Getting Baked: Delicious Chocolate Chip Cookies from the Baked Cookbook

How many times have I said that you simply must buy Baked: New Frontiers in Baking?

Well, if you don't own it, clearly I haven't said it enough. Here's how the book has renewed its place in my heart yet again this week: the absolutely perfect Baked chocolate chip cookie.

Now, I have made a fair share of chocolate chip cookies in my life, and am more than willing to admit that while they've been good, they've never been perfect. And while I don't want to go all dramatic on you and say these are the best chocolate chip cookies ever, I can say with absolutely no hesitation that these are the best cookies that have ever come out of my kitchen: chewy in the middle, ever-so-slightly crispy on the outside, slightly puffy and not too flat.

The secret? Well, at their retail location I suspect that they probably put crack in the cookies, but the recipe owes its awesomeness to stressing the importance of fresh ingredients: I promise, if you use fancy butter, fresh eggs, and real vanilla, it really makes all the difference.

I only messed with their recipe slightly, omitting 2/3 cup of the chocolate chips and substituting walnuts. If you like your chocolate chip cookies a little fancy, it's a delicious variation.

Chocolate Chip Cookies, Ever so slightly adapted from the recipe in Baked: New Frontiers in Baking

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 2/3 cup walnuts

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, salt, and baking soda together; set aside.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugars together until smooth and creamy. Scrape down bowl and add eggs, one at a time, beating until incorporated. Mixture will look light and fluffy. Add vanilla and beat for 5 seconds.
3. Add the flour mixture, bit by bit, mixing after each addition.
4. Using a spatula or wooden spoon, fold in the chocolate chips.
5. Cover the bowl tightly and put in the fridge for several hours (Baked suggests 6; I did 2 and they were still delicious).
6. Preheat the oven to 375 F degrees.
7. If you want big cookies, use an ice cream scoop to scoop out 2-tablespoon sized balls. If you want smaller ones, use two teaspoons (one to scoop the dough and one to release it). Use your hands to shape into perfect balls and erase any imperfections. Place on prepared baking sheets, leaving at least 1 inch between cookies. Bake for 10-12 minutes for smaller cookies, 12-14 minutes for larger cookies. Make sure to rotate pans at the halfway mark to ensure even baking. They're done when the edges are golden and the tops are just starting to lose their shine.
8. Remove pan from oven and cool on wire rack. They are great warm, but you could also let them cool, if you're so inclined.
9. These babies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Doubt they'll last that long though.

Comments

[Nurit "1 family. friendly. foo]

Waanuts for chocolate? Sounds good to me!
Would you say these are better than the BY Times recipe?
Also, I have nominated your blog on the Foodbuzz blogs award! Good luck! xo, Nurit

[Nurit "1 family. friendly. foo]

oh, goodness, typos... sorry...

[Get Real Girl]

Yum! I am going to have to try these. Always open to trying to improve on my chocolate chip cookies.

[Eliana]

These look delicious. I think at the NYC store they do put crack in them because they are insanely good.

[the southern hostess]

I'm always on the hunt for the perfect chocolate chip cookie. I'll have to try these.

[EB]

Perfect eh? Them's some bold claims missey! I however do not doubt you.

[Mini Baker]

i use DARK brown sugar in mine too! seems to make the flavor even richer!
Thanks for sharing :)

[Louise | Brochure Printing]

Yeah, it does look different from other cookies. One could easily mistake it for pancakes because it looks really fluffy.
I hope these cookies taste as good as it look. :)

[Dolce]

This is yet another recipe I have to try...

[Laurel]

I love the Baked chocolate chip cookie recipe. It's my go-to recipe for chocolate chip cookies. I need to branch out and make more things from the book than cookies and the Baked brownies.

[lyndsay]

such a rad book... i finally bought it online and it arrived a few weeks ago... i've been reading it in bed before snoozing, along with an ice cream book. it's very pleasantly and smartly written, with lots of good tips and nice masculine but not too manly design and really nice photography! refreshing change from all the pink in the baking world! can't wait to tear through the recipes!

[Lisa]

I love this book, I checked it out of the library, and then decided to had to have one of my onw. I've made these cookies too, I thought they were pretty similar to good old Tollhouse, but I just made one of the cake layers, and yummo! I will be trying more recipes very soon...

[Gail]

Hands down the best chocolate chip cookie recipe I have ever tried. I have never been able to find the "perfect" recipe for all my years of baking, but thanks to the link to CakeSpy on Eatocracy I found it! Thanks for the recipe, I am off to buy my own copy of Baked!

[Food As passion]

This looks really delicious. Yummy. I just loved your recipe. Keep it up, keep sharing more recipes. I have some amazing recipes too. For sure you will love it. Waiting for your visit to there. Don't forget to visit. Have a good day guys.