Category: Mini Desserts

Bite-sized dessert recipes and baking tips designed for smaller portions, faster baking, and easy sharing. From mini cookies to tiny treats, these desserts prove that small can still be delicious.

  • Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies (Soft & Bakery-Style)

    Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies (Soft & Bakery-Style)

    If you love chocolate chip cookies but don’t always want a full-size dessert, these mini chocolate chip cookies are the answer. They’re soft in the center, lightly crisp on the edges, and packed with chocolate in every bite — all in perfect, bite-sized form.

    These cookies bake quickly, freeze beautifully, and are ideal for parties, gift boxes, or when you just want a little something sweet.

    ➡️This mini cookie baking guide shows you all the tips and tricks to baking bite-sized cookies!

    Why It Matters

    Mini cookies bake much faster than full-size cookies, which means small changes in dough size, chilling, and bake time have a bigger impact on texture. Getting these details right is what keeps mini cookies soft and chewy instead of dry.

    Jump to Mini Cookie Recipe 🍪

    1 tsp Extra Mini Cookie Scoop

    • The non-slip rubber handle makes it easy to grasp.
    • Just a simple squeeze makes the cookie scoop release the dough easily and neatly

    Why You’ll Love These Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies

    • Soft, bakery-style texture
    • Ready in under 30 minutes
    • Perfectly portioned
    • No fancy equipment required
    • Easy to double for parties or events
    Freshly baked mini chocolate chip cookies with golden edges and melted chocolate chips on a parchment-lined baking sheet

    Ingredients You’ll Need

    (Makes about 45–55 mini cookies)

    • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
    • ½ cup brown sugar, packed
    • ¼ cup granulated sugar
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¾ cup mini chocolate chips

    👉 Why mini chocolate chips?
    They distribute more evenly in small cookies, so every bite has chocolate.

    How to Make Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Step-by-step process of making mini chocolate chip cookies, including mixing dough, folding in chocolate chips, scooping, and baking

    1. Cream the Butter & Sugars

    In a medium bowl, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy (about 1–2 minutes).

    2. Add Egg & Vanilla

    Mix in the egg and vanilla until fully combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.

    This Hamilton Beach 6-Speed Electric Hand Mixer is a great, quick and easy handheld mixer

    3. Mix the Dry Ingredients

    In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.

    Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined.

    4. Fold in the Chocolate Chips

    Gently stir in the mini chocolate chips.

    5. Chill the Dough (Highly Recommended)

    Cover and chill the dough for 20–30 minutes.
    This helps prevent spreading and improves flavor.

    Teaspoon-sized portions of mini chocolate chip cookie dough spaced on a parchment-lined baking sheet with a small cookie scoop

    How Big Should Mini Cookies Be?

    • Scoop 1 teaspoon of dough per cookie
    • Roll lightly if needed
    • Place cookies 1½–2 inches apart on the baking sheet

    Using a small cookie scoop gives the most consistent results.

    Quick Tip

    Using teaspoon-sized portions helps mini cookies bake evenly. Keeping the dough size consistent prevents some cookies from overbaking while others stay underdone.

    Baking Instructions

    ➡️For more details on oven settings and timing, see our oven temperature & baking time guide for mini cookies to avoid overbaking.

    • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C)
    • Line baking sheets with parchment paper
    • Bake for 6–8 minutes

    Common Mistake

    Baking mini cookies for the same amount of time as regular cookies often leads to overbaked, dry results. Mini cookies need less time and should be checked early.

    How to Tell They’re Done

    • Edges look set
    • Centers still appear soft
    • Bottoms are lightly golden

    ➡️If you’re unsure when to pull them from the oven, this guide on how to tell when mini cookies are done walks through the visual cues to look for.

    ⚠️ Do not wait for browning on top — mini cookies overbake quickly.

    Mini chocolate chip cookie broken in half showing a soft, chewy interior with melted chocolate chips

    Quick Tip

    Mini cookies should be removed from the oven when the edges are set, but the centers still look soft and pale. They’ll continue to set as they cool.

    Cooling the Cookies

    Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

    They will continue to set as they cool while staying soft inside.

