Thursday, July 14, 2011

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Believe it or not although I love to bake desserts, I am more of a savory type of person. I love baking sweet treats for others though. Now the only exception is a good cookie--that I enjoy. I like thin crispy cookies around the edge but with a soft center. I have many cookie recipes and was never too happy with the result although everyone else always enjoyed them. I should have known that my baking idol, Martha Stewart, would have the best recipe. This chocolate chip recipe which I tore out of her recent magazine was a winner! The only modification I made was to use 1 1/2 cups of chocolate chips instead of 2 cups. This recipe is definitely a keeper--enjoy!

The best chocolate chip cookie!

Chocolate Chip Cookie
Recipe by Martha Stewart
Makes about 3 dozen cookies

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups (about 12 ounces) semisweet and/or milk chocolate chips (I used 1 1/2 cups)

Directions: Preheat oven to 350º. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter with both sugars; beat on medium speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low; add the salt, vanilla, and eggs. Beat until well mixed, about 1 minute. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Drop heaping tablespoon-size balls of dough about 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake until cookies are golden around the edges, but still soft in the center, 8 to 10 minutes (I baked mine for 12 minutes--all ovens vary though). Remove from oven, and let cool on baking sheet 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool completely. Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.

This is the batter with only 1 1/2 cups of chocolate chips.

Ready to go into a 350º oven.