National Chocolate Chip Day (May 15)
Chocolate chips may be small, but their impact on the world of baking is huge.
National Chocolate Chip Day, celebrated on May 15, honors this humble ingredient that turned cookies into a classic.
Whether you’re baking from scratch or grabbing a sweet treat from your favorite bakery, this holiday is all about celebrating the joy of chocolate chips. It’s one of the tastiest weird holidays in May.
When is the Holiday?
National Chocolate Chip Day is observed annually on May 15.
Who Invented It?
There’s no clear origin, but it likely started as a marketing campaign by a baking or confectionery company.
Like many food holidays, it grew in popularity thanks to fans of sweet treats and chocolate chip cookies.
The History of the Holiday
The chocolate chip itself was born in the 1930s, thanks to Ruth Graves Wakefield at the Toll House Inn in Massachusetts.
She added chopped Nestlé chocolate to cookie dough, expecting it to melt.
Instead, the chips held their shape, and a legend was born.
Nestlé eventually struck a deal with her to print the recipe on packaging and started selling “morsels” in 1939.
Top 5 Facts About the Holiday
- It started with an accident: Ruth Wakefield’s baking improvisation led to a dessert revolution.
- They were first made with bars, not chips: The original recipe used a chopped-up chocolate bar—no chips existed yet.
- Nestlé didn’t invent the chip—they commercialized it: After the cookie’s success, they began selling chocolate chips.
- Nestlé’s “morsels” hit store shelves in 1939 and have been a pantry staple since.
- NASA took chocolate chip cookies to space: Astronauts on the ISS included them in care packages—proof they’re out of this world.
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Activities to Celebrate
Bake the original Toll House recipe. Try Ruth Wakefield’s classic version to taste where it all started.
Host a mini chocolate chip tasting. Sample white chocolate, dark, milk, mint, and butterscotch chips and vote on favorites.
Create a chocolate chip art project. Great for kids—use chocolate chips to “draw” on cookie dough before baking.
Science in the kitchen: Test baking times and ingredients to learn what makes cookies chewy vs. crispy.
Storytime + baking: Read the tale of Ruth Wakefield and then make cookies together.
Share a family recipe: Make Grandma’s favorite chocolate chip treat and talk about the memories behind it.
Have a “chip swap” party: Bake cookies with friends and trade batches.
Try no-bake recipes with young kids: Safe, fun, and sweet (like chocolate chip energy balls).
Make chocolate chip pancakes or waffles for breakfast or dinner—a crowd-pleaser for all ages.
Design a cookie gift jar using dry ingredients, layered beautifully and tagged with printable instructions.
Best Recipes for the Holiday
Ultimate easy chocolate chip cookies – A go-to recipe that’s crisp on the edges and soft in the middle, great for all skill levels.
Air fryer chocolate chip cookies – Bakes in just a few minutes with minimal cleanup, ideal for quick cravings.
Chocolate chip dip with cream cheese – A crowd-pleasing party dip, perfect with pretzels or graham crackers.
Keto pumpkin chocolate chip cookies – Lower-carb and packed with seasonal flavor, great for fall or year-round.
Chocolate chip muffin tops with apricot – A bakery-style treat with bursts of fruit and plenty of chips on top.
Chocolate chip zucchini bread – Moist and slightly sweet, this loaf sneaks in veggies for a balanced snack.
Candied bacon chocolate chip cookies – Sweet and salty with crispy bacon folded into soft cookie dough.
Mini chocolate chip cheesecakes – Bite-sized desserts with creamy filling and chocolate in every layer.
Chocolate chip scones – Perfect for brunch or afternoon tea, tender and lightly sweetened.
Vegan mint chocolate chip ice cream – A plant-based twist on the classic, creamy and refreshing.
Links to Resources
Counting Chocolate Chips Cookie Printable: A hands-on math activity where kids count chocolate chips on illustrated cookies. Ideal for preschoolers to practice counting and fine motor skills.
Chocolate Chip Math Printables: Engage young learners with counting and math activities using chocolate chip-themed worksheets.
Cookie Mix in a Jar with Free Printable: Create thoughtful gifts with layered cookie mix jars, complete with printable tags and instructions.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Science Experiment: Explore how variations in ingredients affect cookie outcomes through a fun, edible science activity.
Related Holidays
If you love celebrating chocolate in all its forms, there are a few other sweet days on the calendar worth marking.
World Chocolate Day on July 7 highlights chocolate in all its glory, while Milk Chocolate Day follows close behind on July 28.
For those who prefer their chocolate creamy or cool, National Chocolate Pudding Day on June 26 and National Chocolate Mint Day on February 19 add variety.
And if you’re feeling fancy, National Chocolate Fondue Day on February 5 offers the perfect excuse for a gooey treat.
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