Last week, my sister came over to help make a batch of chocolate chip cookies. Although my sister does not really have a sweet tooth like I do, her favorite dessert is the classic cookie. She is a purist when it comes to probably one of America’s favorite sweet….cookie and chocolate chips. No nuts, peanut butter or oatmeal to interfere
We tried this recipe new to us which enhanced one of the most important ingredients, the butter. Adding browned butter added a nutty dimension without deviating too far from the expected flavor of a chocolate chip cookie
CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES-Yields 16 large cookies
INGREDIENTS
1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 3/4 sticks of butter
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1 egg + 1 yolk
1 1/4 cups semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips
3/4 cups chopped nuts (if my sister isn’t around!)
INSTRUCTIONS
Whisk flour, baking soda and salt in a bowl, then set aside
In a 10-inch skillet (rather than in a saucepan for increased surface area), melt 10 TBSP of butter over medium-high heat. Continue to swirl the butter until it is dark golden brown and has a nutty aroma (about 2 minutes). It is easier to see the color if you use stainless steel instead of a non-stick pan.
Add the remaining 4 TBSP of butter to the melted butter and allow to melt together
Add the butter to the brown sugar, white sugar and vanilla in a bowl and whisk until slightly cooled.
Add the egg and egg yolk and continue to whisk for 30 seconds, then let stand for 3 minutes. Repeat these steps 2 more times until the mixture is smooth, thickened and shiny.
Add the dry ingredients to the sugar mixture and stir gently until just combined (about a minute).
Stir in the chocolate chips. Ensure there are no flour pockets remaining.
Place 3 TBSP of dough on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet 2 inches apart from each other
Bake at 375 (350 using my pans and oven) for about 10-12 minutes, rotating the trays halfway through baking until golden brown and still puffy. The edges should be just set but the middle should be still soft. They will continue to set once out of the oven.
Nesting On A Hill 