I feel like I can hear what you are thinking. “Yet another chocolate chip cookie recipe… So, what is new?” Hang on a second. Please, hear me out.
This is not your regular chocolate chip cookie recipe. This is THE BEST one. The Doubletree Chocolate Chip cookies, to be exact.

In the beginning of 1980s most luxury hotels started offering amenities to their VIP guests. If you were considered as a VIP, after a long day of traveling or working, you would come to your room to find a cheese plate with a bottle of chilled Chardonnay waiting for you. When hotels figured out that it is such a great marketing tool that creates loyal customers, they started amenity programs for children, for pets, for health conscious guests, etc.
The best part of it was that it was a very cost effective marketing tool if planned and executed in the right way to bring people back to your hotel.

In mid 1990s, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotels took this idea of “offering something for free as a way of making people feel like a VIP” to another level. They started offering these amazing cookies to everyone who comes to stay in their hotels.
Think about it for a second.
Most everyone loves a good chewy, freshly baked, still warm chocolate chip cookie. Right?
They knew that there was nothing better than the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies to make people feel like they are home. So they decided that every guest who stays in their hotel should be treated as a VIP and therefore, should be served a delicious chocolate chip cookie that was freshly baked.
This marketing program was a success. You know why? Because I was working for a different hotel chain at the time and I remember some of our loyal guests leaving our hotel to stay there just because they loved those cookies.

When I took my first bite, I knew why they left. These cookies are, literally, mind-blowing. Anybody I serve these cookies tells me that they are the best chocolate chip cookies that they have ever had. They, also, ask for the recipe.
It never fails.
It was not easy to find the recipe as it has, understandably, been kept as a big secret. Throughout the years, I found a couple of recipes online and made them. Of all the recipes I tried, this one is almost identical to the one that they serve at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotels.
Today, according to their website, they give out close to 60,000 chocolate chip cookies a day adding up to 21 million cookies a year throughout their properties from the U.S. to China.
These DoubleTree Hotel Chocolate Chip Cookies are just the right mix of chewy and crisp, with a bittersweet piece of chocolate in every bite.
For me, they are the epitome of the kind of chocolate cookie that demands to be dunked into a glass of ice-cold milk.
How To Make Doubletree Cookies Recipe
The process for making these cookies has 2 folds. In reality, it is no different than any other chocolate cookie recipe.
First, you mix the dry ingredients and then the wet ingredients. Second, you mix them together along with chocolate chips and nuts. It is that simple.

A Few Tips on the Best Doubletree Chocolate Cookies:
– There are a few things that you should not skip when making this Doubletree Chocolate Cookie Recipe:
1. Once the batter is ready, scoop the cookies onto a sheet pan, cover with plastic, and let it rest in the fridge overnight. I think this step is crucial for the best cookie. Before you are ready to bake them, let them sit on the counter for 15-20 minutes before baking them in the oven.
2. Do not skip using the ground oats. In my opinion, ground oats is what makes this recipe taste so SO delicious.
– I usually freeze the cookies in a plastic bag and bake the number of cookies I want to serve on that day. This way they are super fresh.
– The baking time may vary depending on the altitude you live. Also, some people love softer cookies. If you are one of those people the timing below will be ideal for you. If you like a harder cookie then let it bake for a few more minutes.
In my experience, you can tell that it is done once the top of the cookies turn lightly golden brown. Once you take them out of the oven and let them sit on the counter they will continue to bake.
– TRIVIA: Some people call this recipe the Otis Spunkmeyer Chocolate Chip Cookie.
Other Cookie Recipes You Might Like:
- Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Almond Butter Cookies Recipe
- Paleo Gingerbread Cookies
- Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Need more inspiration? Check out all our cookie recipes
DoubleTree Hotel's Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
For the dry ingredients:
- 1/2 cup 2 ounces old fashioned oats – grounded in food processor
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 11.25 ounces
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon table salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
For the wet ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 2 sticks or 8 ounces
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed 5.25 ounces
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar 5.25 ounces
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 2 eggs at room temperature, Large eggs
For the cookies:
- 3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 1/2 cups walnuts chopped
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine the ground oats, all purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl.
