Have you ever stood in front of a Cookie Time at a dairy or your office vending machine, eyeing that giant cookie and wishing you could recreate the magic yourself at home? Good news. Some Reddit users have been busy playing baking detective, and the comment section is a delightful mix of science and choc-chunk devotion.

It all kicked off when one Redditor asked the big question: "Has anybody figured out the Cookie Time recipe yet?"

Spoiler: No one has the official formula. Cookie Time HQ keeps that thing locked up tighter than Mum’s Christmas present hiding spot. But the people of NZ have added their own recipes to the thread, tried and tested, and reading through them all, I’m not gonna lie, I'm drooling. 

Theories on how to crack the Cookie Time recipe code 

One of the top comments reckons the secret is surprisingly simple.

“I’m certain it uses brown sugar and baking soda. I think those give it that distinct taste.”

Another commenter went full sleuth mode after spotting ingredients at the factory shop, noting you can see bags of brown sugar, white sugar, large eggs, flour and big tubs of chocolate. So yes, the recipe might be a secret, but the vibe is not exactly mysterious. We are talking classic cookie foundations, just done with Kiwi confidence and huge chocolate energy.

Some Reddit users say the key is texture. Cookie Time cookies always sit in that sweet spot between chewy and crunchy, so home bakers reckon chilling the dough helps. Others say the choc chunks need to be ridiculously big. None of this “chocolate chip” nonsense. We are talking BOULDERS, baby.

Then there is the technique theory. A few people believe the flavour comes from the dough being mixed on an industrial scale, which is heartbreakingly unhelpful for those of us with a $29 Kmart hand mixer. But hey, if you’re here reading this, I’m sure you’re willing to give anything a crack. 

There are a few different recipes floating around for everyone to try. The one getting the most votes so far is the Chelsea Winter chocolate chip cookie recipe, and honestly, the photos make it look pretty close to a classic Cookie Time cookie, just a touch smaller.

Someone else shared a recipe they found years ago and swears it is spot on. The tricky part is the timing. Leave them in a bit too long or too short, and you miss that Cookie Time texture. They also said the cookies do not look quite right until they have cooled down. Apparently, 190 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes is the magic range.

They did not include a method, but if you follow your usual cookie routine, I reckon you should be good to go.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter

• 3/4 cup brown sugar

• 1 egg

• 1 tsp vanilla essence (not the fake stuff)

• 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

• 1/2 tsp baking soda

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1 cup chocolate chunks

So, is it possible to replicate the Cookie Time recipe at home?

Honestly, maybe. You might not land a perfect copy, but between the brown sugar believers and the choc-chunk maximalists, you can probably get pretty close.

At the end of the day, Cookie Time will always hit because it tastes like Kiwi childhood. But if you crack the code in your kitchen, please be a good mate and drop the recipe in the Reddit thread. Thanks in advance!