Best High Altitude Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are the best chocolate chip cookies for high altitudes or any altitude, I might argue (check out the adjustments). Not only are they soft and buttery with chewy centers, but they are also my go-to every time I need that classic chocolate chip cookie in my life. My kids rate these great cookies a 10/10, it’s one of their favorite recipes.  They are perfect for altitudes over 3000 ft above sea level, but I have included adjustments for ANY altitude.

For the Love of a Cookie

My love for chocolate chip cookies goes back to Sundays when I was a little girl. We would have a large Sunday lunch of beef roast, potatoes, carrots, rolls, and Jello. Then as the afternoon progressed, we would all get snacky for a sweet treat.  I would often make a large batch of homemade cookies or enlist one of my sisters to make them. They were a comforting sweet treat, and we would eat so, so many that by Sunday evening, they were gone. They made for the best kind of dinner. I would commit next time to double the double batch. 

I’ve passed on that love to my children. There is just nothing better than a warm soft, chewy, buttery chocolate chip cookie with a large glass of cold milk. I equally love it warm with melted, messy chocolate chips, and straight from the freezer, cold and crunchy. I’ve developed this favorite recipe that’s perfect for our Wyoming altitude of 6200 ft but is adaptable and delicious for any elevation with the suggested adjustments down the post. 

High Altitude Baking Tips

If you have tried to bake cookies at a high elevation, you may discover that you end up with flat cookies. This happened to me the first time I baked my traditional recipe after moving to Wyoming. I was disappointed, but vowed I would find a new recipe that would work for my high elevation. Can I just say, this has become our favorite cookie recipe?!

The ingredients are simple and classic, but one of the best tips I have to get an amazing chocolate chip cookie it to use a high-quality chocolate chip. If you haven’t tried Guittard chocolate chips, I encourage you to try them the first chance you get! They make this chocolate chip cookie out of this world good. We prefer the milk chocolate chip, but you can make this recipe with semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips if that’s your preference. I buy these at our local grocery store, Broulims, but you can buy these at Walmart, Amazon, or even Guittard.com.

Making High Altitude Chocolate Chip Cookies

The process for making these cookies is quick and easy. Take softened room temperature salted butter or melt the butter slightly in the microwave. With an electric hand mixer, cream together the melted butter, light brown sugar, and white sugar for about a minute in a large bowl. You can use a stand mixer if you prefer. Then I add the pure vanilla extract and large egg, mixing well. 

Next, we add the dry ingredients. Be sure to measure the flour with a measuring cup, not one intended for liquid. Scoop the flour up in measuring cup, and level it with a knife. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt into the same bowl as the wet ingredients. At this point, it’s possible to mix with a quality electric mixer, this is the one I have that works great, but you may want to mix using a spoon. This is a thick dough! Finally, add those delicious chocolate chips. My family prefers less chocolate to dough ratio, so we only add ½ cup of chocolate chips, but you add to your liking. 

Baking The Cookies

At this point, it may be hard not to eat all the chocolate chip cookie dough. I can’t in good conscience say to eat any, with the raw eggs and flour, but I encourage you to do as I say, not as I do. You do not need to chill this dough. You’re welcome!

I’ve found about 2 tablespoons, or a medium cookie scoop of cookie dough is the perfect size. Fill a baking sheet with the scoops of dough. Bake cookies at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 7-9 minutes. You want just the slightest amount of golden brown color on the top of the cookies, then you know they are done. Let the cookies cool for a minute on the cookie sheet, then take them off the pan and let them continue to cool on a wire rack or the counter. Enjoy warm, cold, frozen, with milk, or just about any other way you can! 

Adjustments For All Elevations

Possible adjustments for altitudes from sea level to 3000ft

1. Add an additional 1 TBSP white sugar.
2. Bake the cookies at 350 degrees.
3. Decrease the all purpose flour by 1-2 TBSP.

Here’s possible adjustments for altitudes between 3000-6000 ft:

1. If you are at an elevation between 3000-6000 ft try following the recipe as written, but can try adjusting the following ways. 
2. Decrease the all purpose flour by 1-2 TBSP

Possible adjustments for altitudes between 6000-8000 ft:

1. I live at an elevation of 6200, and this recipe works perfectly for me. 

Here’s possible adjustments for a higher altitude above 8000 ft.

1. Bake the cookies at 375. You may need to watch your cookies as they bake more closely so they don’t become too brown.
2. You may also need to decrease the baking soda you put in the cookies by ¼-½  tsp if they are too puffy to your liking.
3. Also, decrease the white sugar by 1 TBSP

Storing Chocolate Chip Cookies

Freezing: You can freeze the dough on balls on parchment paper for about an hour, then place the cookie dough balls in a freezer bag or airtight container together. For best results, thaw the cookie dough for an hour. You can bake the cookies on the baking sheet, frozen, but they will need more baking time. You can also freeze the finished cookies in an airtight container for around 3 months, though I’ve never actually tested this time, as they don’t last that long.

I love to have these cookies ready in the freezer for school lunches, after school snacks, or whenever I need to bribe my children to eat their dinner. They are yummy enough to share with a friend or for a family gathering. This perfect, classic chocolate chip cookie is pretty much perfect anytime!

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If you are interested in high altitude baking, check out Amazing High Altitude Carrot Cake Cupcakes From Scratch – The Fairview Farmhouse They are perfectly spiced with a rich cream cheese frosting to pair with the lightness of the cupcake.

Do you make homemade bread, if so, try this The Best Freshly Ground Homemade Whole Wheat Bread – The Fairview Farmhouse. It’s made with freshly ground red wheat and has a rustic, sweet nutty flavor!