- In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugars, in medium speed, until combined, 2-3 minutes. Add vanilla and lemon juice and mix for 30 seconds.
- Add the eggs one by one and mix until smooth, 45 seconds.
- Decrease the speed to low and stir in the dry ingredients into the wet mixture in 3 batches. Before adding each batch, scrape down the bottom of the bowl to make sure that no lumps are remaining.
- With the speed on low, add the chocolate chips and walnuts into the batter and mix until combined. ~You can also do this by hand.~
- In order to make sure they are evenly distributed, give it a final hand stir.
- Using a large ice cream scoop divide the dough into 25 portions and place them on the baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place it in the fridge and let it rest overnight.
- When you are ready to bake, place them on a baking sheet at least 2-inches apart from each other (6 cookies per sheet) and bake them in a 350-degree oven for exactly 17 minutes. *
- Take it out of the oven. Let it sit on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, and then transfer them to a wire rack (to stop cooking).
- If you want, you can place the unbaked cookies in a large ziplock bag and freeze them.
- To bake frozen cookies, let them thaw for half an hour before baking. Continue with the same process to bake unfrozen cookies.
Notes
Nutrition
Adapted from this recipe.
Jennifer
I have made SO many different chocolate chip cookie recipes due to my cookie obsession and these are truly one of the best. Thank you for sharing this recipe. I have also made your paleo zucchini bread and it is fantastic!
Aysegul Sanford
YAY! Happy to hear that Jennifer. This is my go-to chocolate chip recipe and every time I make it I hear similar comments 🙂
Thanks for coming by and taking the time to leave a review.
Chris
Re: DoubleTree Hotel’s Chocolate Chip Cookies
Errrr . . . . would you mind translating
2 1/4 11.25 ounces cups all-purpose flour?
2 and a quarter ounces or 11.25 cups? I don’t think so!
2 1/4 cups or 11.25oz?
P.S. The recipe sounds great, so don’t want to screw it up!
Aysegul Sanford
Oh man.. Good catch. I made sure to update the recipe.
You are right, it is 2 1/4 cups and 11.25 ounces.
Thanks for catching that.
PS: This is a great recipe. 🙂
Mage
Question: do you think this recipe will be equally as good if it’s done WITHOUT the mixer? If it’s mixed by hand instead?
Aysegul Sanford
Hi Mage,
The part that it gets tricky is where you cream the butter with sugar, which is a crucial step when making cookies. If you don’t mind taking your time and making sure that they are fully creamed (i.e. mixed until it is super creamy) then it should work. The rest should be easy as you don’t want to overmix the flour.
I hope this helps.
Denise Land
Hey thre!! The recipe was pretty good however, I think next time, i’ll decrease the cinnamon. The first batch I accidentally overbaked on 350 for 16 min, the second batch i increased it to 365 and baked for 10 min resulting in a cookie that was perfect with crisp edges and a soft middle.
Aysegul Sanford
That is very good to know. Thanks so much for sharing your expertise Denise.
Thank you!
IA
Thank you so much for posting this chocolate cookie recipe. My family and I LOVE them! I am big fan of Doubletree Hotel cookies and this recipe is so good. I wanted to say even better!! I followed other copycat recipe but this one is the BEST!! The first round was a big hit then I doubled the second round and freeze them but we still finish them in a week. I am not suppose to eat so much cookies but I just can’t help it….! ? Thank you soooooooo much!
Aysegul Sanford
Ha ha.. This makes me so happy. I shared this recipe many years ago and at the time it was my favorite too. I still love it, but not make them as often as I used to.
Thanks for reminding me. Cheers!
Diana
I just came back from a stay at DoubleTree and thought why not try to google the recipe. Well, these were incredible BEST chocolate chips I’ve made.. I cannot follow a recipe to save my life, so I deviated a little. But mine still came out great and it tasted just like the cookies from DoubleTree. Thank you!!!
