Levain Bakery NYC Cookies Copycat Recipe for At-Home Magic

My obsession with levain bakery nyc cookies began during a spontaneous Manhattan wandering last summer.

Wandering through the Upper West Side revealed a magical bakery with massive, legendary treats.

Crisp exterior edges give way to gooey, molten chocolate centers that redefine cookie perfection.

Dense, chunky dough carries remarkable chocolate chips and walnuts in perfect proportions.

Massive six-ounce rounds promise indulgence beyond typical bakery expectations.

Professional bakers understand these cookies demand precise techniques and quality ingredients.

Each bite connects you to new york’s most celebrated sweet tradition.

You’ll want to recreate this iconic dessert that captures pure baking magic.

Drinks and Treats That Pair With Levain Bakery NYC Cookies

• Cold whole milk complements the rich chocolate and nutty flavors, cutting through the sweetness and providing a smooth, refreshing contrast.
• Scoop a generous portion of premium vanilla bean ice cream alongside the warm cookie, creating a decadent dessert experience that merges warm and cold textures.
• A strong espresso delivers a robust coffee intensity that beautifully balances the cookie's sweetness, creating a sophisticated flavor harmony.
• A warm caramel latte echoes the cookie's deep, rich notes while adding an extra layer of indulgent sweetness that elevates the entire dessert moment.

Fun Variants of Levain Bakery NYC Cookies

• Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Wonder: Swap wheat flour with almond or gluten-free blend for celiac or gluten-sensitive bakers. Use certified gluten-free chocolate chips to maintain the classic flavor profile.
• Vegan Chocolate Chunk Delight: Replace butter with coconut oil or vegan butter. Substitute eggs with mashed banana or flaxseed eggs. Choose dairy-free chocolate chunks for a plant-based version.
• Nut-Free Chocolate Chip Classic: Eliminate walnuts completely. Add extra chocolate chips or sunflower seeds for crunch. Perfect for those with nut allergies or school-friendly treats.
• Low-Sugar Chocolate Chip Option: Use monk fruit sweetener or reduce sugar quantity. Add stevia for sweetness without calories. Select dark chocolate with higher cocoa content for lower sugar impact.

What to Know About Levain Bakery NYC Cookies

• Recreate the famous Levain Bakery NYC cookies at home with minimal kitchen skills and maximum satisfaction.
• Gigantic 150g cookies deliver restaurant-quality taste with thick, gooey centers and crispy golden edges that rival professional bakery standards.
• Prepare these decadent treats in under 30 minutes, including prep and baking, making them perfect for spontaneous dessert cravings or last-minute gatherings.
• Adaptable recipe allows customization with different mix-ins like chocolate chips, nuts, or varied chocolate types to suit individual preferences and impress family and friends.

Ingredients That Make Levain Bakery NYC Cookies Stand Out

• Flour: Provides structure and body to the cookie, all-purpose flour works best.
• Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar: Create sweetness and help with cookie caramelization, brown sugar adds deep flavor and moisture.
• Butter: Essential for rich flavor and tender texture, cold butter helps maintain cookie shape.

• Baking Powder, Baking Soda: Leavening agents that help cookies rise and create soft texture, ensures proper cookie spread.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances sweetness.

• Chocolate Chips, Walnuts: Add texture and depth of flavor, chocolate chips create gooey pockets, walnuts provide crunch and nutty taste.

• Eggs: Bind ingredients together, provide structure and richness to the cookie dough.

How to Bake Levain Bakery NYC Cookies at Home

Step 1: Warm Up The Oven

Heat the oven to 200C (400F). Cover two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.

Step 2: Whip Butter And Sugars

• Cold butter
• Granulated sugar
• Brown sugar

Blend until super fluffy and soft (around 2 minutes).

Step 3: Incorporate Eggs

Add eggs one by one, mixing thoroughly. Scrape bowl sides to ensure even mixing.

Step 4: Prepare Dry Components

• Flour
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Salt

Slowly combine dry ingredients with wet mixture on low speed until just blended.

Step 5: Introduce Delicious Chunks

• Chocolate chips
• Walnuts (optional)

Step 6: Create Cookie Mounds

Form 8 giant dough balls. Keep them tall and round for a gooey center.

Step 7: Bake To Perfection

Place 4 cookies on each sheet, giving space between them. Bake 9-11 minutes until edges turn golden and centers look slightly soft.

Step 8: Allow Cooling

Rest cookies on baking sheet for 10 minutes. Transfer to wire rack. Enjoy warm for maximum deliciousness!