    Tips for Soft, Bakery-Style Mini Cookies

    • Don’t overbake — slightly underbaked is best
    • Use brown sugar for moisture
    • Chill the dough
    • Store properly (see storage tips below)

    How to Store Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Why It Matters

    Freezing mini cookie dough lets you bake only what you need, when you need it. This keeps cookies tasting fresh without baking a full batch every time.

    • Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3–4 days
    • Add a slice of bread to the container to keep them soft
    • Freeze the baked cookies for up to 2 months

    👉 These cookies are perfect for make-ahead baking.

    Rubbermaid Brilliance Large Food Storage Container

    • The Brilliance Food Storage Container from Rubbermaid is a convenient way to store
    • Stackable for optimal fridge or freezer organization

    Variations & Add-Ins

    • Mini chocolate chunk cookies: Use finely chopped chocolate
    • Sprinkle cookies: Add 2 tablespoons of sprinkles
    • Nutty version: Add finely chopped walnuts or pecans
    • Holiday version: Swap mini chips for seasonal baking chips

    Perfect Occasions for Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies

    ➡️These cookies are great for baking ahead — you can also freeze mini cookie dough, so fresh cookies are always ready to bake.

    • Dessert boards
    • Cookie gift boxes
    • Parties & showers
    • Kids’ treats
    • Portion-controlled desserts

    Final Thoughts

    These mini chocolate chip cookies prove that great things really do come in small packages. They’re quick to make, easy to customize, and always a crowd-pleaser.

    Once you bake them, you’ll find yourself reaching for this recipe again and again.

    Soft and chewy mini chocolate chip cookies on a plate

    Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies (Soft & Bakery-Style)

    Soft, chewy mini chocolate chip cookies with crisp edges and perfectly portioned bites. These bakery-style cookies bake fast, freeze well, and are ideal for parties, gifting, or small-batch treats.
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 8 minutes
    Additional Time 20 minutes
    Total Time 38 minutes
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 50 mini cookies
    Calories 55 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
    • 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
    • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 tsp vanilla extract
    • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1/2 tsp baking soda
    • 1/2 tsp salt
    • 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
    • In a medium bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, about 1–2 minutes.
    • Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix until fully combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
    • In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
    • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until combined.
    • Gently fold in the mini chocolate chips.
    • Cover and chill the dough for 20–30 minutes for best results.
    • Scoop 1 teaspoon of dough per cookie and place 1½–2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.
    • Bake for 6–8 minutes, until edges are set and centers look slightly soft.
    • Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

    Storage

    • Store mini chocolate chip cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for 3–4 days. For longer storage, freeze baked cookies for up to 2 months.

    Notes

    • Do not overbake — mini cookies firm up as they cool.
    • Mini chocolate chips work best for even chocolate distribution in small cookies.
    • For thicker cookies, chill the dough longer.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1mini cookieCalories: 55kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 1gFat: 3g
    Keyword bite sized cookies, mini chocolate chip cookies, mini cookies, small batch cookies
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Up Next

    👉 10 Easy Mini Dessert Ideas for Parties & Events

    Kitchen Tools I Use

  • The Ultimate Guide to Baking Perfect Mini Cookies

    The Ultimate Guide to Baking Perfect Mini Cookies

    Mini cookies may be small, but they come with their own set of baking challenges. From spreading too much to overbaking in seconds, getting perfect mini cookies requires a slightly different approach than regular-sized cookies.

    The good news? Once you understand a few key techniques, mini cookies become one of the most fun — and foolproof — desserts to bake.

    Quick Tip

    This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to bake soft, evenly sized, bakery-style mini cookies every time.

    If you’re ready to put these techniques into action, start with our Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies (Soft & Bakery-Style) — they’re soft, chewy, and perfect for small batch baking.

    Why Mini Cookies Are So Popular Right Now

    Why mini cookies are popular, showing bite-sized cookies with icons for portion control, sharing, fast baking, and affordability

    Mini cookies aren’t just cute — they’re practical.

    • Perfect portion control
    • Faster baking time
    • Ideal for parties, gifting, and dessert boards
    • Easier to offer variety without leftovers

    Why It Matters

    Because mini cookies bake faster, small changes in dough size, oven temperature, or chill time can have a bigger impact on texture and doneness than with full-size cookies.

