Tuesday, May 15, 2012

My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies Yet

AKA: Breakfast for a week. This is a recipe taken from the New York Times. It makes a much better cookie than any other recipe that I've used. The refrigeration of the dough before baking creates a chewy, caramel-y center. It does seem unfair, cruel even, to prepare the dough and then have to wait 24 hours to get a cookie but it's worth it. I tried baking them unrefrigerated and the texture was not nearly as chewy and lovely.

I generally hate buying special ingredients, especially for baking, but I think the cake flour also improves the texture of the cookie. I did sub out the bread flour for all purpose though. They were still amazing. 

I'm thinking I may give these as gifts at Christmas time. They are huge and would look lovely tied up with bows.
Ingredients
  • 2 cups minus 2 tablespoons (8 1/2 ounces) cake flour 
  • 1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
  • 2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter
  • 1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar
  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
  • 1 1/4 pounds bittersweet chocolate
  • Sea salt
Instructions
  1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.
  2. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Drop chocolate pieces in and incorporate them without breaking them. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours
  3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.
  4. Scoop 6 3 1/2-ounce mounds of dough (the size of generous golf balls) onto baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that are poking up; it will make for a more attractive cookie. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day. Eat warm, with a big napkin.
Notes
*NOTE CHILL TIME of 24-72 hours- it WILL yield a better cookie

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