Janice
Just wanted to say that I’ve made these quite a few times now and these are definitely the BEST chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had!Thanks so much!
Aysegul Sanford
Hi Janice,
I am so glad that you liked this recipe. It is one of my favorites as well.
Thank you so much for letting me know. Cheers!
Andrea Deniz Herrera Guris
This past weekend I went out to the market to pick up the ingredients for these AMAZING chocolate chip cookies. I made them for my homestay family in Cochabamba and it was a huge hit. You would have loved to see my family gathered around the plate of warm cookies, picking apart the soft chocolate and walnuts. Everyone loved them and are begging me to make more!
Aysegul Sanford
Ohhhh, you know this is music to my ears…
First, I am so happy to hear that you made one of my recipes and everyone loved it. Second, it is so nice to hear from you. I hope you are having a good time over there.
We think of you so often and hope that you are happy, safe, and healthy. We are heading over to Philadelphia tomorrow. I am sure it won’t be as much fun without you being there.
Love and hugs!
Aysegul
Jill
I can’t wait to try this recipe! I just stayed at a DoubleTree about a week ago for the first time in years and I had forgotten just how INCREDIBLE those cookies are. Thanks so much for posting this!
Aysegul Sanford
Hi Jill,
These cookies are to die for. I always make sure to have some in my freezer.
I am glad you found me. :))
Cheers..
Ice
Regina
Otis Spunkmeyer are truly great cookies but this recipe puts them to shame! Thank you so much for sharing. These are excellent with bittersweet chocolate and black walnuts. The lemon juice, I also add some zest, just adds to the absolute decadence.
Aysegul Sanford
Thank you Regina. I am glad you liked them.
These are my absolute favorite cookies of all times…
I agree on the lemon. I will try the lemon zest next time.
Thank you for stopping by.
Cheers!
Ice
Ruth Thomas
I worked for Double Tree for years and they serve Otis Spunkmeyer cookies. They come in frozen and the front desk has a little toaster oven they bake them in. I’m sure your cookies are great but Double Tree doesn’t have some super secret recipe.
Aysegul Sanford
Hi Ruth,
Wow.. I had heard so many stories saying that it is a super secret recipe. Isn’t it funny how we make things bigger than they really are when we someone says it is a secret??!!?
Thank you for sharing.
Cheers!
Aysegul
MaryG
Hi Ruth,
Did you work for Doubletree in the late 1980s and early 1990s because the cookies I received during hotel stays then were the BEST ever. The last time I stayed at a Doubletree hotel a few years ago, the cookies served were good but nothing special. I had thought they changed the recipe because the original cookies were great.
Thanks!
Mary
Jill
They may come frozen but they are most definitely NOT Otis Spunkmeyer. They’re made by the Christie Cookie Company, which, according to their website, has been making the DoubleTree cookies for 25 years.
Lisa
Ruth, they are not Otis Spunkmeyer. They even sell the mix in some of the hotels and on the website.
Cynthia
That’s not true. I worked there in the early 80′ s. All these DT copycat recipes are missing one vital ingredient that made the cookie delicious. Of course I’m not gonna say what that is.
Aysegul Sanford
Interesting..
Chrissann
I can say without exaggeration that these are by far the BEST chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had. This is definitely my new go-to recipe, I’ll never make Tollhouse again! 🙂
Aysegul Sanford
Thank you Chrissann. I just made some. You are welcome anytime. 🙂
Kristine
What will happen if I don’t add lemon juice?
Aysegul Sanford
Hi Kristine,
Lemon juice provides a nice thang to the overall cookie balancing the flavors coming from the chocolate and cinnamon. I know it doesn’t make much sense, but it somehow does.
With that being said, I think it would be totally fine if you did not add lemon juice.
Hope this helps.
Janette@culinaryginger
There’s always room for another chocolate chip cookie recipe. I love the addition of oats.
Aysegul Sanford
Ha ha.. Thank you Janette.. 🙂