    They’re also incredibly shareable, which makes them perfect for Pinterest, Instagram, and events.

    Cookies Not Turning Out as Expected?

    If your mini cookies aren’t turning out as expected, these common mini cookie mistakes explain what usually goes wrong and how to fix it.

    What Makes Mini Cookies Different From Regular Cookies

    Baking mini cookies isn’t just about making smaller dough balls. Because of their size, mini cookies:

    • Bake much faster
    • Spread more easily
    • Dry out quicker if overbaked

    That means timing, dough temperature, and portioning matter more than ever. Many of these techniques work even better when baking smaller portions, which is why small batch baking helps improve consistency.

    baking tips and best doughs shown with assorted soft and chewy mini cookies

    To make prep even easier, check out our Best Tools for Baking Mini Cookies — you don’t need much, but the right basics help.

    The Best Dough for Mini Cookies

    Not all cookie doughs are mini-cookie friendly.

    Best dough types

    • Chocolate chip cookie dough
    • Sugar cookie dough
    • Shortbread
    • Peanut butter cookies

    These doughs hold their shape well and don’t rely heavily on thick centers.

    Doughs to be careful with

    • Very soft doughs
    • High-butter doughs
    • Doughs with lots of mix-ins

    If your dough feels sticky or loose, chilling it is essential (more on that below).

    How Big Should Mini Cookies Be?

    Mini cookies shown next to a measuring tape illustrating 1 inch to 1.5 inch cookie size for baking

    Consistency is key.

    Ideal size:

    • About 1–1½ teaspoons of dough
    • Roughly 10–15 grams per cookie

    The Right Stuff – Oh, Oh, Oh-oh, Oh.

    Using the right tools makes it much easier to bake mini cookies consistently, especially when it comes to size and bake time.

    1 tsp Extra Mini Cookie Scoop

    • The non-slip rubber handle makes it easy to grasp.
    • Just a simple squeeze makes the cookie scoop release the dough easily and neatly

    Using a small cookie scoop ensures:

    • Even baking
    • Uniform appearance
    • Professional results

    Tip: If you don’t have a scoop, use measuring spoons for consistency.

    Professionals Use Premium Pricing

    Consistently baking high-quality mini desserts makes it easier to justify premium pricing.

    Should You Chill the Dough? (Yes!)

    Why chilling mini cookie dough helps, showing dough in a covered bowl with benefits like better flavor, less spread, and improved texture

    Chilling is one of the most important steps for perfect cookies.

    Why chilling helps

    • Prevents excessive spreading
    • Improves flavor
    • Creates thicker, softer cookies

    Recommended chill time:

    • 20–30 minutes minimum
    • Up to 24 hours for best flavor

    If your dough is already firm, you may be able to bake right away — but chilling is almost always worth it.

    Oven Temperature & Baking Time

    Oven temperature and baking time for mini cookies, showing 350°F oven setting and cookies baking on a sheet

    Bite-sized cookies bake fast — sometimes very fast.

    For exact oven temperatures and how they affect small cookies, see our Oven Temperature & Baking Time for Mini Cookies guide.

    Best temperature

    • 350°F (175°C) for most recipes

    Typical bake time

    • 6–9 minutes, depending on size and dough

    Tiny cookies. Big baking mistakes — unless you have the right guide.

    This printable Mini Cookie Baking Cheat Sheet shows you exactly when mini cookies are done, how long to bake them, and how to fix common issues.

    Tape it inside a cabinet. Save it forever. Bake with confidence.

    How to know they’re done

    Quick Tip

    Bite-sized cookies often look underbaked when they’re actually done. Remove them from the oven when the edges are set and the centers are still pale — they’ll finish setting as they cool.

    According to USDA cooking and food safety basics, using correct oven temperatures and food handling practices helps ensure safe and consistent baking results.

    How to tell when mini cookies are done, showing golden edges, pale centers, and lightly golden bottoms
    • Edges are just set
    • Centers still look slightly soft
    • Bottoms are lightly golden
    Underdone versus overdone mini cookies shown side by side, comparing pale doughy cookies with dark dry cookies

    Want to bake ahead? Learn how to freeze cookie dough in our Can You Freeze Mini Cookie Dough? (Yes — and You Should) section.