Tips to Nail Levain Bakery NYC Cookies Texture

• Chill the Dough: Refrigerate the cookie dough for at least 30 minutes before baking to prevent excessive spreading and enhance flavor depth.
• Customize Mix-Ins: Swap chocolate chips and walnuts with your favorite add-ins like dark chocolate chunks, pecans, or dried cranberries for personalized flavor.
• Manage Cookie Size: Use a kitchen scale for consistent cookie sizes, ensuring even baking and uniform texture throughout the batch.
• Perfect Texture Technique: Remove cookies from the oven when edges are golden but centers look slightly underbaked to achieve that signature Levain gooey, soft center.
• Store Smart: Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days or freeze for up to 3 months to enjoy fresh-baked goodness anytime.

Save Levain Bakery NYC Cookies Without Losing Flavor

• Store cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
• Wrap individual cookies tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months for longer preservation.
• Warm cookies in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or place in a preheated 160C (325F) oven for 3-4 minutes to restore their soft, gooey texture.
• Remove from freezer and let cookies sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, or gently warm in the oven at 160C (325F) for 5-6 minutes until heated through.

Levain Bakery NYC Cookies FAQs

• What makes Levain Bakery cookies different from regular cookies?

These cookies are extra large, about 150g each, with a signature tall and thick shape that ensures a crispy exterior and incredibly gooey, soft center. They’re intentionally underbaked to maintain that signature moist texture.

• Can I make these cookies without walnuts?

Absolutely! The walnuts are optional. You can completely omit them or replace them with other nuts like pecans or simply use more chocolate chips if you prefer. The recipe is very flexible.

• Why do the instructions recommend using cold butter?

Cold butter helps create a more structured dough and prevents the cookies from spreading too quickly during baking. It contributes to the signature thick and dense texture that Levain Bakery cookies are famous for, giving you a perfectly textured cookie.

• How do I know when these cookies are done baking?

Look for golden brown edges and a slightly underbaked center. The cookies will seem almost raw in the middle at 9-11 minutes, but they’ll continue cooking as they cool on the baking sheet. This technique ensures a gooey, soft interior while maintaining a crisp exterior.

Levain Bakery Nyc Cookies Recipe

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4.6 from 11 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Levain Bakery’s legendary NYC cookies deliver massive chocolate-packed goodness that dreams are made of. Massive, crisp-edged yet gooey centers make these legendary treats a must-bake indulgence you won’t be able to resist.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 400 g (3 ¼ cups) all-purpose flour
• 300 g (1 ½ cups) semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks
• 225 g (1 cup) cold unsalted butter, cubed

Sugars:

• 200 g (1 cup) granulated sugar
• 200 g (1 cup) light brown sugar, packed

Additional Ingredients:

• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 150 g (1 cup) walnuts, coarsely chopped (optional)

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Instructions

1. Prepare the oven environment by heating to 200C (400F) and lining two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats for optimal cookie performance.
2. Utilize a mixer to vigorously combine cold butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture transforms into a light, airy consistency, approximately 2 minutes.
3. Introduce eggs individually into the butter-sugar mixture, ensuring complete integration and scraping bowl sides to maintain uniform texture.
4. Separately whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to create a uniform dry ingredient blend.
5. Merge dry ingredients into wet ingredients using low-speed mixing, carefully incorporating until just combined to prevent overmixing.
6. Tenderly fold chocolate chips and walnuts into the dough, distributing ingredients evenly throughout the mixture.
7. Craft substantial dough balls weighing around 150 g each, maintaining a tall, robust shape to guarantee a decadent, gooey interior.
8. Strategically position 4 cookie dough balls on each prepared baking sheet, allowing sufficient space for potential expansion during baking.
9. Bake for 9-11 minutes, targeting golden-brown edges with slightly underdone centers as the ideal textural indicator.
10. Allow cookies to rest on baking sheets for 10 minutes, enabling structural stabilization before transferring to a cooling rack.
11. Serve cookies while warm to maximize the luxurious, molten chocolate experience.

Notes

• Chill the Dough: Refrigerate cookie dough for 30-60 minutes before baking to prevent excessive spreading and enhance flavor complexity.
• Temperature Matters: Use cold butter directly from the refrigerator to create a dense, thick cookie with crispy edges and soft center.
• Customize Mix-Ins: Swap walnuts with pecans, almonds, or skip nuts entirely for nut-free versions. Experiment with dark, milk, or white chocolate chips for varied flavor profiles.
• Size Consistency: Use a kitchen scale to ensure uniform cookie sizes, promoting even baking and professional-looking results.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 520
• Sugar: 32 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 27 g
• Saturated Fat: 17 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 64 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg