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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.
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Pin ItButterless 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!
More Cookie Recipes
Here are a few more of my favorite cookie recipes. These are ALL fantastic recipes and are perfect for all occasions.
- Butterless Chewy Snickerdoodle Cookies
- My Favorite Chocolate Cherry Cookies
- Chocolate Cherry Chunk Cookies
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Gingersnap Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cookies
- Favorite Thumbprint Cookies
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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.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
Lovely recipe. My family loves it.
I can’t believe these don’t have butter in them. They turned out amazing!
These are sooo delicious!! We’re obsessed! Thanks so much for sharing!
This is an amazing recipe! It was very easy to make and a good thing that I had all the ingredients needed for me to make these cookies. This is definitely one of our favorites at home. Thank you for sharing!
Wonderful, tasty, and easy cookies! We are currently quarantined aboard our sailboat in Spain due to Covid9. We can only go out for groceries when absolutely necessary, about once every 10 days to 2 weeks–and we are low on butter. When my husband asked me to bake chocolate chip cookies I thought he was out of luck! But then I found your recipe and gave it a try even though I was skeptical. Man was I wrong! They are delicious and have a perfect consistency. My husband could not tell the difference between them and my usual butter recipe. This is a keeper….and I will make them again! Thank you for the recipe.
Oh my goodness, Vicki! Stay safe on the water and I am SO happy these cookies could be a little treat for you and your husband during this time! Sending you all the love and cookies!!!
These have me craving a chocolate chip cookie!! Love this butter-less option! They are chewy & chocolate-y & really are perfect!
Such a great cookie recipe!
These turned out great! Would definitely recommend making them!
Just made these cookies and they are AMAZING!!! My two sons and husband (and I) love them. I was low on butter which inspired me to find a “butteries” recipe – and these are actually better than cookies I’ve made with butter. Thanks for making this recipe available.
Also, one batch I timed correctly and the second batch I forgot about – even slightly over-baked, they’re still great!! No fail recipe – that’s my kind of baking. 🙂
Yay! We are so happy you loved them!! They really are SO good! The oil makes them so chewy and delicious!!
Really nice! Took quite a bit longer to cook than the recipe said – think I made them a bit big, but came out really well.