    Can You Freeze the Dough? (Yes — and You Should)

    Freezing cookie dough is one of the easiest ways to make mini cookies even more convenient. Because mini cookies bake so quickly, having pre-portioned dough in the freezer means fresh cookies anytime — without mixing a full batch.

    Why Freezing Cookie Dough Works So Well

    • Prevents dough from spreading too much
    • Improves flavor as the dough rests
    • Makes small-batch baking fast and easy
    • Perfect for parties, gifting, and last-minute treats

    How to Freeze Cookie Dough

    How to freeze mini cookie dough, showing portioned dough, freezing on a baking sheet, and storing in a freezer bag

    1. Portion the Dough First

    Scoop dough into 1 teaspoon portions and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Don’t let the dough balls touch.

    2. Freeze Until Solid

    Freeze the dough balls for 1–2 hours, or until completely firm.

    3. Store Properly

    Transfer frozen dough balls to an airtight container or freezer bag. Label with the dough type and date.

    Rubbermaid Brilliance Large Food Storage Container

    • The Brilliance Food Storage Container from Rubbermaid is a convenient way to store
    • Stackable for optimal fridge or freezer organization

    Frozen cookie dough keeps for up to 2 months.

    If your cookies are acting up, look at our Common Mini Cookie Mistakes (And How to Fix Them) to troubleshoot common issues.

    How to Bake Cookies From Frozen Dough

    You can bake the bite-sized cookies straight from the freezer — no thawing needed.

    • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C)
    • Place frozen dough balls on a lined baking sheet
    • Add 1–2 extra minutes to the normal bake time
    • Bake until edges are set and centers look slightly soft

    This method helps mini cookies hold their shape and stay soft inside.

    Tips for the Best Frozen Cookies

    • Freeze dough after mixing in add-ins
    • Avoid overloading dough with mix-ins
    • Always freeze in single layers before storing
    • Bake only what you need

    When Freezing Dough Is Better Than Freezing Baked Cookies

    Freezing dough is ideal when:

    • You want fresh cookies on demand
    • You’re baking for multiple events
    • You want the softest texture possible

    Need Gluten-free?

    If you’re baking with dietary restrictions, mini gluten-free cookies benefit even more from these same sizing and timing techniques.

    Freezing baked cookies works too — but freezing dough gives you the best results for mini cookies.

    Spacing the Cookies on the Baking Sheet

    Mini cookies still spread!

    • Leave 1½–2 inches between cookies
    • Use parchment paper or a silicone baking mat
    • Bake one tray at a time for even heat

    Crowding the pan leads to uneven shapes and textures.

    How to Keep Mini Cookies Soft

    Because of their size, mini cookies can dry out faster than regular cookies.

    Tips for soft mini cookies

    • Slightly underbake them
    • Use brown sugar in your dough
    • Store with a slice of bread (it works!)
    • Cool completely before storing

    Common Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

    Common mini cookie baking mistakes and how to fix them, shown with dough, cookies, and baking tips

    Cookies spreading too much

    • Chill the dough longer
    • Reduce butter slightly
    • Check oven temperature

    Common Mistake

    Baking mini cookies for the same amount of time as full-size cookies often leads to dry, overbaked results. Mini cookies need less time and closer monitoring.

    Cookies overbaking

    • Start checking at 6 minutes
    • Remove when centers look soft

    Uneven sizes

    • Use a cookie scoop or measuring spoon

    Best Tools for Baking Mini Cookies

    Best tools for baking mini cookies, including measuring cups, cookie scoop, baking sheet, kitchen scale, and cooling rack

    You don’t need special equipment, but these tools help:

    These are the tools I reach for every time I bake mini cookies. You don’t need anything fancy — just a few reliable basics that make the process easier and the results better.

    Final Thoughts: Mini Cookies Are Worth It

    Mini cookies may require a little extra attention, but once you master them, they become one of the most versatile desserts you can bake.

    They’re perfect for:

    • Parties
    • Dessert boards
    • Gift boxes
    • Portion-controlled treats

    Once you get the hang of baking mini cookies, you’ll never want to go back.

    Up Next

    👉 Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies (Soft & Bakery-Style) — a perfect recipe to put these tips into action.