Today I am using my pinecone teapot and mug and I've made some favorite cookies and a pot of vanilla chai tea to share with everyone. Why, you ask?
I started using this recipe from my cookbook, The Best Recipe from Cook's Illustrated, about 13 years ago, and have never tried another chocolate chip cookie recipe since. For me, it's the perfect chocolate chip cookie, like what you'd get from a really great bakery. I hope you give them a try. They may become your new favorite chocolate chip cookie, too!
Thick and Chewy Chocolate Cookies
Ingredients:
2 cups plus 2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled until warm
1 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1-1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled until warm
1 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1-1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Directions:
1. Adjust the oven racks to the upper- and lower-middle positions and heat the oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or spray them with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl; set aside.
3. Either by hand or with an electric mixer, mix the butter and sugars until thoroughly blended. Beat in the egg, yolk, and vanilla until combined. Add the dry ingredients and beat at low speed just until combined. Stir in the chips to taste.
4. Roll a scant 1/4 cup of the dough into a ball. Hold the dough ball with the fingertips of both hands and pull into 2 equal halves. Rotate the halves 90 degrees and, with jagged surfaces facing up, join the halves together at their base, again forming a single ball, being careful not to smooth the dough's uneven surface. Place the formed dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, jagged surface up, spacing them 2 1/2 inches apart.
5. Bake until the cookies are light golden grown and the outer edges start to harden yet the centers are still soft and puffy, 15 to 18 minutes, rotating the baking sheets front to back and top to bottom halfway through the baking time. Cool the cookies on the sheets. Remove the cooled cookies from the baking sheets with a side metal spatula.
Makes 18 large cookies.
I've included step-by-step illustrations from Cook's Illustrated, in shaping the cookies:
Shaping Thick Chocolate Chip Cookies
1. Creating a jagged surface on each dough ball gives the finished cookies an attractive appearance. Start by rolling a scant 1/4 cup of dough into a smooth ball.
2. Holding the dough ball in the fingertips of both hands, pull the dough apart into two equal halves.
3. Each half will have a jagged surface where it was ripped from the other. Rotate each piece 90 degrees so that the jagged edge faces up.
4. Jam the halves back together into one ball so that the top surface remains jagged.
I am sharing this with:
- Thank you for your visit! xo
Your cookies look VERY yummy and perfectly chewy :) I'm always on the lookout for a good chocolate chip cookie recipe and yours looks like a good one - thanks for sharing! Have a splendid Monday, sweet Kitty!
ReplyDeleteHugs!
Yummy! I could eat one of those for my breakfast! Cute tea service, Kitty. Merry, merry in July!
ReplyDeleteMy grandchildren our coming tomorrow for 2 days and these will make the perfect treat for them. Thanks Kitty!
ReplyDeleteWow, Kitty - that is an interesting bit about jagged edges. Heck, it would be a miracle if I remember that. I can barely remember if I added the leveling powder, haha. But I love the idea and wonder what a difference it makes? Gulp. Have I been making unattractive cookies all these years? Gasp. (jk)
ReplyDeleteYour cookies look sooooooooooooooooooo good, oh who doesn't love a really great ccc?!??
Your little Christmas in July tea is so wonderful.
I had Thanksgiving in July dinner yesterday for our kids and their mates - all the trimmings. It was fun, but I turned the temp in the house way down so they wouldn't feel it was too rich for the heat of the summer. I think it helped.
Hugs.
That looks so yummy and thank you so much for the "walk through".
ReplyDeleteChristmas in July sounds like a lot of fun. I love your pinecone dishware, very beautiful.
Have a great day.
Hello dear Kitty,
ReplyDeleteYour chocolate chip cookies look wonderful and it's a good idea to show the steps for having them turn out with a jagged edge. I will have to remember that next time. I love your pinecones teapot and mug and thank you for sharing your
'Christmasy' tea with us. It's always a joy to have you.
