Chocolate Chip Cookies Without Baking Soda (2024)

April 24, 2024April 4, 2022 by Samantha

These homemade chocolate chip cookies without baking soda are going to rock your world! All it takes is 30 minutes and a few simple ingredients to whip up these ooey, gooey chocolatey treasures!

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Freshly baked chocolate chip cookies are truly one of life’s greatest pleasures and nothing compares to homemade.

Many of us have our favorite recipes for this timeless classic, but what happens when we are missing a couple of ingredients? There is no need to panic or make an extra trip to the store — we got this.

Many recipes call for a leavening agent, such as baking soda, but it’s certainly not necessary. These chocolate chip cookies with no baking soda are proof, and I’m excited to share this recipe with you.

Here’s what I’m going to teach you in this post:

• All the ingredients you need to make this chocolate chip cookie recipe without baking soda
• What to substitute for baking soda in chocolate chip cookies
• Helpful tips on making the best chocolate chip cookies with no baking soda

This recipe is simple, easy, and scrumptious — all with no baking soda and no baking powder. Get ready for your house to smell divine!

How to Make Chocolate Chip Cookies Without Baking Soda

A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.

STEP ONE: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Take two baking sheets, line them with parchment paper, and set them aside.

STEP TWO: Cream butter and brown sugar together in a large mixing bowl for 2 to 3 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Add vanilla extract and eggs and mix thoroughly.

STEP THREE: In the same bowl, sift in flour and salt and mix until just combined. Gently fold in chocolate chips with a rubber spatula.

STEP FOUR: Cover the bowl and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Once you’re ready to bake, scoop the dough onto the prepared cookie sheets using a medium cookie scoop (I love my OXO cookie scoop). Leave 2 inches between each scoop to allow for spreading.

STEP FIVE: Bake for 8 to 12 minutes until the edges are golden brown and the center is slightly undercooked. Cool on the pan for 3 to 5 minutes to finish setting the centers. Then, transfer them to wire racks to finish cooling.

What Can I Use Instead of Baking Soda in Chocolate Chip Cookies?

Where there’s a will, there’s a way! If you’d like to test out other leavening agents, here are some ideas to get you started:

• Baking powder can be used in place of baking soda in most recipes, but it’s not as strong. Use 3 times as much baking powder as you would baking soda.

• Potassium bicarbonate is another effective substitute and is a 1:1 substitution. The lower sodium content may change the flavor of your recipe, so you may need to add a pinch of salt.

• Baker’s ammonia (ammonium carbonate) is another, less common option. It is also a 1:1 substitution. This option is best for thinner, crispier recipes such as these cookies.

• Self-rising flour can also be used in recipes in place of all-purpose flour and baking soda. This flour already contains baking powder and salt. It is important to note that other ingredients in your chocolate chip recipe will need to be adjusted, which can be tricky.

Of course, if you don’t have any of these clever substitutes in the cupboard, simply follow this top-notch recipe for homemade chocolate chip cookies without baking powder or baking soda. Voila — no substitutes required!

Tips for Making This Chocolate Chip Recipe Without Baking Soda

A few simple steps will make your cookies the best they can possibly be:

• Make sure your oven is preheated at the correct temperature and correctly calibrated.
• Use room-temperature ingredients when making the dough, then chill the dough before baking.
• Gather all of your ingredients before starting and be sure to measure precisely.
• Avoid overmixing! Stop as soon as there are no more visible streaks of flour.
• Keep a close eye on the oven and don’t overbake.

How Will Making Chocolate Chip Cookies Without Baking Soda Change My Cookies?

Baking soda is a leavening agent, which means it causes your dough or batter to rise. In the case of baking soda, carbon dioxide bubbles are released during baking, causing the rising action.

Since this cookie recipe has no leavening agent, the cookies will turn out thicker and denser. I personally love a dense cookie — more scrumptiousness per square inch!

You can also try my sugar cookie recipe without baking soda and banana bread without baking soda!

What Can I Add To Chocolate Chip Cookies?

Do you feel like jazzing up your cookies a bit? Get as creative and adventurous as you’d like! Here are a few add-ins and upgrades to consider:

• Change up your chips! How about trying white chocolate, dark chocolate, peanut butter, butterscotch, or a combination?
• M&Ms, Reese’s pieces, or your other favorite candy
• Smashed up candy bar bits
• Nuts
• Sprinkles
• Get creative and have fun!

Other Homemade Cookies Recipes You’ll Love:

• Chocolate Chip Cookies Without Brown Sugar
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• Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies
• Chocolate Chip Cookies With No Butter
• Vanilla Crinkle Cookies
• Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cookies
• Snickerdoodle Cookies
• 35 Easy Holiday Cookies
• Butterscotch Chip Cookies
• Easy Iced Thumbprint Cookies
• Eggless Cookies
• Chocolate Toffee Thumbprint Cookies
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