Chocolate Chipless Cookies

Name: Chocolate Chipless Cookies
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 32 min
Ingredients: 1 cup Unsalted Butter ((room temperature)); 1 cup Brown Sugar; 1/4 cup Sugar; 2 large Eggs; 1 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract; 1 box Vanilla Pudding Mix; 2 1/4 cup All Purpose Flour; 3/4 tsp Baking Soda; 1 tsp Kosher Salt

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.

Chocolate Chipless Cookies are your classic chocolate chip cookies — with soft centers, chewy texture, and crisp edges packed with that golden brown, caramelized flavor but without the chocolate chips stealing the spotlight! They’re perfect when you want something simple yet utterly indulgent, letting the rich, vanilla dough shine all on its own!

If you love these delicious cookies, make my coffee cake cookies and chocolate chip marshmallow cookies next!

chocolate chipless cookies laid flat on a white surface.

Sometimes less is more! No truer words have been spoken when it comes to this chocolate chipless cookie recipe. It’s essentially brown sugar cookies but without the distraction of chocolate.

Every bite has a the buttery, rich texture with slightly crisp edges that melts in your mouth. The flavor is simple yet indulgent, making these cookies truly irresistible.

It’s the perfect cookie.

Perfect on their own or paired with a glass of milk, these buttery cookies are ideal for any occasion.

Trust me, once you take a bite, you’ll be making these all of the time!

Key Ingredients

ingredients to make chocolate chipless cookies - flour, butter, salt, baking soda, brown sugar, sugar, vanilla extract, vanilla pudding mix, and eggs.

Unsalted butter – Unsalted butter in cookies adds fat for a tender, rich texture, enhances flavors, and allows precise control over salt for a perfectly balanced taste. If you only have salted butter, reduce the amount of salt to a ½ tsp as opposed to the full teaspoon. Also, be sure to use room temperature butter!
Brown sugar and White Sugar – Brown sugar adds moisture to cookies due to its molasses content and results in a softer, chewy cookie. White sugar contributes to spreading during baking and creates a crispier texture by encouraging more browning when baking. You can use dark brown sugar for deeper flavor or light brown sugar!
Large Eggs – Eggs in cookies provide structure, moisture, and richness to the cookie.
Pure Vanilla extract – be sure to use a high quality vanilla extract for the best flavor! You can also use vanilla bean paste if you’re feeling fancy 🙂
Vanilla pudding mix – this adds moisture, softness, and a rich vanilla flavor, making extra tender and chewy cookies.
All purpose flour – flour provides structure to the cookie and gives the cookie its structure.
Baking soda – Baking soda acts as a leavening agent in cookies, helping the dough rise while promoting spreading, chewiness, and a golden-brown color while baking.

Variations

Add peanut butter chips or butterscotch chips! Technically, this would make these chipless chocolate chip cookies chipful? (lol) but it’s always fun to experiment. And if you decide to add chocolate chips, they’ll just be an amazing chocolate chip cookie as is!
Brown the butter first! Browned butter adds a caramelized depth of flavor to the cookies that’s absolutely delicious. Add an additional 2 tbsp of butter, then brown it in a pan (be sure to get those browned bits). Let the butter solidify to room temperature then make this recipe as stated in the recipe card. Also, if you love the nutty aroma of browned butter, make my brown butter chocolate chip cookies next!
Use a medium cookie scoop for smaller cookies.
Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to make cinnamon cookies!

How to make Chocolate Chipless Cookies

butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract, and vanilla pudding mix mixed together in a bowl.

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Cream butter, brown sugar, and sugar together in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment for 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add vanilla extract and eggs, one at a time, ensuring each egg is fully incorporated prior to adding the next. Scrape down the sides of the bowl again and add the vanilla pudding mix and continue to mix on medium speed for 1 minute, until light and fluffy.

Step 2: In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients – all purpose flour, baking soda, and kosher salt. Then add to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined, about 30 seconds. Use a rubber spatula to fold in the chocolate chips.

chocolate chipless cookies on a plate with two teacups.

Step 3: Use a large cookie scoop (3 tablespoon cookie scoop) to scoop out a cookie ball. Place on the baking sheet. Bake 5 cookies at a time for 10-12 minutes. Fresh out of the oven, use the opening of a cup to swivel around the cookie to create the perfect circle. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes, then remove onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Pro Baking Tips

Measure Ingredients Correctly: Accurately measure your ingredients, especially flour, to avoid cookies that are dry and dense. If using a measuring cup, use the spoon-and-level method for flour or invest in a kitchen scale for precision.
To make the dough ahead of time make the dough, assemble the cookies, and place the balls of cookie dough in an airtight container. Place in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When baking, bake for an additional 1-3 minutes.
Watch the Baking Time: Underbake cookies slightly for a chewier result, as they will continue to cook on the baking sheet after being removed from the oven. Set a timer and check them a minute or two before the recommended baking time.
Use Room Temperature Ingredients: For a smoother dough and even mixing, allow your butter and eggs to come to room temperature before starting. This helps incorporate ingredients more easily, avoiding clumps and uneven texture.

Recipe FAQs

Can I freeze the dough or cookies?

Yes, chipless cookie dough freezes well! You can freeze individual cookie dough balls or baked cookies for months. Cover with plastic wrap and store in a freezer-safe container.

What are chocolate chipless cookies?

Chocolate chip-less cookies are regular cookie dough baked without the chocolate chips. They offer the same chewy, buttery texture and sweet flavor as traditional chocolate chip cookies but focus solely on the dough itself, letting its rich, caramelized flavors shine.

Do chocolate chipless cookies taste bland?

Not at all! The focus shifts to the buttery, brown-sugar-forward flavor of the dough itself.