Blessings & hugs,
Sandi
Good looking cookies! I also really like the pine cone teapot
ReplyDeleteHello Kitty,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the recipe of those delicious cookies and for the step by step illustrations! Happy Christmas in July! xo
~Wendy
You can never go wrong with a chocolate chip cookie and yours look great! I'm glad you shared the recipe, I'm always looking for a better chocolate chip cookie recipe.
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas in July and the tea party sounds like fun Kitty! Chocolate chip cookies have been on my mind for a couple weeks now, I think it's time to treat the boys:@)
ReplyDeleteI will have to try your recipe, Kitty. I usually use the one from Southern Living but I'm game to widen my horizens...and hips! LOL
ReplyDeleteVery pretty teapot/set & very appropriate for a 'half way to Christmas' event. Now THAT'S a SCARY thought!!!
Kitty, I know those visual aids are just for me, the ninny baker! I would never have thought about the jagged edges.. Great idea. I love your pinecone set, as you know I love love love pine cones. Yours is really the cutest. XO marlis
ReplyDeleteWhat a terrific looking chocolate chip cookie recipe!! Yummy! I also love your helpful pictures, too.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Leslie
All I can say is "I need a cookie". Yours look so good. Have a wonderful week. Blessings, Martha
ReplyDeleteMaybe I could finally make chocolate chip cookies as delicious as my sister's! I'll try your recipe. (As much as I joke about being a pitiful cook, and I am, I'm a well known cookie baker!)
ReplyDeleteOh I wish I can a couple of chocolate chip cookies for my coffee this morning! Love the tutorial on the cookies Kitty!
ReplyDeleteKitty, this is my hubby's very favorite cookie! I will try this recipe and compare. Thank you for your sweet comment on my blog dear friend. xo
ReplyDeleteLet is snow ...let it snow....darling setting for your Christmas in July Tea and wonderful cookies. How do you stay so skinny!
ReplyDeleteIr;s been awhile since I have had chocolate chip cookies. They would be fabulous with my cup of coffee. I hope your dear hubby is doing well. I think of both of you often and hope there is a cure someday soon. xoxo Linda
ReplyDeleteInteresting technique on shaping the cookies. They look delicious.
ReplyDeleteI love these cookies and the tutorial recipe sweet friend. I hope your hubby is feeling much better, living with you he must be so positive and you probably make him smile a lot and that is the best cure! Blessings for both of you. Beautiful C'mas in July setting dear Kitty. Thanks so much for your sweet and kind visit. Big hugs,
ReplyDeleteFABBY
OMG Kitty.... I can almost grab a cookie. These look so good. I can never pass up a delicious chocolate chip cookie. This recipe looks yummy.
ReplyDeleteI am always looking for the perfect cc cookie!
ReplyDeleteDid you watch the Christmas in July this weekend on QVC? So mNy pretty things!
I love your pine cone tea pot, so pretty!
Kitty, I miss having your beautiful recipes on ON THE MENU MONDAY!!!! I love Cook's Illustrated... everything they make is delicious. Thanks for sharing my very favorite cookies.
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ReplyDeleteHi Kitty the pinecone tea pot is our state tree here in Maine. The cookies look perfect and who doesn't love a good chocolate chip cookie.............I use that method of breaking the dough for baking some of the cookies I make. ..Have a great day Andi
ReplyDeleteYour cookie look good, I am inviting you to share this with Show your Stuff:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.treasuresmadefromyarn.com/2013/07/show-your-stuff.html
Hi Kitty,
ReplyDeleteI just love Chocolate Chip Cookies, these look delicious, thanks for sharing them with Full Plate Thursday. Hope you are having a great weekend!
Miz Helen
Your cookies look delicious Kitty. Interesting directions about getting a jagged shape. Have never heard of doing that. Great tip! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
Hmmm, I smell those cookies baking now! There's nothing I like better than right out of the oven chocolate chip cookies with a big glass of milk. Your pine cone pieces would be most appropriate in Maine.
ReplyDeleteThis post was chosen from last week's Tea In The Garden to be featured this week! Congrats!
ReplyDelete