Lean Bakery, founded in Brooklyn, became an institution for its oversized, crunchy‑on‑the‑outside, soft‑inside chocolate chip cookies. The bakery’s cookies are celebrated as a New York comfort food, often enjoyed with coffee or as a post‑workout treat, and have become a staple of Brooklyn’s modern bakery scene.

Across the United States, thick cookies range from New York’s dense, buttery style to West Coast versions that use oat flour or almond flour for a softer crumb. Some regions add oatmeal, nuts, or caramel, but Lean Bakery’s signature is the massive size and a crusty exterior achieved by chilling the dough and baking at high heat.

At Lean Bakery the cookies are served fresh from the oven, still warm, on a simple paper plate. They are often enjoyed plain, with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top, or paired with a cold glass of milk or a latte.

These cookies are popular for birthday parties, office celebrations, and as a comforting treat after a marathon or triathlon—fittingly, the original recipe was created by the founders while training for endurance events.

The cookie’s uniqueness comes from its massive size, a crusty, sugary shell, and a soft, almost scone‑like interior. This texture is achieved by using browned butter, no leavening agents, and a high‑heat, short‑time bake after chilling or freezing the dough.

Common errors include over‑browning or burning the butter, adding ice too early, skipping the chilling/freezing step, and using baking soda or powder which creates unwanted puffiness. Also, baking at a lower temperature will prevent the signature crackly crust.

Lean Bakery’s cookies rely on the high oven temperature and the moisture retained in the chilled dough to create a crisp edge without rising. Adding leavening would make the cookies puffier and softer, which is not the texture the bakery is known for.

Yes. Form the dough into 6‑7 oz balls, wrap each tightly, and freeze for up to two weeks. Bake directly from frozen, adding a minute or two to the bake time. Store baked cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days or freeze for longer storage.

The cookies should have a deep golden, slightly cracked top with a shiny sugar crust, a firm, crunchy edge, and a soft, almost gooey interior. The chocolate chips should remain distinct and not melt completely into the dough.

The YouTube channel Binging with Babish, hosted by Andrew Rea, specializes in recreating iconic dishes from movies, TV shows, and pop culture while also exploring classic recipes and cooking techniques for home cooks.

Binging with Babish combines cinematic storytelling with meticulous technique breakdowns, often testing multiple variations of a recipe (as seen with the Lean Bakery cookie) and explaining the science behind each step, which sets it apart from more straightforward tutorial channels.