How can i keep my cookies chewy and soft for a longtime?

Aside from checking and reducing the baking time,I usually add a little amount of glucose or light syrup to make my cookies chewy.

I am with the people above. You are probably over cooking them. If I recipe says to bake the cookies for 9-11 minutes I do them for 8 minutes. They will almost look not done when they are done perfectly. Let them cool on the cookies sheet for a few minutes to set up the rest of the way. Cool completely on a wire rack then store in a sealed container. I also find that butter flavored shortening makes softer cookies than butter or margarine.

Everyone else stole my ideas! First, don't bake them as long, maybe a minute less than what it says to. Then, cool them for about a minute on sheet (this is why you take them out early, they continue to cook on the sheet before you take them off). Then cool them all the way on a wire rack. Make sure you store them in an air-tight container or zip-lock bag. If they do get a bit hard, add a slice of bread in with them for a bit. This will sometimes cause them to have the bready taste, but it's usually not very overwhelming. Happy baking!!!!

Not only try cooking them a minute less time but your oven may be too hot. Try reducing the oven temperature by 5 degrees. Check them and take them out a little early an cool on the cookie sheets for a minute or two before placing them on a wire rack to cool. Place them in an airtight container or zip lock bag and store away from light. This also works.

If you try what the other poster said and take them out a bit early that will help. They are probably overdone. After you take them out and they cool, put them in an airtight container with a piece of bread. I don't know how it helps but I have a couple of friends that swear by that bread. Just make sure they don't get to soft, check on them as you may need to take the bread out if they start getting that way.

Put them in a ziplock bag and seal it with a slice of bread in it. This is a trick my grandmother taught me a long time ago. The bread will become hard but the cookies will be soft and chewy! Good Luck

You may be baking them too long. I take my cookies out of the oven while they are just slightly underbaked, and let them sit on the warm baking sheet for a minute while the centers firm up. And store them in an airtight container.