Thursday 25 March 2010

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I realised recently that there is a distinct lack of cookies on this blog. That’s not because I don’t like cookies, far from it, but given the choice of cookie or cake – I choose cake every time. However, I thought it was about time I had a little break from cake, dusted off my baking trays and baked some cookies.

My brother in currently in his first year of uni and every month I have been sending him little packages of baked goodies. So far he has had cereal bars, brownies and peanut butter krispie treats and this month I thought it would be ideal to send him some of the cookies I was planning to make – another incentive.

These cookies are your simple crowd pleasing chocolate chip cookie. Quick and easy to make, crispy round the outside and chewy in the centre. I used a combination of white and dark chocolate that I cut into pieces myself in order to keep it nice and chunky. I used an ice cream scoop to measure out my cookie dough which helped make the cookies lovely and thick, ensuring a chewier centre.

I posted most of them to my brother who demolished the lot in about 2 days flat, so I think he liked them. Personally I would have liked them to be a little softer, as well as having a chewy centre, but this is just personal preference. Anyone got any tips for achieving a softer cookie, or should I just bake them for a couple of minutes less?

They were best when still warm, while the chocolate was all soft and melty.

Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
110g butter
70g caster sugar
80g dark soft brown sugar
1 egg
½ tsp vanilla extract
200g plain flour
½ tsp baking powder
50g dark chocolate
50g white chocolate

Method
Preheat the oven to 180C. Line two baking trays with baking paper or silicone liners.
Beat the butter until soft and fluffy. Add the caster and dark brown sugars and beat until combined.
Mix in the egg and vanilla (don’t worry if it looks a little scrambled) followed by the flour and baking powder. Mix until just combined.
Chop the white and dark chocolate into 1cm chunks. Work them into the dough until well incorporated.
Use an old fashioned ice cream scoop to measure out equal scoops of dough. Place them on the trays with 3-4cm space between each one. Flatten the balls slightly with your fingers until you have a thick disc rather than a mound.
Bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes. They should be lightly brown around the edges but still seem quite soft in the centre. (They firm up on cooling).
Allow to cool on the trays for 1 minute before transferring to a cooling rack.
Makes 9-12 cookies

11 comments:

Simones Kitchen said...

Looks like a perfect cookie to me! Not being a real cookie maker myself I do feel that the few times I have made cookies they sort of lack something... Can't figure out what it is, but yours look delicious

Johanna GGG said...

These look delicious - I have just posted about some cookies I made with condensed milk and no egg - the first batch were amazingly soft and chewy (well the ones that didn't get forgotten in the oven were) and so I would recommend you try the recipe. I am sure your brother would love a few experiments - he is lucky to have a sister who bakes as much as you

Monica H said...

I always chose cake over cookies too. But sometimes a chocolate chip cookies just fills the bill.

Chele said...

Yum - they look so good! There is nothing better in this world than a good chocolate chip cookie - in my humble opinion!

oneordinaryday said...

I've been craving chocolate chip cookies, but I don't have any chips in the house. Now that I've seen yours I'm gonna have to go to the store today. : )

I always take ccc out of the oven before they actually bake through. But this is also the one cookie that I use vegetable shortening in instead of butter. I posted my faves a while back. Here's the link if you're interested, but your cookies would be totally okay by me!
http://oneordinaryday.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/my-favorite-chocolate-chip-cookies/

Katie said...

Johanna thanks for the tip about the condensed milk - can imagine this results in a great chew.

Oneoridanryday - thanks for the link. Is veg shortening like our version of margarine?

Elle said...

They look like fantastic cookies. Othere than shorter cooking time, the best way I've found to have softer cookies is to add a bit more sugar. You have a lucky brother!

The Caked Crusader said...

your post really made me laugh because it could be me! I don't understand why anyone would choose a biscuit over some cake...and my brother is always nagging me to bake more biscuits!

Abitofafoodie said...

Yum! I'm more of a cake girl myself too but I can never resist a slightly 'chewy-in-the-middle' cookie such as these. Lovely.

Baking Addict said...

These cookies look really delicious. Your brother is so lucky! I love cookies but as I've been on a cookie binge recently, I'll try to refrain from baking these immediately :)

Unknown said...

The cookies look delicious! You could try adding an extra egg, or upping the flour amount.