: In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat together the oil, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until well combined.
Add Eggs and Flavoring: Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then, mix in the vanilla and almond extract until smooth.
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually blend in the dry ingredients until just combined. Gently fold in the chocolate chips.
Portion the Dough: Using a cookie scoop, portion dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
Bake and Cool: Bake for 8 to 9 minutes until the edges are lightly golden. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Cookie Variations
- Gluten-Free: To make these chocolate chip cookies gluten-free, use a 1:1 ratio of all-purpose gluten-free flour. I like Bob’s Red Mill.
- Add Nuts: Add 1 cup of chopped nuts, such as pecans or walnuts.
- Different Flavored Chips: Swap the chocolate chips for white, peanut butter, or butterscotch chips.
- Salt: Sprinkle a little sea salt on top of the cookies after they come out of the oven.
Eden’s Recipe Tips
Taste Expectations: Remember, these cookies won’t have the exact buttery flavor of traditional recipes, but they’re perfect for moments when you’re out of butter or want a lighter option.
Choose a Neutral-Flavored Oil: Using a neutral oil, like canola or light olive oil, helps keep the classic chocolate chip cookie taste. Avoid oils with strong flavors (e.g., extra virgin olive oil), as they can change the flavor of your cookies. Always use fresh oil, as older oils can become rancid
Coconut Oil Option: If you prefer a slightly firmer dough or a hint of coconut flavor, food-grade coconut oil can be a good choice. Coconut oil is semi-solid at room temperature, which may help your cookies hold their shape better. Keep in mind that unrefined coconut oil adds coconut flavor, while refined coconut oil has a neutral taste.
Chill the Dough if Needed: If your kitchen is warm, consider chilling the dough for about 20 minutes before baking. This can prevent the cookies from spreading too much.
Only Bake 6-8 Cookies Per Baking Sheet: For the best results, limit the number of cookies per baking sheet to ensure even baking and prevent overcrowding.
Storing and Freezing
For about three days, you can store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
Freezing
You can also freeze cookies in an airtight sealed bag or container for up to three months. However, nothing is better than a warm chocolate chip cookie right out of the oven!
Frequently Asked Questions
You can use oil if you want a butter-free cookie. Just make sure to use a natural oil such as sunflower, canola, or vegetable oil. This will give the cookies a crispy and chewy texture.
Yes, you can! Oil is the best substitute for butter in cookies. This recipe uses only oil (no butter), and they have the best texture and flavor.
You can use neutral oils like vegetable, canola, or avocado oil for cookies or flavorful options like coconut or olive oil for added taste. Oils make cookies chewier than butter, so choose one that complements your recipe’s flavor and texture.
Yes, margarine can replace oil or butter in cookies in a 1:1 ratio, though it may slightly alter the flavor and texture due to its water content.
Baking cookies with oil instead of butter will not taste the same, as butter adds a different richness and flavor. But these cookies are very flavorful, and the texture is perfect.
More Cookie Recipes
Here are a few more of my favorite cookie recipes. These are ALL fantastic recipes and are perfect for all occasions.
I hope you enjoy these butterless cookies! If you like this recipe, please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
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No Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp almond
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together oil, brown sugar, and white sugar using the paddle attachment.
- Beat eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla and almond extract.
- Blend in dry ingredients and fold in the chocolate chips.
- Using a cookie dough scoop, scoop balls of cookie dough on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, 2" apart.
- Bake for 8 to 9 minutes, then let them cool on the pan before moving them to a wire rack.
Delicious! Loved the hint of almond taste
I found this recipe last week and already made it twice! It’s fantastic! The cookies are so fun and easy to make. Thank you for sharing!
These butterless chocolate chip cookies are so yummy and easy to make! Chewy and crisp at the same time. Delicious!
Thank you Matt!
Super easy recipe! I did alter it a bit to fit our families dietary restrictions, It came out absolutely delicious! Thanks for posting! I will be using this recipe going forward.
Amazing! No one would ever guess there is no butter in there. Great recipe!
Such delicious cookies!! I would recommend not adding the normal sugar and adding less brown sugar but overall great!! Don’t be fooled after it comes out the oven, it’s meant to be gooey
these are relly good .. i saved this recipe
ive used rice bran oil it is fine, they are still lovely. It is a great recipe and I have been experimenting with it. because I like to bake with what I have. I shop for extras on special occasion. I did buy choc chips though
Not sure what I did wrong, but even after an extra minute in the oven my cookies came out super flat and way too gooey in the middle. I must have messed up somewhere….either way I like the option of no butter. Thanks for sharing!
i made these with a cup of ricies, a cup of cornflakes, to use them up, also a cup of coconut. and one cup of chips. i was worried they might be abit dry because of the add ons so took out 1/4 cup of flour, also added a tablespoon of cocoa. They are great. and yum. Sorry for destroying your recipe
Love these cookies!
I made this easier and improved the nutritional value by 1. Using 1 1/4 cups each of white self-raising flour and wholemeal self-raising flour. 2. Instead of 2 cups of sugar I used 1/2 cup dark brown sugar. 3. 2 cups of choc chips is far too much – I used barely 1/2 cup.
These came out great!!!! I had a sugar craving and not enough ingredients for my usual butter cookies. I had to leave out some of the ingredients of this recipe too because didn’t have any white sugar, baking soda or almond extract but they came out perfectly (even with some things missing). Lovely and moist and chewy not like my usual cookies. This will definitely be my new go too cookie recipe ?
Wow, I was skeptical but you really don’t miss the butter in here! Fantastic!
Love these butter-less option cookies!! The texture is perfect. Totally making these more often!
These cookies are AMAZING! I love that there’s no butter too!
Love it!
ngl, i don’t really leave reviews on the recipes i’ve tried, HOWEVER, these are kinda easily the best chocolate chip cookies i’ve ever made. i used coconut oil, which i guess according to the other comments, is better for this, because they haven’t come out oily at all. i’ve made this recipe about four times this week ?
Love hearing this Sophy! Love that you used coconut oil too!! I will have to try that!
Let me just start by saying I’ve followed hundreds of recipes and I have never felt compelled to leave a rating or review until now. I was just looking for a butter less recipe simply because I was out of butter. I wasn’t expecting much, just something to get the job done. But oh my gosh these are better than any chocolate chip cookies with butter that I have ever had. These chocolate chip cookies will be my new go to!
Thank you Courtney, for the sweetest review!! I am so glad they worked for you and I agree the oil makes them so moist and chewy!! They are better than butter!
Hi, can I substitute EVOO or canola oil for the vegetable oil?
You will have a much stronger olive oil flavor that might overpower the cookies. If anything, try sunflower oil.
I was looking for a chocolate chip cookie recipe without butter and when I found this one, I was happy to try it out. When I read the comments about it being very oily, I decided to cut the oil by half and use 4 oz of applesauce along with 4 oz of oil instead of the full cup of oil. I also cut the sugar in the recipe by using 1 c brown sugar and 1/2 c white sugar. One more change that I made was by using 1/2 c oatmeal in an effort to make a healthier cookie. The results were widely accepted by my grandkids and husband!! Keeping with the changes I made, I would make this recipe again.
Bea