Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

I think that everyone has their own opinion about what makes the perfect chocolate chip cookie. It's kind of like lasagna - everyone has a different version that they grew up with, and no one else's is quite the same. Some people like theirs soft, while others like it when they have a crunch to them. Some like theirs flat while others like theirs puffy. I would have to say that I fall into the group that likes their chocolate chip cookies soft and just a little bit puffy. I like a cookie that will stay soft for days (if they last that long!) I have tried my fair share of recipes, but have always fallen back on the tried and true Toll House Cookie recipe. It's true - this is the recipe that my mom made growing up, but I have made my own small change. The original recipe (the one that comes on the back of the package) calls for 1 cup of butter, but as I've mentioned on this blog before, we didn't use a whole lot of butter growing up. I remember having the choice of butter or margarine on the table at holidays for buttering rolls, but I don't remember my mom ever using it for cooking or baking. She always made her cookies with shortening. When I moved away from home, I was introduced to the flavor that butter brings to a chocolate chip cookie. The only problem with using butter instead of shortening (in my mind at least) was that the butter version produced a thinner cookie, while the shortening version "poofed" a bit more, making a cookie that stayed soft for a long time. So I started using a half cup of butter and a half cup of shortening. This, to me, makes for the perfect chocolate chip cookie!! I also like to under-cook them by a minute or two, just to ensure that they stay nice and soft.

The thing I love about chocolate chip cookies is that they are best when you are using up odds and ends from the baking cupboard. You can do a mixture of different kinds of chocolate chips that are left over, or my favorite combination - half chocolate chips and half peanut butter chips. I have even thrown in a bag of the mini Andes mint pieces before, and that makes a great cookie as well!!

So, I don't think I will search for a better chocolate chip cookie recipe anymore - this is the one for me!!

By Deborah

Original Toll House Cookies

slightly adapted from Nestle

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 large eggs
1 3/4 cups chocolate chips (or peanut butter chips, or mint pieces, or a mixture!)
1 cup chopped nuts, optional

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375F.

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Beat butter, sugars, and vanilla in a large bowl until creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chips and nuts (if using). Drop by rounded teaspoonful onto ungreased baking sheet.

Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes and then remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Makes about 5 dozen cookies.